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Public Works Engineering - Development Inquiries

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1. What is one-call utility locate service?

It is a service, which will locate underground utilities in order to prevent damage or injury. Before digging, you must call the Utilities Underground Location Center at 800-424-5555, or 811. Call Before You Dig

2. There are paint marks / flags on, or near, my property. What do they mean?

These marks may indicate a utility locate, a pending road project or survey in your area. This may be a private project such as new construction, or a city, county or state construction or mapping project. More Information

3. Why is the county surveying at this location?

Survey work is conducted by the county for a variety of reasons:

• To locate existing county right-of-way boundaries
• To locate lost or covered survey monumentation
• To perform topographic surveys of a project site in order to design improvements
• To layout proposed right-of-way acquisitions
• To establish elevations on existing or proposed county structures or facilities
• To establish pit inventory quantities

4. What are the standards (i.e., width, slope, surfacing) for my driveway / private road?

The Engineering Division administers the Whatcom County Development Standards. Please refer to Chapter 5 - Road Standards.

Private residential driveways (1 and 2 residential units) outside of county rights-of-way are typically reviewed by the Fire Marshal in Planning and Development Services at 360-778-5900.

5. What size of easement is needed for a new development?

Detailed information can be found on our website. Easement Size Information

6. What is a “paved apron”?

It’s a paved approach to an intersecting county road extending from the property line or a driveway approach abutting a paved public road. For details see Drawing 508.D-4, 505.E-3, 505.E-4 of the Road Standards - Chapter 5.

7. Do I need a culvert?

That will be determined by the Right-of-way Inspector after you have applied for a Revocable Encroachment Permit.

8. What size of culvert do I need?

12-inch minimum diameter, larger if drainage requires, as directed by the County Engineer - County Road Standards, Drawing 508.D-1.

9. What type of road do I have to construct?

It depends on what type of project you are working on, the land use zoning (urban or rural, acreage tracts or not), whether the roadway being accessed is private or public, how many homes are currently accessing the roadway, and the condition of the roadway you will be accessing (gravel, paved, required width). Other considerations are necessary such as the classification of the roadway, drainage, and the width of the ingress / egress (access) easement and/or right-of-way. The requirements of right-of-way, width of pavement and width of shoulders, etc. for urban and rural private and public roads are outlined within the Whatcom County Road Standards - Chapter 5.

10. What type of permit / approval do I need?

The permit required depends on your development intent. You may need several permits for 1 type of development activity. The list of Engineering development permits is online.

Other federal, state and local permits may be needed. Check with the local jurisdictions/districts for water and sanitary sewer hookup information. A good resource for checking what federal or state permits you may need for your development is a handbook titled “Commonly Required Environmental Permits for Washington State.”

11. What information is needed when the Engineering Division reviews my application?

At a minimum you will need to complete a Preliminary Traffic Concurrency Information form and Preliminary Stormwater Proposal form and submit them with your permit application. These forms are available online.

12. Why do I need to complete a Preliminary Stormwater Proposal?

Development Standards - Chapter 2 - Stormwater Management requires as a minimum that a Preliminary Stormwater Proposal be submitted. The Proposal is intended to provide the county with a general overview as related to a proposed project. The information will be used to determine which regulations apply and whether to require a more detailed Stormwater Design Report.

13. What is percent grade?

It is a percentage that represents the slope of the ground on your site. It is the increase or decrease in height of the ground (uphill or downhill) divided by the length of your site multiplied by 100 [(number of vertical feet (up or down)/ horizontal length of hill or site) x 100]. The linked guide (PDF) may also help you to determine the percent grade / slope of your site.

14. What is sight distance?

There are 3 types of sight distance: minimum stopping, minimum passing, and minimum at intersections. Sight Distance Definitions

15. Can I bond for the improvements?

Under some circumstances you may be able to request to post a security for certain required improvements. More Information

16. How are county road projects funded?

County road projects are principally funded by local funds generated via road taxes. However, the use of local county funds can be diminished by supplemental funds from a variety of sources. These supplemental funds are received by applying and completing a Whatcom County project with other counties’ and cities’ projects. A few of the various funding sources are federal bridge replacement funds, federal road project funds, state transportation improvement board funds, state rural arterial preservation funds and federal hazard elimination funds.

17. How can I make comments on the 1 year and 6 year road programs?

Both the Annual Road Program and the 6 Year Transportation Improvement Program are approved by the County Council and have a mandatory public hearing process associated with them. By watching for the announcement in the Bellingham Herald on the Council's agenda, or calling the Public Works Office, you can be informed of when the hearings will be held. Generally, the 6 Year Transportation Improvement Program is adopted in July, and the Annual Road Program is adopted in October.

18. How can I request that a roadway be improved?

The 6 Year Transportation Improvement Program, with its mandatory public hearing is the best way to get a project in front of the County Council and give your justification for improvement. Also, you may send a letter addressed to the County Road Engineer. Remember that a proposed project will be competing with other county projects based on traffic volumes, condition of the roadway, accident history, and proposed developments in addition to other factors.