Building in rural King County? Careful site planning and attention to sustainable design practices can translate into cost savings and increased value while limiting the negative environmental impacts of development to your property.

Tips for rural green building projects:

• Locate your home to take full advantage of your site's natural features while avoiding sensitive areas like wetlands and streams
• Ask your septic designer about low-impact and high performance systems
• Cluster developed areas to minimize clearing of large trees and native vegetation
• Save money on building materials and utility bills by optimizing the space needs for your home and minimizing overall house size

Learn more:

• Download the Rural Green Building GuideDownload PDF 509 K
• Visit King County's Rural Stewardship Program for help with developing site plans that protect the environment while gaining regulatory flexibility and tax incentives.
• Questions and answers about rural stewardship planning
• Consider certifying your project as Built Green™
• Learn how to restore and protect your soil by Achieving the Post-construction Soil StandardDownload PDF 830 K
• Learn about critical areas designation & the critical areas designation application