Skagit County Planning and Development Services manages permits for all unincorporated areas, while incorporated cities like Mount Vernon, Anacortes, and Burlington operate their own independent building departments. The county enforces specific critical area ordinances, including extensive flood hazard zones, shoreline management areas, and seismic hazard overlays that require additional environmental review.
The county enforces a strict Critical Areas Ordinance that requires specialized review for projects located within designated wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, and frequently flooded areas.
How this fits with the state
The state authority here is Washington Department of Labor & Industries. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.
Source · Skagit County Planning and Development ServicesLast verified · 05 / 2026