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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

June 16, 2025, Agricultural Advisory Board Response Letter to Agritourism Remand Questions

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.

 As requested by the Board to assist the Planning Commission in further study and refinement of the proposed agritourism code, Planning and Development Services (PDS) has convened a Community Advisory Group on Proposed Agritourism Code Changes to the Skagit County Planning Commission.

 The purpose of the Community Advisory Group is to provide policy recommendation to PDS staff in drafting an Agritourism Code that addresses the Board of County Commissioners' remand criteria, supporting the Skagit County Planning Commission's continued work with the public and the Agricultural Advisory Board to develop a revised recommendation on Agritourism for the Board of County Commissioners.

Information about Skagit County’s Community Advisory Group on Proposed Agritourism Code Changes to the Skagit County Planning Commission is available here. 

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.

 
 

Public Comment Period and Public Hearing on Proposed Agritourism Amendments

The Planning Commission is holding a public hearing and public comment period on the proposed Agritourism amendments listed below.

How to Comment

The comment period will be open from September 25, 2025, to October 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM. Below are the two options for submitting public comments.

  • Option 1: Email comments are preferred and must be sent to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us the proposal name “Skagit County Agritourism Code Amendments” in the subject line. Include your comments in the body of your email message rather than as attachments.

  • Option 2: Paper comments must be printed on 8½x11 paper and mailed or delivered to:

    Planning and Development Services
    Comments on “Skagit County Agritourism Code Amendments”
    1800 Continental Place
    Mount Vernon WA 98273

    All comments must be received by the deadline referenced above and include your full name and mailing address. Comments not meeting these requirements will not be considered.

  • Public Hearing: You may also comment in person. A Planning Commission public hearing will be held on October 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM. The Skagit County Planning Commission is hosting meetings in the Skagit County Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. You may also comment in person or via Zoom. If you wish to provide verbal testimony, please send an email to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us, with your name, phone number, and include a request to be added to the speakers list in the body of the email. You can also sign up to testify in person at the hearing. Public hearing testimony is usually limited to three minutes, so written comments are preferred.

    Anyone who plans to attend the public hearing and has special needs or disabilities should contact Planning and Development Services at (360) 416-1320 at least 96 hours before the hearing to discuss and arrange any special accommodations.

    To view the live stream on Skagit21: https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/TV21

    You may also attend the meeting remotely through your telephone or from your computer, tablet or smartphone with this link:
    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89244005472?pwd=L056TEpTc1J4YmUwT25pYjBITG1vdz09
    or by calling: 1 (253) 215-8782 (Tacoma)
    Meeting ID: 892 4400 5472 Passcode: 0982730
 

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.

 

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.

To stay up to date on the agritourism study, sign up for updates from the Skagit County Planning & Development Services Department here:
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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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