Skagit County is reviewing what agritourism means to the County’s agricultural community, rural residents, and other stakeholders. Skagit County will explore and analyze agritourism activities in Skagit County to develop a report on the economics of agritourism, a current assessment of County policies, and relevant case studies. The study is anticipated to address the current situation with farm stands and value added activities, agricultural recreation, and options for other types of agritourism, such as potentially allowing food service on farms, wedding venues, temporary event spaces, etc.
Based on feedback from research and policy proposals from County staff, a legislative proposal will be developed for consideration by the Skagit County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. This process will allow the County to propose amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, zoning map, and development regulations, with input from the public and stakeholders, to address agritourism.
Agritourism Code Changes Remanded to the Skagit County Planning Commission
On June 24, 2024, the Skagit County Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution #R20240132 remanding the agritourism code changes recommended by the Planning Commission and the Agricultural Advisory Board back to the Planning Commission for additional work, study, review and refinement, including additional public comment and hearing. The schedule of future public meetings relating to agritourism code changes will be announced on a later date.
Submission Required to Assert Existing Use Rights.
- May 30, 2025: Deadline to document existing rights by signing a Voluntary Compliance (VCA) agreement per interim ordinance # O20240003. This process must be initiated well ahead of time to ensure completion before the deadline.
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Staff used public input and survey results to develop a preferred policy option and create code language for the Planning Commission to evaluate over the summer. The Planning Commission will host a public hearing in July 2022 to hear additional feedback on the code language, then they will vote on a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. Once the recommendation has been finalized, the County Commissioners will review the recommendation and staff analysis to decide on final action for agritourism.
- August 13, 2024 Planning Commission Transcript
- July 23, 2024
Commissioners Adopt New Interim Ordinance Prohibiting New Permits for Event Venues on Agricultural Land
The interim ordinance, which takes effect immediately, clarifies that permissible tourism-related activity on Skagit farmland does not include permanent businesses that conduct large events.
Interim Ordinance (O20240003)
- July 23, 2024
Commissioners Adopt New Interim Ordinance Prohibiting New Permits for Event Venues on Agricultural Land
The interim ordinance, which takes effect immediately, clarifies that permissible tourism-related activity on Skagit farmland does not include permanent businesses that conduct large events.
- June 24, 2024
Transcript: Skagit County Board of County Commissioners Discussion, Public Comment, Possible Action: Resolution Remanding Proposed Agritourism Code Changes to
Skagit County Planning Commission
- June 24, 2024
Skagit County Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution #R20240132
- June 17, 2024
Commissioners to Consider Remand Resolution for Planning Commissioner Agritourism Proposal
The Skagit County Commissioners will consider a resolution to remand the Planning Commission agritourism proposal on Monday, June 24th, at 2:30 p.m.
- June 24, 2024, Board of County Commissioner DRAFT resolution to consider remanding the agritourism proposal back to the Planning Commission
- March 21, 2024 Administrative Official Interpretation (2024-01)
- January 29, 2024 Interim ordinance (O20240001)
- March 25, 2024
Transcript: Commissioners' Public Hearing on Agricultural Event Venue Moratorium | Video
- March 22, 2024
Commissioners to Host Public Hearing on Agricultural Event Venue Moratorium
The Skagit County Commissioners will host a post-adoption hearing regarding Ordinance #20240001 at 11:30 a.m. on Monday March 25, 2024.
- December 12, 2023 Skagit County Planning Commission's Recorded Motion regarding
2023 Agricultural Advisory Board (AAB) Proposed Agritourism Code Changes
- December 12, 2023 Planning Commission Deliberations | Transcript | Video
- October 10, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting Transcript | Video
- October 10, 2023 Supplemental Staff Report Proposed Agritourism Code Changes
- October 10, 2023 Attachments 1-15 Agritourism Comments
- July 25, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting Transcript | Video
- July 19, 2023 Supplemental Memo for Hearing on Ag. Board Proposed Agritourism Code Changes
- July 6, 2023 Agritourism Staff Report with Complete Attachments
- June 29, 2023 NOA with Signature
- June 28, 2023 DNS with signature
- June 28, 2023 SEPA with Signature
- June 13, 2023 Planning Commission Agritourism Memo
- June 13, 2023 Planning Commission Work Session Agritourism Transcript | Video
- April 25th, 2023 Planning Commission Agritourism Memo – Recommendations from the Skagit Agricultural Advisory Board
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After the situation assessment report was released, staff evaluated public response and developed three policy options the County could pursue for agritourism activities. These three options were released in a report in March 2022, with details on which activities would be allowed under each option and the benefits and drawbacks of each policy proposal. Staff hosted multiple public workshops to hear feedback from the public on the three options and released a second survey for additional comments. The public engagement and survey responses were compiled into a report, which was published in June 2022.
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Skagit County contracted with BERK Consulting to assist with the agritourism study. The situation assessment phase is part of a discovery phase to document current agricultural trends and conditions in Skagit County. County staff evaluated current practices for agritourism activites and contrasted them with case studies from other jurisdictions. Staff also conducted local discussion groups and released a public engagement survey to develop a common understanding of agritourism and the public interest in the direction of the study overall. The Situation Assessment Report was released in September 2021 and was shared with local stakeholders, such as producers, businesses, and local residents.
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The Skagit County Planning Commission meets every other Tuesday at 6:00 PM PST. For additional information on participating in a planning commission meeting, please visit: Commenting in a Meeting.
For more information, please contact:
Robby Eckroth, AICP
Senior Planner
Skagit County Planning & Development Services
reckroth@co.skagit.wa.us
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