Business FAQ

The two primary resources available online are the Clark County Maps Online system and the Ridgefield Development Code, Title 18 of the Municipal Code.

After you've checked the County GIS and the Development Code regulations, the Planning Division is happy to help answer any questions. Please fill out our Online Planning Inquiry Form, and we will connect you with the staff person best able to help answer your inquiry.

Pending development projects are summarized in our monthly Community Development reports. All property owners within 300 feet of a proposed project will receive a notice from the City. You may also find notices online or by reading the legal notices section of The Reflector, the city's newspaper of record.

Depending on the type of projects, you can provide written comments or testify orally at a public hearing within the prescribed comment period. Staff will consider all public comments received, and comments that speak directly to the project approval criteria are the best way to influence the final decision. Please contact us for more information about the comment period and approval criteria for a specific project.

Fees vary based on the type of permit and are detailed in the Master Fee Schedule. All permit fees must be paid at the time of application submittal. The City uses a cost-recovery structure for some types of permits, which means that the initial fee is due at the time of the application and additional staff time required for review is billed to the applicant on a monthly basis.

Land use permit applications are available online and in person at City Hall. All applications require the Master Land Use Application and supporting applications specific to the review requested, such as subdivision or site plan. Please contact us or file a Planning Inquiry to determine which applications are required for your project.

Land use applications must be submitted by mail to:
City of Ridgefield
P.O. Box 608
Ridgefield, WA 98642

Or in person, deliverable to Ridgefield City Hall at 230 Pioneer Street and is open 8 am to 5 pm. Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications submitted electronically.

Generally, the higher the number, the greater the level of discretion and associated scrutiny involved in the decision-making process. A Type 1 process involves staff review of relatively straight-forward land use regulations, such as numerical standards like building height. A Type II process is also a staff review but involves some discretion to interpret the applicable regulations, such as whether a proposed downtown facade meets the district's design standards. A Type III process requires considerable discretion to determine whether a proposed development meets the approval criteria, such as minimizing impacts to neighboring users, and is decided by a Hearing Examiner.

It depends on the type of application. Generally, Type I applications can be reviewed in 2 to 4 weeks and Type II applications can be reviewed in 6 to 8 weeks, though review times vary depending on the thoroughness of the application and the Community Development Department's workload. Type III reviews, by law, cannot exceed 120 days; staff aims to complete their review in less time, but these are typically complex cases to each review process differs.

You are welcome to attend Planning Commission meetings, held the first Wednesday of every month, and participate in public hearings. If you are interested in serving on Planning Commission, please complete an application and submit to City Hall. We will put you in touch with the Chair of the Planning Commission to discuss future opportunities.