Thurston County, Washington

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Thurston County Washington

CAD Report - the Critical Areas Determination Report

The county's Critical Areas Determination (CAD) report is not a permit. It's an on-property, in-person inspection (or inspections) to see if regulated critical and/or environmental areas are on a property. If there are critical areas, hire biological professionals with the expertise in the specific critical area to prepare reports detailing the location, type and size of the critical areas. These reports help you plan your project or guide your project experts to avoid putting buildings and development in or near these areas or their buffers, and to help identify which land-use regulations apply to the project.

About Critical Areas

  • Critical areas are shorelines, wetlands, lakes, rivers, streams, flood zones, high groundwater areas, steep slopes, special habitats, riparian and marine shoreline management zones. 
  • County codes regulate building and development in or near critical areas to meet state and federal safety and environmental rules. Learn more in critical area ordinance in county code Title 24
  • CAD reports let you, your builders and septic designers know where to place buildings, structures or a septic system on property to avoid critical areas. 
  • Knowing this information before designing a project can help property owners save on costly and time-consuming redesigns.
     

When to apply for a CAD and how long it takes

  • The CAD report is a good option for people who are trying to find out if the critical and/or environmental areas on a property may affect future building or development plans. Apply anytime.
  • It's also helpful if you want the county to review your expert reports and provide a county determination about the critical areas on your property. Apply after you get your environmental reports back from your consultants. Submit your reports with a completed CAD application. 
  • If you know your property has critical or regulated environmental areas, or you found these areas mapped on your property when looking at county maps, it's best to hire environmental experts to prepare environmental and critical area reports. You'll need these expert reports to help you site and design your project, complete forms, etc.  

How to Apply

Go to the Applications & Forms page then scroll down to Critical Areas Forms. The CAD is the first option. There you'll find the forms and instructions. You'll need a Site Plan in addition to the forms, but instructions are on the forms.