Staff outlines Title 20 modernization to reorganize Thurston County rural zoning code; effort described as structural, not substantive

At its Oct. 15 meeting the Thurston County Planning Commission received an overview of a proposed Title 20 Modernization project intended to reorganize — not substantially change — the county’s rural zoning code.

Maya Tippel, senior planner, described Title 20 as “fragmented” after decades of piecemeal updates and said the proposed project would consolidate repeated standards, provide clearer tables of uses and standards, and make the code easier for both staff and the public to navigate. Tippel said the work is primarily structural and that substantive amendments would be called out separately; the effort would begin in earnest after the county completes its comprehensive plan work and staff would pursue stakeholder outreach and internal code review in early 2026.

Why it matters: Title 20 governs land uses, lot standards, setbacks and permit procedures in Thurston County’s unincorporated rural areas and several southern urban growth areas. Reorganizing Title 20 could reduce internal…