Thurston County facilities are now open to the public with restrictions, including maintaining physical distancing of at least six feet at all times and, per the Washington State Secretary of Health’s face covering order wearing a cloth face covering or mask. If you come to county facilities, please be prepared for potentially long wait times or lines due to distancing guidelines. We continue to encourage residents to access county services online, by phone, by email, or through the use of drop boxes located outside of county buildings.
The availability of remote services vary by office and department.

Click here for office and department contact information
Click here for information on COVID-19

Hearing Examiner

 

The Thurston County Hearing Examiner is an attorney appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to provide a public hearing process for land use issues that is fair, efficient, open and accessible to all citizens. Examples of land-use cases decided by the Hearing Examiner include plat subdivisions, special use and shoreline permits, variances, and administrative land-use appeals.

The Hearing Examiner conducts quasi-judicial proceedings and then issues formal decisions or makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on the matters heard.

Decisions by the Hearing Examiner are subject to appeal to the Board of County Commissioners or the appropriate appellate body with jurisdiction, based on the record established before the Hearing Examiner.

The role of the Hearing Examiner is described in Thurston County Code (Title 2 Administration, Chapter 2.06)

Contact Us

Sonja Cady, Land Use Clerk. Phone: 360-867-2117. Fax: 360-754-2939. TTY/TDD call 711 or 1-800-833-6388  Email: sonja.cady@co.thurston.wa.us.  Address: Thurston County Office of the Hearing Examiner, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building One, Second Floor, Olympia, WA 98502.