Decision-Makers & Approvals

There are two decision making bodies for Special Use Permits and Rezoning requests. These are the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), and the City Council. The application must be recommended by the P&Z and the Council is the final decision maker. There is also a Zoning Board of Adjustments, which should not be involved and is not covered in this document.

Pre-Meeting: The applicant must hold a minimum of one informal community meeting to inform the public. Planning staff are responsible.

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File application and all required materials with the Planning Office.

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County Planner performs completeness review and distributes application and plans, soliciting written comments within 20 days of distribution, to: 

• County Engineer
• Director of Public Works
• County Environmental Health Officer
• County Building Inspector
• The relevant utilities

Following this, the County Planner reviews all comments and submits a written report to the Board of Adjustment or Hearing Examiner, and then schedules and holds a public hearing before the BOA or Hearing Examiner.

Any appeal of the County’s SEPA determination will be a part of a consolidated hearing that will hear and decide both the CUP and the SEPA administrative appeal.

The County must review and provide written approval of micrositing corridors and areas for all roads, wind turbine locations, and above- and below-ground electrical transmission locations. This review occurs at the time of final layout approval, after the CUP has been issued.

Conditional Use Permit

The County has a zoning code ordinance on Commercial Wind Energy Facilities, applicable to the Agricultural District. The application for a Conditional Use Permit is handled by the County’s Board of Adjustments. State approval and certification by EFSEC is still required. The Wind Facilities Ordinance is provided for reference.

Zoning: Zoning map available only in the County’s offices. Presumed agricultural district. 

Special note: The County has a wind ordinance, but nothing for solar. The Washington State DNR is soliciting developers for solar leases in Klickitat County.

There are no renewable energy goals in the Comp Plan, but area type T2 (rural) is preferred for “utility plants”.  The Plan was updated in June, 2023. [Comprehensive Plan, see 5-15].