King County Department of Development & Environmental Services v. King County

¶1 This land use case requires us to determine how the King County Code provisions allow uses to vest as nonconforming uses. This case began as a challenge to an agency order declaring the use of the property was not compliant with King County zoning ordinances. The applicants’ challenge was based on the assertion that the use was established before revisions to the zoning ordinances characterized the use as nonconforming and, thus, required a permit.

¶2 This case also presents the issue of what effect a nonpermitted activity has on a later claim to a preexisting use when a permit was required…