Frequently Asked Questions

Our office is located in the Yakima County Courthouse, 128 North 2nd Street, Room 115.  The Drive Thru Facility is located north of the Courthouse at 217 N. 1st St. Both locations are open to assist the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Our office does not track whether or not you have an escrow account. You are legally the taxpayer and we work directly with you. You have a contractual relationship with your mortgage company that does not involve our office. Most mortgage companies request that information electronically. You may wish to verify with your mortgage company as to whether or not they want you to forward your tax statement to them.

It is always your responsibility to ensure taxes are paid in a timely manner. You can check online to see your paid taxes and print receipts.

Property taxes become delinquent May 1st for first-half and November 1st for second-half.  

• Interest accrues at 0.75% per month on the current year taxes for residential real property with four or fewer units per taxable parcel on the full year amount of taxes and/or assessments owing.  Prior years taxes and all other parcels will accrue interest at 1% per month.
• Penalty of 3% will be assessed on June 1st and an 8% penalty will be assessed on December 1st for all residential real property with greater than four units per taxable parcel and all personal property parcels.
• All real and personal property taxes where the current year's taxes are more than $50 may be paid in half with any applicable interest only through October 30th; on October 31st, those taxes are due in full.  All other property taxes where current year's taxes are than $50, must have 1st half paid by April 30th to avoid costs

Real property foreclosure begins May 1st for real property taxes/assessments delinquent 3 or more years.  Collection fees will be assessed during this process.

Personal property distraint begins May 1st for first-half and November 1st for second-half.  Collection fees are assessed starting on those dates.

There is a secure drop box located outside the entrance of the Courthouse and a secure drive-up drop box located across from the Courthouse on the north side of Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, both available 24/7. There is also a drop box located along the West Wall outside of our office.

You may do this via our website at  Name and Address Change Request, on the back of your payment coupon or by sending us a signed note requesting the change. Be sure to include your parcel number(s) on all correspondence with our office.

To make a change to the mailing address for the owner record, you will need to contact the Yakima County Assessor's Office at 509-574-1100.

Note: Changing the taxpayer name or address is solely for the purpose of receiving a property tax and assessment statement. It does not change the ownership or vesting. To change the ownership or vesting on a parcel, please seek legal guidance.

Our office may not have your most current mailing address. However, you do not need the property tax statement to make your payment. You can find your tax and assessment information under the heading of Pay Property Taxes. Just include your parcel number with your payment to avoid any complications in having your payment applied.

Please remember, even if you have not received your property tax statement, it is your responsibility to pay the taxes in a timely manner to avoid delinquent charges.

This information is located under the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 458-18-215 and may be accessed in the Paying Property Taxes Under Protest (PDF). You must follow the directions provided explicitly in order to maintain your right to an appeal.

Real property foreclosure begins May 1st for real property taxes/assessments delinquent 3 or more years.   Personal property taxes where current year's taxes are less than $50, must have 1st half paid by April 30th to avoid Distraint and associated costs.  Personal property taxes where current year's taxes are more than $50 for the entire year, must be paid by October 31st to avoid Distraint and associated costs.

If a parcel is sold at a foreclosure sale for an amount greater than the minimum bid, the surplus monies (excess proceeds) can be claimed by the previous recorded title owner provided that all registered liens having a legal right to claim the money have been satisfied.  If a valid claim has not been received after a three year period, the surplus is deposited into County funds. (RCW 84.64.080).  

The amount of fees or compensation provided to third parties assisting in locating or purporting to locate any property or surplus funds is limited to 5% of the value returned to the rightful owner under RCW 63.29.350.  Any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than the amount of the fee or charge he or she has sought or received or contracted for, and not more than 10 times such amount, or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both.

Any property/mobile home located in the following city limits are subject to a 1.78% excise tax fee plus an additional $5 for a state technology fee: Grandview, Granger, Mabton, Sunnyside, Union Gap, Wapato, Yakima and Zillah.

All other locations are subject to a 1.53% excise tax fee plus the additional $5 for the state technology fee.

Note: Excise tax and/or transfer fees must be paid in cash or certified funds.

The Washington State Department of Revenue maintains the most current excise tax rates.

There is a Real Estate Excise Tax Supplemental Statement (PDF) that must be signed by all parties, and it must accompany the completion of a Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit and your conveyance document.

The forms you will need are available at the County Auditor's Office or at any licensing sub-agent. Most forms are also available on the Washinton State Department of Licensing website. When at the State DOL website, click on the button called "Forms" on the upper right side of the page, in the banner header. You can call the Licensing Division at 509-574-1400 or access the Washington State Department of Licensing

To learn more and apply online visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The Sheriff is the top law enforcement officer in Yakima County. The Sheriff's Office focuses on areas in the county without police departments. For issues within city limits, please contact your local police departments.

To file a police report, you contact the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over where the crime occurred. For crimes occurring in the unincorporated areas of Yakima County (outside a city’s limits), or within the towns of Harrah and Naches, you may contact the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch for non-emergencies at 509-574-2500 ext. 0. For emergencies and crimes in progress, please call 9-1-1.

Of course, the 1st thing you should do is call your local law enforcement agency. Do a walk-through of your home, making a note of all the items that are missing. Try not to touch anything that would appear to be evidence or used in the crime. Look for shoe prints (if they kicked the door. Contrary to popular TV shows, it is unlikely that fingerprints will be of much help. But if you do find a set on some glass or in some dust that doesn't belong there, let the officer know. The officer will also want to know the time of your departure from and return to your home.

If you know the name of the deputy assigned to your case, please contact them directly if they provided you with a business card. If you know the name of a detective assigned to your case, you may contact them at 509-574-2500 ext. 3. If you do not know the name of the deputy assigned to your case but believe your case is still under active investigation, you may contact records at 509-574-2500 ext. 2, option 2.

If you would like to submit a request for Yakima County Sheriff’s Office records, please click here: Public Records Portal.

We issue dog licenses for residents living in the county, not the city limits of a city. We have applications at our office and on our website, or you can purchase them online.

Proof of current rabies vaccination is mandatory.

Proof of spay/neuter if applicable. Highly recommended.

To obtain information on registered Level II and Level III Sex Offenders and Kidnap Offenders in your neighborhood, please use the online Sex Offender Search.

The Jail Roster contains the names of all inmates currently housed in the Yakima County Jail. This list does not include persons on home detention, at Western State Hospital, or on probation.

Apply for a concealed pistol license with the County Sheriff if you live in the country areas. If you live in the city limits of Yakima, apply with the Yakima Police; otherwise, visit your local police department.

To get information on the laws dealing with firearms, go to the Department of Licensing Firearms Desk website.

Visit the Washington State Attorney General’s website for reciprocity agreements with other states and general firearms FAQs. To find out if other states honor Washington’s CPL, check with each state you plan to visit.

To transfer firearm ownership, you may contact any federally licensed firearms dealer.

Criminal History can be obtained from the "WSP WATCH" program on the Washington State Patrol website, wsp.wa.gov. You may also get a synopsis called a DCH (Defendant Case History) from the District Court located in room 225 on the 2nd floor of the Yakima County Courthouse, 128 N 2^nd St, Yakima.

You may contact your local law enforcement office to ascertain if they take fingerprints for personal needs.

If you live within the city limits of Yakima, you may schedule a fingerprint appointment on their website.

If you live in the unincorporated area of Yakima County, you may schedule a fingerprint appointment on the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office website.

You can find crime statistics online at crime statistics.

Follow this link to find a location for a safe, free, and convenient place to drop off household medications.

If protection is needed from a person with whom you are related or have a domestic relationship, go to:

Superior Court
128 N 2nd Street, 3rd Floor
Yakima, WA 98901

If protection is needed from a person with whom you have no relation or domestic relationship, go to:

District Court
128 N 2nd Street, 2nd Floor
Yakima, WA 98901

You must provide information on all the persons involved, including birthdays and contact information.

Paying fines can be confusing because where to pay depends on the police agency that issued the ticket.  If you have the ticket, check for the court’s name, address, and phone number on it.  If you do not have the ticket or do not find the court contact, and the ticket is from Washington State Patrol, call the district court in the county where you received the ticket.  Be ready with your full name and driver’s license number.  For tickets received from other police agencies, contact them directly.

Contact our office at 509-574-2500 ext. 0. An officer will need three pieces of information:

•    A description of the vehicle

•    A license plate number

•    A description of the driver

To become a deputy, read our Deputy Tips page.

A separate petition for protection shall be filed for each respondent. 

If law enforcement is serving, you can register your protection order with WA Protective Order Service. This free, automated service lets you know when a order has been served. You can call 1-877-242-4055 or visit www.registervpo.com

A single petition for protection may be filed on behalf of a marital community where both parties reside at the same address, or on behalf of minor children who reside at the petitioner’s address. In all other cases a separate petition must be filed by each adult

No, an attorney is not required. You can fil out the forms yourself. 

The District Court must transfer to Superior Court when the respondent is under the age of 18 years. 

You can pay in person Yakima: Room # 225. 128 N. 2^nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901, or Grandview: 1313 W. Wine County Road, Grandview, WA 98930.

You can also pay online at https://client.pointandpay.net/web/YakimaCountyDistrictCourtWA

Let the court know and we will make arrangements to have an interpreter available for your court hearing at no cost to you. 

A Judge/Commissioner will review your petition within 24 hours. You may call the court at 574-1804 or use the live chat feature on the court’s website https://www.yakimacounty.us/2742/Protection-Orders to ask the status of your petition. 

The filing fee for an anti-harassment order is $83

You may estimate the respondent’s age, but you must fill out the attached Law Enforcement and Confidential Information sheet to the best of your ability. Please note that if the order can not be served, the order will not be valid. 

More than one type of order may apply, but you will need to chose the one that best fits your situation. For more information about each type of protection order click here. 

You may contact the Legal Resources for civil Protection Orders https://www.yakimacounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/33275/Legal-Resources or the Local Community Resources https://www.yakimacounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/33385/Local-Community-Resource-List

Where do I pay my water/sewer bill? (Click Here)

For questions about your billing, please call Yakima County Public Services Accounting at 509-574- 2290.

If you have minor children (under age 18) involved in your divorce, you must take the mandatory class called Online Parenting Programs. Both parties are supposed to attend this class, but the minimum requirement is that the petitioner completes the class. The judge will not finalize your divorce unless you have taken this class. For more information visit the Parenting Classes page.

If your case is contested, you will have to go to court. 

If you have minor children (under the age of 18) with your spouse, you are required to take a mandatory parenting class. Online Parenting Programs.com has been approved by Yakima County Superior Court to meet this requirement. Your certificate must be filed in the Clerk's office (Room 323).

You can view a flyer of the program in English and Spanish.

The water test for nitrate and coliform costs roughly $40-$78. This cost is as of January 2024. 

If you get your drinking water from a private well and are located within the Lower Yakima Valley (outside of the Yakama Nation) and would like to get your well tested, contact the Lower Yakima Valley GWMA Nitrate Treatment Program Hotline: 1-866-886-7117.

The jail does not provide court date and time information as it is always changing, instead we ask that you contact the court that will be hearing the case. You can access court contact information

The mailing address is:

Yakima County Jail-1120

P. O. Box 96777

Las Vegas, NV 89193

Aberdeen City Jail 210 East Market Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520 (360) 533-3180 

Adams County Jail 210 West Broadway, Ritzville, WA 99169 (509) 659-1122

Asotin County Jail 838 5th Street, Clarkston, WA 99403 (509) 758-1668  

Benton County Jail 7122 West Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336 (509) 783-1451 * 

Buckley City Jail 133 South Cedar Street, Buckley, WA 98321 (360) 829-3157 

Chelan County Jail 401 Washington Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801 (509) 667-6462 * 

Clallam County Jail 223 East 4th Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362 (360) 417-2458 

Clark County Jail 707 West 13th Street, Vancouver, WA 92470 (360) 397-2211 * 

Columbia County Jail 341 East Main Street, Dayton, WA 99328 (509) 382-2518 * 

Cowlitz County Jail 1935 1st Avenue, Longview, WA 98632 (360) 577-3094 * 

Douglas County Jail 401 Washington Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801 (509) 667-6462 

Enumclaw City Jail 1705 Wells Street, Enumclaw, WA 98022 (360) 825-3505 

Ferry County Jail 165 North Jefferson Avenue, Republic, WA 99166 (509) 775-2906 * 

Fife City Jail 3737 Pacific Highway East, Fife, WA 98424 (253) 922-6633 

Forks City Jail 500 East Division Street, Forks, WA 98331 (360) 374-2223 * 

Franklin County Jail 1016 North 4th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301 (509) 545-3549 * 

Garfield County Jail 789 Main Street, Pomeroy, WA 99347 (509) 843-3494 

Grand View City Jail 207 West Second Street, Grandview, WA 98930 (509) 882-9200 

Grant County Jail 35 C Street Northwest, Ephrata, WA 98823 (509) 754-2011 ext 480 * 

Grays Harbor County Jail 100 West Broadway Avenue, Montesano, WA 98563 (360) 249-6070 * 

Hoquiam City Jail 215 10th Street, Hoquiam, WA 98550 (360) 532-0892 

Island County Jail 101 6th Street Northeast, Coupeville, WA 98239 (360) 679-7324 

Issaquah City Jail 130 East Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA 98027 (425) 837-3265 * 

Jefferson County Jail 79 Elkins Road, Port Hadlock, WA 98339 (360) 385-3831 * 

Kent City Jail 1230 South Central Avenue, Kent, WA 98032 (253) 856-5960 * 

King County Jail 516 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 296-3564 * ?

Regional Justice Center 620 West James Street, Kent 98032 (206) 296-1234 

Kirkland City Jail 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 (425) 587-3400 

Kitsap County Jail 614 Division MS-37, Port Orchard, WA 98366 (360) 337-7101 * 

Kittitas County Jail 205 West 5th Avenue, Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509) 962-7527 * 

Klickitat County Jail 205 South Columbus, Goldendale, WA 98620 (509) 773-3666 * 

Lewis County Jail 360 Northwest North Street, Chehalis, WA 98532 (360) 748-9241 * 

Lincoln County Jail 404 Sinclair Street, Davenport, WA 99122 (509) 725-2255 * 

Lynnwood City Jail 19321 44th Avenue West, Lynnwood, WA 98036 (425) 670-5600 

Marysville City Detention Center 1635 Grove Street, Marysville, WA 98270 (360) 363-8303 

Mason County Jail 411 North 4th Street, Shelton, WA 98584 (360) 427-7753 * 

Oak Harbour City Jail 860 SE Barrington Drive, Oak Harbour, WA (360) 279-4600 

Okanogan County Jail 149 4th Avenue North, Okanogan, WA 98840 (509) 422-7230 * 

Olympia City Jail 900 Plum Street South East, Olympia, WA 98507 (360) 753-8417 

Pacific County Jail 300 Memorial Drive, South Bend, WA 98586 (360) 875-9396 * 

Pend Oreille County Jail 331 South Garden Avenue, Newport, WA 99156 (509) 447-3151 

Pierce County Jail 910 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 798-4668 * 

Puyallup City Jail 311 West Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98371 (253) 841-5425 * 

Renton City Jail 1055 South Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057 (425) 430-7600 

San Juan County Jail 96 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 (360) 378-4151 

Score Regional Jail 20817 17th Avenue South, Des Moines, WA 98198 (206) 257-6200 * 

Skagit County Jail 600 South 3rd Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 336-9448 * 

Skamania County Jail 200 Vancouver Avenue, Stevenson, WA 98648 (509) 427-9490 * 

Snohomish County Jail 3025 Oakes Avenue, Everett, WA 98201 (425) 388-3395 * 

Spokane County Jail 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201 (509) 477-2278 * ?

Geiger Corrections 3507 South Spotted Road, Spokane 99224 (509) 477-3259 

Stevens County Jail 215 South Oak Street, Colville, WA 99114 (509) 684-4707 

Sunnyside City Jail 401 Homer Street, Sunnyside, WA 98944 (509) 836-6200 

Thurston County Jail 2000 Lakeridge Drive, Olympia, WA 98502 (360) 786-5510 * 

Toppenish City Jail 1 West First Avenue, Toppenish, WA 98948 (509) 865-4355 

Wahkiakum County Jail 64 Main Street, Cathlamet, WA 98612 (360) 795-3242 

Walla Walla County Jail 300 West Alder Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362 (509) 524-5430 * 

Wapato City Jail 205 South Simcoe Avenue, Wapato, WA 98951 (509) 877-4275 

Whatcom County Jail 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 676-6848 * 

Whitman County Jail 411 North Mill Street, Colfax, WA 99111 (509) 397-5585 * 

Yakima County Department of Corrections 111 N Front Street, Yakima, WA 98901 (509) 574- 1700 * 

Yakima City Jail 200 South 3rd Street, Yakima, WA 98901 (509) 575-6200 *

You must file an appeal petition with the Yakima County Board of Equalization by July 1 of the assessment year or within 60 days of when the change of value notice was mailed, whichever date is later. Appeal forms are available in person from the Clerk of the Board or the Assessor's Office. More information is available on the Board of Equalization Website about appealing your value.

The rule of thumb for recycling is that items should be larger than the size of your palm. Smaller items can fall through sorting conveyor belts and are disposed as garbage. Shredded paper in cardboard boxes or paper bags can get loose in recycling trucks and at recycling centers and cause contamination.  Shredded paper is no longer accepted at Yakima County Landfills or in curbside recycling.  Shredded paper can be dropped off a Central Washington Recycling in Yakima.  

In May of 2005, Yakima County passed an unsecured load ordinance (Yakima County Code Section 6.02.030) to help prevent roadside litter and to encourage the safe transport of material over our roadways. The Yakima County unsecured load fee varies depending on the capacity of your vehicle. Littering and driving with an unsecured vehicle load are against the law in Washington, with fines up to $5,000. More information about Washington state and unsecured loads can be found here: Ecology Washington State.

Stormwater is water from rain and snowmelt. As rain and snow falls to earth in agricultural and undeveloped areas, it is either absorbed or it slowly runs off and dissipates. In urban areas, where rooftops and paved areas prevent the water from being absorbed, problems arise as the runoff collects pollutants and carries them to nearby streams and lakes. Pollutants include gasoline, oil, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and bacteria.

Polluted stormwater runoff is a leading cause of impairment to the nearly 40% of surveyed U.S. water bodies which do not meet water quality standards. Left uncontrolled, this water pollution can result in the destruction of fish, wildlife, and aquatic life habitats; a loss in aesthetic value; and threats to public health due to contaminated food, drinking water supplies, and recreational waterways.

A pollutant is anything that pollutes the water, or makes it dirty, unhealthy, or unsafe. The most common pollutants in stormwater are sediment, garbage, human and animal feces, motor oil, leaves and yard clippings, fertilizers and pesticides, but the list of pollutants that can make water toxic and unsafe is long. In reality, anything dumped or dropped on the ground or in the gutter may contribute to stormwater pollution as it flows into our creeks, rivers and lakes.

No. They are 2 completely separate drainage systems. Wastewater from sinks, showers, toilets and washing machines travels through the sanitary sewer system to the municipal wastewater treatment plant where solids, nutrients, pathogens and bacteria are removed before being discharged into the Yakima River. On the other hand, the water entering roadside ditches or the storm drain system flows directly to the nearest water body.

Only stormwater, runoff from rain or snowmelt, is permitted to be discharged in the storm drain. Yakima County’s illicit discharge ordinance prohibits any water other than stormwater, or any materials, pollutants, or waters containing pollutants other than stormwater, to be put into stormwater facilities. Storm drains discharge directly to surface waters or groundwater without treatment, which means only water that is free of pollutants is permitted to be put into storm drains. 

Yakima County’s Stormwater Code, Chapter 12.10, has more information on what is and isn’t allowed to go into the storm drain.

Mandated by Congress under the Clean Water Act, the NPDES Stormwater Program is a comprehensive 2-phased national program for addressing the non-agricultural sources of stormwater discharges that adversely affect the quality of our nation's waters.

The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from discharging "pollutants" through a "point source" into a "water of the United States" unless they have an NPDES permit. The program uses the NPDES permitting mechanism to require the implementation of controls designed to prevent harmful pollutants found in stormwater runoff from washing into local water bodies. The permit contains limits on what you can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the discharge does not hurt water quality or people's health.

In essence, the permit translates general requirements of the Clean Water Act into specific provisions tailored to the operations of each person discharging pollutants. In Washington, the Washington State Department of Ecology administers the NPDES program. The Environmental Protection Agency has more information about the program on the NPDES website.

The NPDES stormwater permit regulations cover the following classes of stormwater discharges:

• Operators of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) located in local Urban Growth Areas and "urbanized areas" as delineated by the Bureau of the Census.
• Industrial facilities in any of the 11 categories that discharge to an MS4 or to waters of the United States; all categories of industrial activity (except construction) may certify to a condition of "no exposure" if their industrial materials and operations are not exposed to stormwater, thus eliminating the need to obtain stormwater permit coverage.
• Operators of construction activity that disturbs 1 or more acres of land; construction sites less than 1 acre are covered if part of a larger plan of development.
• Sand and gravel operators.

Any pipe, ditch or gully, or system of pipes, ditches, or gullies, that is owned or operated by a governmental entity and used for collecting and conveying storm water.

Regulated MS4s are those that discharge to surface or ground waters and are designated based on its location within an urbanized area, or otherwise identified by Ecology. MS4s that discharge to groundwater using Underground Injection Control (UIC), also known as drywells, are exempt from the permit. The Department of Ecology has an online map of all Washington state municipal stormwater permit areas.

Any violation of the conditions of the Regional NPDES permit would be considered an infringement of the State of Washington Water Pollution Control Law (Chapter 90.48 RCW) and the National Clean Water Act and would be subject to enforcement action by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Any permittee could be fined up to $25,000 per day, per violation, for failure to comply with the conditions of the permit.

A stormwater utility generates revenue by charging users, property owners, a fee based on the expected amount of stormwater runoff from the property. These fees are then used to implement stormwater management programs in a given jurisdiction.

Yakima County’s stormwater utility was created in 2008. The utility assesses an annual user fee to approximately 10,500 parcels within the service area and generates an operating budget of approximately $500,000 in order to fund stormwater management activities required by the Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater permit.

The United States EPA issued new stormwater regulations in 1999 that require communities the size of Yakima, Union Gap, Selah, Sunnyside, and urban Yakima County to control water pollution from stormwater runoff. These Phase II communities are required to implement municipal stormwater programs that will reduce stormwater pollution discharges. Washington State Department of Ecology, that administers the NPDES program in Washington, issued the Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit on February 16, 2007. The permit requires communities that meet certain criteria to perform 6 control measures, comply with any TMDL processes and monitor the effectiveness of their program. This is known as the “6+2” requirement.

Stormwater utilities in each community provide revenue to pay for operation and maintenance of stormwater infrastructure and permit compliance for stormwater discharges. Yakima County’s stormwater utility pays for the stormwater management program, which manages a wide variety of services and activities. The following is a list of some of the primary services and activities:

• Inspection of construction sites for erosion and sediment control
• Inspection of private stormwater facilities for operation and maintenance
• Review of development plans for surface water management
• Response to citizen inquiries, violation reports, and complaints
• Detection and elimination of prohibited discharges to the storm sewer system
• Storm sewer system mapping
• Public drainage and storm sewer maintenance, repair, and improvement
• Water quality improvement activities (regulatory and local needs based)
• Water quality improvement projects
• Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
• Stormwater facility retrofits
• Public outreach and education activities
• Recordkeeping and report preparation

The utility service areas for the cities of Yakima and Sunnyside are the city limits. Selah and Union Gap currently do not have a stormwater utility. For urban Yakima County, the utility service area is the larger of either the Urban Growth Area, or the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census definition of “urban” based on population density. The County utility service area mirrors the extent of the regulated municipal storm sewer system defined in the Washington Department of Ecology Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit. A map of the Yakima County Stormwater Utility boundary is available online. 

Impervious surface means those disturbed or hard surfaced areas that either prevent or impede the natural entry of water into the soil. Rooftops, buildings, streets, parking lots, sidewalks, asphalt, concrete, other paving, driveways, patios, artificial turf and storage areas are all examples of impervious surfaces. These improvements effect natural infiltration, creates more runoff, increases the rate of runoff and alters runoff patterns of stormwater that drains from an area.

No. The stormwater utility fee is a user fee. Although the fee is a cost to property owners, it is not a tax on the value of the property. It is assessed depending on the amount of impervious surface which is related to the amount of stormwater runoff. The stormwater utility fee is collected to finance current costs associated with stormwater management in the urban areas of Yakima County. This is similar to fees collected to handle and manage solid waste.

Almost every property discharges some stormwater into the public drainage systems, even if it is not noticeable to you. Many properties generally discharge runoff during snow melt when ground conditions are frozen. If absolutely no stormwater drains from your property, even during severe storms or periods of frozen ground, you may still be served by the existence of a regional stormwater program.

Public properties also discharge to the public drainage system, thus stormwater from the roads you drive on, parks you recreate in, and emergency service facilities you rely on contribute to stormwater pollution. Keep in mind that a lot of stormwater does run off from other properties. Properly controlling that stormwater runoff is a very real service to you and other property owners.

The pollutants in stormwater go to area creeks, streams, and lakes and affect the health of people, fish, wildlife and other natural resources that depend on those habitats. That same water is pumped for irrigation on crops and for use in drinking water. Stormwater quality affects everyone, even though the sources are generally a result of urbanization.

The prioritization and scheduling of paving gravel roads is under the direction of the County Road Engineer. Based on selected criteria (not limited to: daily traffic counts, surrounding development and zoning, safety concerns, and available funding; among others) gravel roads are included in the Gravel Priority Array, which is taken into consideration when developing the County's 6-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The TIP assists the County in planning and prioritizing County road projects within a financially constrained budget.

Road Improvement Districts (RIDs) are a voluntarily-imposed (voted) taxing authority on selected properties to generate revenue for a specific transportation project. In coordination with the County Road Engineer, an RID is placed on a special ballot for affected property owners to approve an assessment on their property taxes dedicated to funding the road project. Inquiries on creating an RID can be directed to the County Road Engineer at 509-574-2300.

Yakima County maintains nearly 570 miles of gravel roads throughout the County.   In recent years there have been limited or no available funding sources for gravel roads in most situations, which has significantly limited Yakima County's ability to pave gravel roads.  As a result of this, Yakima County must prioritize which roads get paved based on available funding, and has at most been paving a gravel road every other year.  To minimize airborne dust on gravel roadways, the Road Maintenance Department also performs a one-time yearly dust abatement treatment on most gravel roads.

To find out when your gravel road may be dust abated or paved, contact our Road Maintenance Department at 509-574-2300.

To minimize airborne dust on gravel roadways, the Road Maintenance Department performs a one-time yearly dust abatement treatment on over 350 miles of gravel roads. Usually performed during the months of May and June, dust abatement techniques are intended to limit but not eliminate airborne dust. To find out when your gravel road may be dust abated, contact Yakima County Public Services at 509-574-2300 or or view the current year list here.

Each year, we work with the supplier to ensure the bulk pricing we receive for the programs is available to individuals whose roads did not make the cut.  This is only available for Yakima County roads and is not an option for non-county roads, private roads or driveways.  After you have purchased the material from the vendor, we pick it up, prepare your road and apply the material at no additional cost.   If you would like additional information or to make use of this service, please contact the Road Maintenance Supervisor at (509) 574-2396 or fill out an Online Maintenance Request Form. We will meet with you on sight, recommend a treatment area and provide pricing. We will then walk you through the steps to purchase the product directly from the vendor.

Yakima County Road Maintenance conducts a visual survey and assigns a dust sensitive score to road segments every 2 years. This scoring is based on a variety of factors. Number of Homes per mile, within 300 feet of the roadway, Dust sensitive Crops per shoulder mile, within 300 feet of the roadway, Sensitive receptors (schools, gathering places, daycares, etc.) Average Daily Traffic, Posted Speed Limit, Accident Records, and land values. The number of miles we can shoot within a program year is largely dictated by the current material bid price. Material is roughly 80% of the per mile cost. If you did not receive dust abatement it is usually due to the score of your road being below the threshold of accumulative miles, we can treat, under the current year’s budget.

There are 500 plus miles of gravel road within Yakima County.  We understand the impact this scoring has on your road with respect to it receiving treatment or not.  We strive to be as accurate in identifying homes, crops, etc., to fairly score your road.   This does not mean that we are always perfect. Our staff is always willing to discuss your road and provide the survey information to see if we have missed something.  Feel free to call us at (509) 574-2396 or fill out an Online Maintenance Request Form to discuss this with a Road Maintenance Supervisor.

Yakima County does not have a speed bump installation program in place at this point in time.  Yakima County does not install speed bumps, and will not until such a program is put in place.  Some considerations that will go into such a program include:

• Supermajority support from the neighborhood to either install or remove speed bumps
• Road drainage; water must be removed in a safe manner from the roadway so that it does not puddle and damage the existing pavement
• Road grade; steep roads are not great locations for such installations due to the potential for the devices to become aerial ramps
• Existing speed limits, speed of traffic
• Collision rates on the roadway
• Roadway classification

Yakima County does not have an ordinance in place against ordinary (muffled) compression brake use, and therefore such signs are not installed along Yakima County roadways.  Unmuffled compression brakes are already prohibited and penalized by state law, and additional signs are not needed for enforcement.  Details of this are outlined in RCW 46.37.395.  Some points in favor of compression brakes use:

• Compression brakes are a safety feature and we do not wish to limit or regulate a drivers ability to operate their vehicle as legally configured to operate as safely as possible.  Compression brakes can reduce stopping times by up to 30%.
• Medium and Heavy trucks built after 1979 are limited to 83 dBa and after 1988, 80 dBa by Federal regulation. While this isn’t necessarily quiet, it is a reasonable noise level similar to a vacuum cleaner, garbage disposal, or bus. 
• Modern trucks have automatic transmissions and in talking to our County truck drivers we have found they prefer to use compression braking for speed control even more in automatics than when driving a manual transmission truck – especially on a sustained grades.
• Modern trucks have fairly quiet compression brakes. 

Certainly, there are non-complying vehicles in terms of their noise levels.  These non-complying brakes are loud and disruptive, but enforcement is very difficult, requiring direct observation by an officer and the ability to accurately discern whether or not they are in compliance.  Often non-complying brakes are found on older farm trucks.  WAC 173-62-060 specifies enforcement criteria and states the “Measurements shall be made with a sound level meter meeting Type 1, S1A, 2 or S2A requirements as specified in the American National Standards Specifications for Sound Level Meters S1.4-1971 as required under measurement procedures established in chapter 204-56 WAC, "procedures for measuring motor vehicle sound levels." WAC 204-56 was repealed circa 1997/1998. We believe this WAC was repealed because it presented rigorous methodology that was more appropriate in a controlled setting than actual field conditions, and we are unaware of any replacement WAC.  So in order to enforce, Law Enforcement formerly needed special tools and training and effort.  Currently, we are unaware of specifications for level and how to determine it other than reliance on the Federal regulation - CFR 205.54-1,2 - also very rigorous and specialized in terms of measurement.  This is a difficult predicament for law enforcement  for enforcement which is a significant contributor to why the county does not have an ordinance in place.  

WSDOT South Central Region shares similar sentiments about compression brakes, and does not post signs prohibiting their use on state roads, excepting within city limits where they are prohibited, and even then WSDOT only posts these signs when requested by the local agency.

There is no standard process or petition form available for the adoption of a private road by Yakima County.  Private Roads are only rarely accepted into the Public Road network.

Yakima County maintains a stance that, prior to being considered for adoption, a private road must already meet Yakima County standards.  Specifically, a road must meet modern AASHTO Paved Road standards.  Yakima County is reluctant to adopt substandard roadways into our already existing 500+ miles of gravel roads.  Property owners can express their views during commissioner hearings, but the prerequisite for adoption will remain adherence to Yakima County standards.  This approach is standard throughout many agencies, as the cost of paving a road to bring it up to modern standards is often over $1 million per mile, and road construction funds are finite.

Furthermore, even if a private road is built or improved to meet Yakima County Standards, there is no guarantee of adoption into the public road network.  Meeting Yakima County standards is considered the bare minimum for consideration as a condition of recommendation.  Yakima County's recommendation depends on many factors, including whether or not there would be a benefit granted to the public by adopting the roadway.  The final determination to adopt a roadway or not is made by the Board of County Commissioners.  We recommend you contact us at (509)574-2300 to discuss this further.

Yakima County maintains a list of all paved, public, non-incorporated roads where striping is done or maintained.  This list is called the "longitudinal pavement marking list."  In order for a road to be added to this list, it must meet the Yakima County Roads Policy established for Longitudinal Pavement Markings.  You can read this policy here.  You can contact the Traffic Engineering Department at (509)574-2300 if you believe that your road meets the criteria but is not currently striped.

Yakima County appreciates your concern for the safety and well-being of your neighborhood.  Unfortunately, Yakima County has a limited budget for the installation of new street lights and other safety improvements, totaling $65,000 a year budgeted (as of 2024 6-year TIP).  The cost of installing a new street light is considerable.  The material cost for the steel light standard, luminaire arm, and light fixture alone is around $5000 (2024).  Once the cost of establishing a new service connection and labor (electricians, traffic control, staff time) is factored in, the total cost for a new light ranges between $7,000 and $10,0000.  Because the cost is so high, when it comes to new street lights, Yakima County prioritizes areas where there is a higher frequency of nighttime collisions.  This ensures that Yakima County's resources are allocated to areas where they are able to have the most significant impact on public safety.  

Additionally, while we understand that street lighting can enhance security, Yakima County's primary goal for new street light installations is to improve the safety for road users such cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians.  Because our funds are limited, we do not typically install street lights solely for security purposes.

If you believe that your area warrants street lights, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Traffic Department at (509)574-2300 to discuss your neighborhood specifically.

Yakima County performs a semi-annual review of county road speed zones and traffic stops. Depending on changes in traffic flow, safety impacts, and other factors, changes will be presented to the County Commissioners through the public hearing process to approve/deny proposed changes.

Suggestions/requests for changes to speed zones or traffic stop signage may be sent to the attention of the Transportation Engineering Manager, Yakima County Public Services. For more information, please call 509-574-2300.

Yes.  A permit is required for the movement of all the following, on Yakima County Roads:

• Manufactured Home – for manufactured homes
• Equipment Moving – for heavy equipment/loads such as dozers, large tractors, etc.
• Structures – for large objects house moves, large sheds etc.
• Military – for all military moves

Please review the Special Motor Vehicle Checklist for all requirements. To request a permit, please call Yakima County Public Services 509-574-2300.  

Please submit the completed application to Keila Mendoza, fax 509-574-2301, direct line 509-574-2302

Current Yakima County development standards, road standards, codes, and ordinances can be found in Chapter 19.23 of Yakima County Ordinances and on the

If you find a signal light, luminaire, or other electrical traffic device inoperative, please contact the Traffic Engineering division at 509-574-2300.

Please have the available when you call:

• Your name, address, and phone number so that we can reach out to you if we need more information or to follow up and tell you what we have done
• The location of the malfunctioning signal, street light, or other device
• A description of the issue.  Some examples of issues based on real Yakima County observations are as follows: Is the signal phasing weirdly?  Does the signal have a burnt out bulb?  Is the street light flickering at night as if trying to communicate in Morse code to you?  Does the message board say that there are winter conditions and to drive safely, even though it is summer and you just saw somebody using the road as a green energy cooking utensil?  If you see something that you think is unusual or not quite right, we would like to hear about it.
• Other important information, such as time of day that you observed, what the weather was like, etc.  

This information helps our staff diagnose and repair the issues in a timely manner at the lowest cost to taxpayers so that Yakima County drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists are able to use our road systems optimally.

To file an appeal of the Assessor’s “Notice of Value” on your property, you must complete a petition form with the Yakima County Board of Equalization. A letter or phone call will not be accepted as a substitute for the petition form. There is no charge for filing an appeal.

Petition forms are available by contacting the Board of Equalization at (509) 574-1500 or online at Forms | Yakima County, WA.

Petition forms are available by contacting the Board of Equalization at (509) 574-1500 or online at Forms | Yakima County, WA.

In Yakima County, the deadline for filing an appeal is within 60 days of when the “Notice of Value” was mailed by the Department of Property Assessments. If you mail your petition form, it must be postmarked by midnight of the deadline. You may hand deliver the petition to the Board of Equalization and have it date-stamped if you wish. EMAILED DOCUMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. 

The board cannot consider incomplete petitions. A complete, separate petition for each parcel must include the following information:

• Assessor’s parcel number
• Taxpayer name and address
• Taxpayer’s representative, if applicable (must include power of attorney)
• Property description to include property address, parcel size, zoning, and general building information
• Value as listed by the assessor
• Your opinion of the value
• Specific reasons why you believe the assessor’s value does not reflect the true and fair market value of your property. Your petition must include sufficient information or statements to apprise the board and the assessor of the reasons why you believe the assessor’s determination is incorrect. Matters unrelated to market value such as assessment comparisons of other properties, percentage of value increases, personal hardship, amount of tax, etc., cannot be considered (WAC 458-14-056(5))
• Taxpayer’s signature and date
• A copy of the assessor’s "Notice of Value" must be attached to the petition. If it is not attached, your petition will be denied.

Remember, the issue before the board is the market value of your property. Accordingly, you will need to furnish evidence that demonstrates that the assessor’s valuation exceeds your property’s fair market value. State law requires the assessor to value all taxable property at 100% of its true and fair market value in money, according to the highest and best use of the property. Market value is the amount of money that a willing and unobligated buyer is willing to pay a willing and unobligated seller.

Successful forms of evidence include:

• Comparable sales and/or sales of the subject property
• Contractor estimates of costs to repair building or land defects
• Letters or documents from government agencies and/or experts regarding development limitations
• Deeds describing easements that impact value
• Independent appraisals
• Photographs of features or conditions you believe diminish your property’s market value
• Maps showing proximity to high traffic areas, access limitations, etc.

When gathering evidence and formulating arguments, it is important to keep in mind that, by law, the assessor is presumed to be correct. The burden of proof is on you to show that the assessor’s determination is incorrect. Evidence must be “clear, cogent, and convincing” (WAC 458-14-046(4)).

Yes, you can contact the Department of Property Assessments to review your assessed valuation any time you have a question regarding your property value. Property owners can often settle disagreements at this level without continuing the appeal process. However, to preserve your appeal rights, you will need to file your petition with the Board of Equalization by the deadline.

Assessor's Office Phone: (509)574-1100 or Website: Assessment | Yakima County, WA

The County Assessor mails a “Notice of Value” to property owners every year. The notice will indicate the assessed valuation of Market Land and Building, New Construction, Crop, etc.

If you did not receive a “Notice of Value” at least 15 calendar days prior to the deadline for filing the petition for the current assessment year, and your valuation changed, contact the Clerk of the Board of Equalization. (WAC 45814.127)

 Please note: The Assessor is required to send the notice to the owner of record whose name and address appears on the assessment rolls. The property owner is responsible for notifying the Assessor of any address change and/or for requesting copies of notices for a mortgage company or lending company.

The scheduling of your hearing will depend on the volume of appeals and the timing of your petition filing. An assessor’s representative will review your petition and may contact you at your daytime phone number. You may initiate contact with an assessor’s representative by calling (509)574-1100.

If you are able to reach agreement on the true and fair value of the property, you will be offered a Stipulated Agreement form to sign that establishes the new value and withdraws the petition. In this case, you will not have a board hearing. However, if you cannot come to an agreement with the assessor’s representative, then you will be scheduled for a board hearing. You will be notified by mail of your hearing date approximately 3 weeks in advance. 

You and the Assessor’s representative will have the opportunity to give oral testimony and written evidence to support the assessed valuation. The hearing is an informal review designed to allow property owners to represent themselves without an attorney. Keep in mind, the Assessor is by law, presumed to be correct. The burden of proof is on you, the owner, to show that the assessed value is not accurate. You must present clear, cogent, and convincing evidence to support your estimate of market value.

Documentary evidence (comparable sales, appraisals, contractor estimates, pictures, site plans, maps, etc.) must be submitted to the board at least twenty-one business days before the hearing.

Decisions are typically mailed within four to six weeks of the hearing.

Either the appellant or the assessor may appeal the board’s decision to the State Board of Tax Appeals. An appeal must be filed with the state board within 30 calendar days of the mailing date of our board’s decision. Please visit the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals website or call 360-753-5446 for more information.

- Washington State Board of Tax Appeals

It is important to pay your taxes by the deadline in order to avoid interest and penalties.

If the board decreases your property value, the assessor’s records will be adjusted, and the treasurer’s office will either send a revised tax statement or issue a refund if your full year’s taxes have already been paid (WAC 458-14-116(3)). This process may take a few months to complete.

Please contact our environmental planner(s) at (509) 574-2300 or come into 128 N. 2nd Street, 4th Floor Courthouse, Yakima, WA 98901 to get more information. The SEPA process most often begins when you submit the first permit application for your proposal. You may be required to have a pre-application meeting to discuss your project, permit requirements, and the SEPA process. Not all projects are required to go through the SEPA process. Find out more about the

Your first step in the SEPA process is filling out the environmental checklist. The purpose of the environmental checklist is to provide information to identify likely environmental impacts from proposals and to reduce or avoid these impacts, if possible. The agency will also use this information to decide whether the likely environmental impacts of the project need further study, have been adequately addressed by existing regulations, or can be mitigated. Learn more about the

Shoreline jurisdiction is similar to zoning, except that the types of zoning are called shoreline environments. The 4 environments are natural, Conservancy, Rural, and Urban. Learn more about

The Yakima County Water Resource System (YCWRS) is a county owned and operated water system that provides "mitigated" water supplies for the withdrawal of water from a groundwater permit exempt well. The YCWRS holds senior water rights and allows the use of such rights by the public when wells are constructed and metered according to YCWRS procedures.

Using a YCWRS permitted well is one way an applicant for a building permit or land use permit requiring potable water can obtain evidence of the legal availability of water. 

A YCWRS  domestic well permit may be obtained when an applicant applies to the Yakima County Public Services Department for a building permit or land use permit that required potable water.

There are several steps required to obtain a YCWRS well permit. Further instructions are noted on the last page of the permit. Department staff can also guide you through the process.

The initial cost of a YCWRS domestic well permit is $650.00, payable at the time of application. In addition, a new YCWRS customer is responsible for the cost to install a water meter on their well at an estimated cost of $500.00 for the meter. (Labor is not included in this estimate)

The annual cost for a YCWRS domestic well permit is the total of the ready to serve charge and the water consumption charge. The ready to serve charge is $35.00 per quarter or $140.00 annually. The water consumption charge is based on the amount of water used and is calculated based on meter readings using the fee schedule contained in the water system ordinance.

Yes. An application for a building permit to improve, repair, or replace a residential structure that was permitted prior to January 1, 2018 that is served by an existing permit-exempt well is exempt from the requirement. In addition, applications for building permits for the buildings that do not require potable water such as a shed, barn, or garage are also exempt from the requirement.

Starting on January 1, 2018 an applicant for a building permit or other development permit that requires potable water is required to provide evidence that their proposed use will be served by an adequate water supply when they submit their application to the county for approval.

A supply of water that is adequate to serve a land use in terms of (a) water quality, water quantity and (b) legal availability.

(a) What evidence is required in terms of water quality and quantity?

• Water purveyor: an applicant who will obtain water from an approved water purveyor must submit a letter from the purveyor stating the purveyor's ability to provide water.
• Well: An applicant who will obtain water from a permit-exempt well must provide a notification/approval from the Yakima Health District that the water is potable, and that the volume of water is adequate to meet the intended use. (AWD - Adequate Water Determination)

(b) What evidence is required in terms of the legal availability of water?

• Water purveyor: an applicant who will obtain water from an approved water purveyor must submit a letter from the purveyor stating the purveyor's ability to provide water.

OR

• Well: an applicant who will obtain water from a permit-exempt well must provide evidence in the form of:
  • A water right permit from the Department of Ecology, or
  • A letter from an approved water purveyor stating the ability to provide water, or
  • A YCWRS domestic well permit (Yakima County), or
  • Other adequate evidence of interest in a suitable water right held for mitigation purposes by an existing water bank, or
  • A Yakama Nation Water Code permits for properties located within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Nation, or
  • Documentation that the well site is located outside of the Yakima River watershed.

Means a well (existing well or proposed well) withdrawing water under the groundwater permit exemption contained in RCW 90.44.050.

RCW 90.44.050 - Permit to Withdraw

After June 6, 1945, no withdrawal of public groundwaters of the state shall be begun, nor shall any well or other works for such withdrawal be constructed, unless an application to appropriate such waters has been made to the department and a permit has been granted by it as herein provided: EXCEPT, HOWEVER, That any withdrawal of public groundwaters for stock-watering purposes, or for the watering of a lawn or of a noncommercial garden not exceeding one-half acre in area, or for single or group domestic uses in an amount not exceeding five thousand gallons a day, or as provided in RCW 90.44.052, or for an industrial purpose in an amount not exceeding five thousand gallons a day, is and shall be exempt from the provisions of this section, but, to the extent that it is regularly used beneficially, shall be entitled to a right equal to that established by a permit issued under the provisions of this chapter: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the department from time to time may require the person or agency making any such small withdrawal to furnish information as to the means for and the quantity of that withdrawal: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That at the option of the party making withdrawals of groundwaters of the state not exceeding five thousand gallons per day, applications under this section or declarations under RCW 90.44.090 may be filed and permits and certificates obtained in the same manner and under the same requirements as is in this chapter provided in the case of withdrawals in excess of five thousand gallons a day.

An approved water purveyor is an entity that owns a public water system approved by either:

• Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH) - "Group A System", or
• Yakima Health District (YHD) - "Group B System"

Provide a letter from the owner (purveyor) of a Group A or Group B water system that was approved prior to January 1, 2018, that states the water system's ability to provide water to an applicant's project is sufficient evidence of an adequate water supply for an applicant's project. 

An applicant proposing to use a Group A or Group B water system approved after January 1, 2018, must go through an "Adequate Water Supply Review and Determination". 

Other purveyors (not a complete list): Buena Water, Crewport, City of Moxee, Not Hill Water, Parker Water, Terrace Heights Water, City of Toppenish Water, City of Yakima, Zillah Water Systems.

A shared well is a term that describes a well that is used to serve up to two (2) water connections. A shared well requires approval from YHD. (i.e.: Single family residence and an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) on the same parcel; or single family residences on two (2) separate parcels.)

Shared wells typically have a 100' well control zone and require additional approval for structures that are (or proposed to be) located within the 100' control zone.

Surface water in the Yakima River Basin has been fully adjudicated and it is recognized that existing water rights exceed the amount of water available. It is also recognized that the withdrawal of water from a permit exempt well reduces the amount of water available in the Yakima River and that this reduction impairs senior water right holders from obtaining their full water allocation. This impairment of a more senior right is a violation of the state's prior appropriation doctrine ("first in time, first in right"). The YCWRS water supply is a "mitigated water supply" that mitigates for this impairment of offsetting the reduction in surface water caused by each well with senior water rights owned by the YCWRS.

No. The new county ordinance only affects new development permitted after January 1, 2018, that is proposing to use a permit exempt well as its potable water source.

No. Only new building permits issued after January 1, 2018 are subject to the new regulations.

Yes. An application for a building permit to improve, construct an addition, repair, or replace a residential structure that was permitted prior to January 1, 2018 that is served by an existing permit-exempt well is exempt from the requirement to provide evidence of an adequate water supply.

Note: Adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) would typically require a metered/well permit.

Yes. If an existing well is decommissioned for quality or quantity purposes then a new permit-exempt well may be drilled without approval from Yakim County.

No. However, you will need evidence of the legal availability of water when you apply for a building permit. In addition, if you plan on applying for a YCWRS domestic well permit in the future, then you need to make sure that your well is deep enough to meet the YCWRS well depth requirements prior to drilling your well. The Yakima County Water Resources Division will determine the appropriate depth for new wells and existing wells.

An applicant who submits a building permit or other development permit after January 1, 2018, that requires potable water is required to provide evidence that their proposed use will be served by an adequate water supply when they submit their application to the county for approval. 

If you do not have irrigation water available or have no used your well for prior irrigation, then a YCWRS domestic well permit allows the legal use of your well for any purpose up to a maximum daily withdraw of 5,000 gallons per day.

Yes. When you submit the building permit application for the new house (or an accessory dwelling unit), you will be required to provide evidence that the new home or ADU will be served by adequate water supply. (The pre-existing house is exempt from this requirement.)

No. Stock watering is primarily regulated by the State through the Department of Ecology, not the County. As long as you continue using the well for just stock watering, you do not need a permit from the county.

The subdividing of land requires an applicant to provide evidence that the lots created by the subdivision will be served by an adequate water supply when they submit their application to the county for approval. The following procedures apply for applicants choosing to utilize a YCWRS domestic well or wells as evidence for adequate water supply:

(a) Applications for a subdivision relying on a new shared well or new Group A or B water system are required to install the well and connect each lot prior to the finalization of the plat. Each lot will be required to obtain a YCWRS domestic well permit and install a water meter on their property at the time they submit an application for a building permit for a building that requires potable water.

(b) Application for a subdivision relying on individual wells to serve each lot is required to include a plat note on the final plat that commits future owners of the vacant lots to provide evidence of adequate water supply prior to the issuance of building permits. Additionally, the applicant will also be required to sign and record a restrictive covenant that also commits future owners of the vacant lots to provide evidence of adequate water supply prior to the issuance building permits. Each lot will be required to obtain a YCWRS domestic well permit and install a water meter on their property at the time they submit an application for a building permit for a building that requires potable water.

Each major political party decides which candidates are printed on their side of the ballot. On January 9, each major party submits its final list of names to the Secretary of State’s Office. Once the party's list of candidates is submitted, changes cannot be made (RCW 29A.56.031). For more information about each party's internal rules for getting on the list, please contact the WA State Democratic Party at 206-583-0664, or the WA State Republican Party at 425-460-0570.

The order of political parties and candidates is determined by the number of votes cast for U.S. President at the last presidential election. The major political party that received the highest number of votes from the electors of this state for the office of president at the last presidential election must appear first. In 2020, the Democratic Party received the highest number of votes and must appear first in 2024. Candidates are placed on the ballot in alphabetical order within each party. Candidates on the list will appear in the same order in the printed Voters' Pamphlet.

Minor and independent candidates do not participate in the Presidential Primary and must comply with a different convention process.

For immediate evacuations, the fire department/police officers will go door to door to notify residents to evacuate.

We will also use our Emergency Notification System to call homes in the area to notify them of the evacuation.  The system already has all landline phone numbers in it, if you would like to register your cell phone you will need to sign up at Alert Yakima.  Be sure to put in your address so when we map the evacuation area message your phone number is captured.

You can find more information on evacuations in Yakima County here.

You can check these places for updates on evacuation orders and lifting of evacuation order:

• OEM Facebook
• OEM Twitter
• OEM Website

You can check these places for updates on the progress of an incident.   We try to provide status updates on an ongoing incident every 12-16 hours, or sooner if there are major changes.  We are working on a method that you can call in and listen to a recording with a status of the incident.  

• OEM Facebook
• OEM Twitter
• OEM Website

We are currently working on a method for you to offer and request support for evacuated livestock. 

If it is an emergency call 91-1-.  If not, check our website and social media for the incident update information to see if that answers your question.

If not, you can send us a message on Facebook or call our office (509-574-1900) during business hours.  We will attempt to answer your question as quickly as possible, but answers may be delayed based on the needs of the incident.

The best place to donate is to the American Red Cross.  The Red Cross has a process in place to support first responders within a few hours of the incident starting with food, water, etc.  The best donation is monetary; the Red Cross may be able to take canned goods and other types of shelf stable food but they quickly become overwhelmed with those types of donations.  We cannot accept donations of homemade food.

Alternatively, you can contact your local fire department (after the incident is over) and talk to them about how you can donate to their organization.

Visit our donations page for more information.

Send an email with a copy of your resume to Senior Operations Manager Deborah Clausing at deborah.clausing@co.yakima.wa.us expressing interest as a Rule 9 legal intern.

We are open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays. We are closed from 12 pm to 1 pm for lunch.

We are located in the Yakima County Courthouse at 128 N. 2nd Street Room B18, Yakima, WA 98901 - the office is located in the basement of the county courthouse. 

You have been charged in a criminal case in either Yakima District or Superior Court. The Judge in the courtroom where you were seen has decided to release you while your case is pending. You have made a promise that you will show up for all of your court appearances. To help you keep your promise and to assure community safety, the Judge may have ordered you to follow certain conditions of release. Your conditions of release are found on your release order (the piece of paper you signed and received in the courtroom). You must follow all of the conditions of release ordered by the Judge. If you violate any one of those conditions, the Judge could change your conditions, or revoke those conditions and incarcerate you until your case is resolved. You must show up for all of your court dates. If you do not report for any court date, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest and you could receive a new charge simply for failing to appear. If you do miss a court appearance, contact your lawyer and call Pre-Trial Release Services at 509-574-1885 as soon as possible in order to resolve the bench warrant.

Every defendant released to Pre-Trial monitoring is required to check in with their Pre-Trial Services Officer. The frequency of these meetings depends on the level of monitoring required.

If you do not report for any court date, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest and you could receive a new charge simply for failing to appear. If you do miss a court appearance, contact your lawyer and call Pre-Trial Release Services at 509-574-1885 as soon as possible in order to resolve the bench warrant.

Pre-Trial Services is responsible for monitoring certain conditions of release as imposed by the Judge. 

Many defendants will be assigned to a Pre-Trial Services Officer who is responsible for notifying the court if these conditions are, or are not, being followed. While your case is pending, your Pre-Trial Services Officer can help you in a variety of ways. They can help you voluntarily surrender on an outstanding bench warrant, obtain drug treatment, mental health treatment, or other social services (such as temporary shelter, government-issued identification, job listings, GED, etc.). If you feel you need any of these services, talk to your Pre-Trial Services Officer . Be sure to stay in touch with your Pre-Trial Services Officer, especially if you change your address or phone number.

Nitrate is only a concern for ingestion (eating and drinking). It is not absorbed through your skin.

Only a very small amount of water clings to smooth surfaces, like dishes. Water that has more than 10 mg/L of nitrate can be safely used to wash and sanitize dishes, tables, and eating utensils. 

Very little water remains on washed surfaces and in laundered fabrics. Because these itemas are not placed in the mouth, water having more than 10 mg/L of nitrate can be safely used for general cleaning and washing of clothing, bedding, and linens.

Adults can breakdown nitrate more easily than infants. Only very small amounts pass into breast milk, and these levels have not been shown to cause blue baby syndrome.

It is a personal property listing generated by the Department of Revenue regarding a business license you applied for in the previous tax year. Personal property is a recorded list of all the assets you use to run your business. Examples of the personal property that would be listed include; printers, computers, tractors, tools, furniture, construction equipment, and supplies. Business owners are required to report their personal property and pay tax on the value of the equipment. 

• Name of Business (may already be provided, update if necessary)
• Mailing Address (may already be provided, update if necessary)
• Location of your business (top left-hand corner under the mailing address)
• Supplies (monthly estimation) kept on hand, such as pens, papers, staples, pencils, etc. (top right-hand corner box)
• Check the appropriate box for your type of business; sole proprietor, LLC, Corporation, LLP. (top right-hand corner box)
• Provide an asset list of all the equipment that you own and use to run your business as of January 1, 2019.
• Include a description of the item, year of purchase, and the amount paid at the time of purchase (without the sales tax)
• Sole proprietors receive a $15,000 in value exemption, if the personal property list provided to the county is less than $15,000 in value the county will not open an account. However, the owner still needs to file the listing to receive the exemption.
  
  
  If you purchased an existing business that has previously filed with our office, this is not the same thing as a first time filer. Please contact our office to avoid penalization. 
  

First time Filer? The filing deadline for this form is July 31^st, 2019, not April 30^th, 2019 as indicated on the form.

Simply put, a personal property asset is anything that a business uses to operate. The biggest distinction between personal property and real property is that personal property is moveable. ALL equipment used to run the business needs to be reported. Including a monthly estimation of supplies kept on hand such as pens, pencils, paper, staples and so forth. Keep in mind that supplies have different meaning in each industry. (record monthly estimate in top right-hand corner)

If you have further question on what is considered personal property please contact our office. 

• Email us at personal.property@co.yakima.wa.us (PDF, Word, Excel formats accepted) 
• Mail in your listing to 128 N 2^nd St Rm 112, Yakima, WA 98901
• Fax your listing to 509-574-1101
•  E-file Accounts: https://enoticesonline.com/

Personal property is not double taxation. It is a different form of property tax used to pay the same levies as real property for schools, roadways, and so forth. You can read more about this in the Personal Property Informational Pamphlet provided by the Department of Revenue.

We understand equipment depreciates over time, this is why we ask for a description, a year of purchase, and the original cost of the equipment (w/o the sales tax). These three components are used to determine the true fair market value of the equipment. Older assets that have depreciated over time will eventually reach a plateau in valuation. They will stay at this plateau until they are sold or destroyed. Items typically do not reach a 0 value. Personal Property Valuation Guidelines are provided to our office yearly by the Department of Revenue. 

Being a farm account does not automatically exempt you from all personal property tax. The Farm Machinery and Equipment that is available through the Department of Revenue will exempt qualifying equipment from state taxation. This means the exemption will remove any state levy rate from your tax bill, lowering the overall amount of tax you pay. Since this does not exempt you from local taxation, you are still required to file a listing with our office annually. 

Yes, there is a way you can e-file your personal property listing. Unfortunately, it is not available for first time filers. Once you have an account and begin receiving your January personal property notice, the mailing itself will have an authorization code, boldly lettered, located in the top left-hand corner of the page. Also included is a small handout on how to use that authorization code to access your personal property bill through The Master’s Touch eNoticeOnline.

Yes, even if your listing has not changed at all from the previous year you still need to file a listing with our office by April 30^th each year. If a listing is late, it will be penalized 5% each month it is late up to 25% on your tax bill. 

Failure to file a listing entirely will result in an “Assumed Increase in Value” line. As well as the 25% penalty. 

Most people in the United States have some level of PFAS in their blood. A PFAS blood test can show the amount of PFAS chemicals in your body at the time of testing. However, the results cannot tell you if a current health problem is caused by PFAS exposure, nor can they predict or rule out future health issues related to PFAS.

If you know that you’ve been exposed to high levels of PFAS, the most important step you can take is to reduce ongoing exposure. If you have specific health concerns, consult with your health care provider.

If PFAS are above health advisory levels in your drinking water, we recommend that you switch to an alternative source of drinking water and continue to breastfeed your baby. Given the scientific understanding at this time, the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of PFAS exposure through breast milk. Talk to your health care provider if you have concerns about PFAS and breastfeeding. 

No, you cannot boil PFAS out of water.

El nitrato es solo una preocupación para la ingestión (comer y beber). No se absorbe a través de la piel.

Solo una cantidad muy pequeña de agua se adhiere a las superficies lisas, como los platos. El agua que tiene más de 10 mg/L de nitrato se puede usar de manera segura para lavar y desinfectar platos, mesas y utensilios para comer.

Queda muy poca agua en las superficies lavadas y en las telas lavadas. Debido a que estos artículos no se colocan en la boca, el agua que tiene más de 10 mg/L de nitrato se puede usar de manera segura para la limpieza general y el lavado de ropa, ropa de cama y ropa de cama.

Los adultos procesan el nitrato más fácil que los bebés. Solo pasa una cantidad muy pequeña a la leche materna y no se ha visto que cause el síndrome del bebé azul.