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Short Plat Proposal Request

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What is a Short Plat?

The subdivision of land into lots is governed in Washington State by chapter 58.17 RCW and by city and county ordinances adopted under that chapter's authority. Chapter 58.17 RCW establishes two subdivision types that are regulated differently:

  • "Subdivisions," which are defined as the "division or redivision of land into five or more lots, tracts, or parcels, sites, or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership" (RCW 58.17.020(1)); and
  • "Short subdivisions," which are defined as the "division or redivision of land into four or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites, or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership" (RCW 58.17.020(6)).

Any city or town may increase the number of lots that can be regulated as short subdivisions up to a maximum of nine. Counties planning under the Growth Management Act may do the same with respect to unincorporated land within an urban growth area.

Most jurisdictions in Washington consider a short plat to be four or fewer lots.  Some jurisdictions such as King County still allow short plats of up to 9 lots.  Check the jurisdictions page for detailed information regarding your jurisdiction.

No process is set out in state law for approval of short plats; cities and counties are required by RCW 58.17.060 to adopt by ordinance their own regulations and procedures that provide "summary approval" of short plats through an administrative process. Because it must be an administrative process, there is no public hearing for a short plat application, and the legislative body is not involved in the process. To approve a short plat, the administrative personnel assigned to review short plat applications must make the same written findings in RCW 58.17.110 that are required for plat applications. Short plats must be approved, disapproved, or returned to the applicant for modification within 30 days of the filing of the short plat application, unless the applicant consents to an extension. They must be filed with the county auditor and are not deemed "approved" until such filing.