Agritourism

AN ACT Relating to promoting agritourism in Washington; amending 1
RCW 36.70A.177; adding a new section to chapter 36.70 RCW; adding a 2
new section to chapter 19.27 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 3
66.24 RCW. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 36.70A.177 and 2006 c 147 s 1 are each amended to 6
read as follows: 7
(1) A county or a city may use a variety of innovative zoning 8
techniques in areas designated as agricultural lands of long-term 9
commercial significance under RCW 36.70A.170. The innovative zoning 10
techniques should be designed to conserve agricultural lands and 11
encourage the agricultural economy. Except as provided in subsection 12
(3) of this section, a county or city should encourage 13
nonagricultural uses to be limited to lands with poor soils or 14
otherwise not suitable for agricultural purposes. 15
(2) Innovative zoning techniques a county or city may consider 16
include, but are not limited to: 17
(a) Agricultural zoning, which limits the density of development 18
and restricts or prohibits nonfarm uses of agricultural land and may 19
allow accessory uses, including nonagricultural accessory uses and 20
S-0271.1
SENATE BILL 5055
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Warnick, Wagoner, Chapman, Dozier, and Wellman
Prefiled 12/13/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Local Government.
p. 1 SB 5055
activities, that support, promote, or sustain agricultural operations 1
and production, as provided in subsection (3) of this section;2
(b) Cluster zoning, which allows new development on one portion 3
of the land, leaving the remainder in agricultural or open space 4
uses; 5
(c) Large lot zoning, which establishes as a minimum lot size the 6
amount of land necessary to achieve a successful farming practice;7
(d) Quarter/quarter zoning, which permits one residential 8
dwelling on a one-acre minimum lot for each one-sixteenth of a 9
section of land; and 10
(e) Sliding scale zoning, which allows the number of lots for 11
single-family residential purposes with a minimum lot size of one 12
acre to increase inversely as the size of the total acreage 13
increases. 14
(3) Accessory uses allowed under subsection (2)(a) of this 15
section shall comply with the following: 16
(a) Accessory uses shall be located, designed, and operated so as 17
to not interfere with, and to support the continuation of, the 18
overall agricultural use of the property and neighboring properties, 19
and shall comply with the requirements of this chapter;20
(b) Accessory uses may include: 21
(i) Agricultural accessory uses and activities, including but not 22
limited to the storage, distribution, and marketing of regional 23
agricultural products from one or more producers, agriculturally 24
related experiences, or the production, marketing, and distribution 25
of value-added agricultural products, including support services that 26
facilitate these activities; ((and))27
(ii) Nonagricultural accessory uses and activities as long as 28
they are consistent with the size, scale, and intensity of the 29
existing agricultural use of the property and the existing buildings 30
on the site. Nonagricultural accessory uses and activities, including 31
new buildings, parking, or supportive uses, shall not be located 32
outside the general area already developed for buildings and 33
residential uses and shall not otherwise convert more than one acre 34
of agricultural land to nonagricultural uses; and 35
(iii) Agritourism activities, as defined in RCW 4.24.830, that 36
generate supplemental income for farms by connecting their resources 37
and products with visitors. Such activities may include direct sales, 38
educational activities, entertainment, seasonal outdoor activities, 39
and hospitality. In order to be included as accessory uses, 40
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activities must promote agriculture and rural character within 1
agricultural zones and must be related to the on-site agriculture. 2
Counties may permit agritourism after consultation with neighboring 3
landowners and after creating criteria regarding adequate water, 4
septic, and parking as well as curfews and seasons of use to avoid 5
disturbing the peace and quiet enjoyment of neighbors and 6
interference with neighboring agriculture; and 7
(c) Counties and cities have the authority to limit or exclude 8
accessory uses otherwise authorized in this subsection (3) in areas 9
designated as agricultural lands of long-term commercial 10
significance. 11
(4) This section shall not be interpreted to limit agricultural 12
production on designated agricultural lands. 13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 36.70 14
RCW to read as follows: 15
(1) Counties may adopt ordinances to permit agritourism 16
activities, as defined in RCW 4.24.830, that generate supplemental 17
income for farms in agricultural zones. Such activities may include 18
direct sales, educational activities, entertainment, seasonal outdoor 19
activities, and hospitality. In order to be included as accessory 20
uses, activities must promote agriculture and rural character within 21
agricultural zones and must be related to the on-site agriculture. 22
Counties may permit agritourism after consultation with neighboring 23
landowners and after creating criteria regarding adequate water, 24
septic, and parking as well as curfews and seasons of use to avoid 25
disturbing the peace and quiet enjoyment of neighbors and 26
interference with neighboring agriculture. 27
(2) The presence of agritourism activities may not be used as a 28
basis to change the taxation category of the land.29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 19.27 30
RCW to read as follows: 31
Agricultural buildings also used for agritourism purposes are not 32
required to meet additional commercial standards if the venue is only 33
open six months or less every year. 34
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 66.24 35
RCW to read as follows: 36
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(1) There shall be a beer and wine license to be issued to an 1
agritourism venue for the sale of beer, strong beer, and wine for on-2
premises consumption. 3
(2) Agritourism venues may sell beer and wine for off-premises 4
consumption if the beer and wine is manufactured by a microbrewery or 5
craft winery located within the state. 6
(3) Agritourism venues must provide a plan to prevent minors from 7
unlawfully accessing alcoholic beverages. 8
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