Frequently Asked Questions

Answer goes here...

Answer goes here...

Answer goes here...

Answer goes here...

Answer goes here...

Answer goes here...

If protection is needed from a relation, go to the Superior Court, 3rd floor of the Yakima County Courthouse. If protection is needed from someone other than a relative, go to the District Court, 2nd floor of the Yakima County Courthouse. You must provide information on all the persons involved, including birthdays.

Call the Selah Police Department at 509-698-7346. During business hours, 7 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and weekends, the office staff will answer your call. If after hours or on holidays, you will get the Yakima County Sheriff's Department. Give the answering party as much information as possible. For instance, the address of the residence with the loud/offensive music/noise, which can be heard at least 50 feet or more from the point of origin, or if it is a passing vehicle, the description, color, license plate number, including the direction of travel and how many occupants in the vehicle. It can be a criminal offense. See City Ordinances 6.60.030 and 6.60.040.

Call the Selah Police Department at 509-698-7346. Obtain as much information about the vehicle causing the problem as possible. A license plate number is very helpful. The law does not permit a Police Officer to cite an individual for an infraction unless it was observed by a Police Officer. The exception to this rule is when an Officer is investigating a traffic collision, then he/she can issue a "Notice of Infraction" for whatever violation he/she believes to have occurred. However, in cases involving "Criminal Traffic" violations, such as reckless driving, negligent driving, 1st degree hit and run, and DUI, an Officer can issue a citation based on the information from witness(s) and other sources of information/evidence they have determined from their investigation, even though the violation did not occur in their presence. If you are a witness, you may be subpoenaed into court to testify.

To determine if there is a problem on any given street, we can set up our Radar Trailer, which monitors the speed of vehicles traveling down the street. This is an educational tool for both drivers and residents. If this doesn't curtail the problem, a marked patrol vehicle with a radar unit could be assigned to sit in an area to monitor the traffic and speeding vehicles. Enforcement action could be based on the Officer's observations

If this is a continuing problem, call the Selah Police Department at 509-698-7346. If the call is captured on the caller ID, leave it for the Officer. If you activated *69, note the number given by the operator. On all calls, note the time and date, anything that was said, if the caller was male or female, and anything unusual or distinctive about the voice. If this is a continuing problem, contact the Selah Police Department. A report will be taken, and a form will be given to you to deliver to the Ellensburg Telephone Company. The Ellensburg Telephone Company will then place a "tracer" on your line. There is a fee for this service by the Ellensburg Telephone Company. They will give you instructions and the fee amount at the time the form is delivered.

Contact the Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section at 360-705-5100.

Contact the Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section at 360-705-5100.

You can purchase a trap from almost any hardware store. If you choose not to trap your own, you can call CHARLES VANDYKE at 509-307-2244 to supply the trap and/or dispose of the animal for a fee. You can also contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife for assistance.

For Entry Level Police Officer or Lateral Police Officer, contact:

Human Resources Department

Selah City Hall, 115 W Naches Avenue, Selah WA 98942

Phone: 509-698-7384
Fax: 509-698-7338

Visit the Employment Opportunities page

If you had property (cash, vehicles, personal property, etc.) seized from a Narcotics arrest, you will need to notify the Selah Police Department within 45 days of the Notice of Seizure to file a claim for your property. If notification is made within the 45 days, you shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard as to the claim or right of property. If you fail to notify the Selah Police Department in writing within 45 days, the items shall be deemed forfeited. 

Any items confiscated from any arrest, other than narcotics, shall be held in property at the Police Department. You will need documentation from the Judge or Prosecuting Attorney, in writing, giving the Selah Police Department the authority to release the property. If charges are not filed (after investigation), contact the Selah Police Department Property Officer at 509-698-7361, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, for release.

To individuals having "proper interest." Proper interest is defined as the driver or drivers involved, or the legal guardian thereof, the parent of the minor driver, any person injured therein, the owner of vehicles or property damaged thereby, the attorney or insurer, or any authorized representative of such an interested person.

Records as a Matter of Right

Names of persons reported as involved in the accident, vehicle descriptions, date, time, and location of the incident.

• Single Day:
  • Bus boarding is $1 with free transfer passes. You must have exact change.
• Monthly Pass:
  • Selah Residents - Monthly Bus Pass is $15 for Riders 19 years of age and older.
  • Non-Selah Residents - Monthly Bus Pass is $30 for Riders 19 years of age and older.
  • Riders 18 and younger ride for Free

Monthly bus passes can be purchased at the Selah Civic Center and City Hall. Daily passes are available through drivers.

GIS or Geographic Information Systems are used to capture, manage, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret and visualize our world in ways that reveal relationships, patterns and trends in the form of maps, reports and charts. The purpose of GIS is to answer questions and solve problems by looking at data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared — on a map! ( ESRI)

• Property Line/Public Right-of-way (The City of Selah and Yakima County do not guarantee the accuracy of this data. A land survey should be obtained to verify all property line information.)
• Aerial Photography Imagery
• Geological Hazardous Areas
• Potential Wetlands
• Lakes/Ponds
• Stream Typing (based on Yakima County 2013 CAO)
• Yakima County Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Lake Environmental Designations
• FEMA Floodway/Yakima County Channel Migration Zones (CMZ)
• City of Selah Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Stream Environments
• Ten Foot Elevation Contours
• FEMA 100-Year Floodplain Designation
• FEMA Floodway Designation
• City of Selah - Data Layers
  • Selah City Limits
  • Urban Growth Boundaries
  • Zoning
  • Comprehensive Plan/Future Land Use Designation
  • City of Selah Water and Sewer lines, Hydrants, and other utilities (the City of Selah does guarantee the accuracy of this data. The City of Selah Public Works Department should be contacted at 509-698-7365 for verification of all utilities, both current and future)
• Selah Naches Irrigation District (NSID) - Data Layers (the City of Selah does guarantee the accuracy of this data. The Selah Naches Irrigation District should be contacted at 509-697-4177 for verification of this information)
  • NSID Service Area Boundary
  • NSID Water Boxes
  • NSID Canals
  • NSID Pipeline

Yakima County GIS focuses on obtaining, managing, analyzing, and displaying data located within the boundaries of Yakima County. We support a variety of clients from other Yakima County Departments, to cities, communities, utilities, businesses, and the public. 

DISCLAIMER: While the GIS Department strives for accuracy this viewer may not reflect land use changes and as a result should not be used to verify land conditions. You should consult your local Planning Department and secure a title report to verify conditions of a parcel or area. 

Shelter is the most basic of human needs. When people can secure stable and affordable housing near the locations of jobs and opportunity, they are able to focus on achieving other life goals, such as education, career advancement, health and wellness, or raising a family. Without stable and affordable housing, residents can struggle to achieve these goals.

There is a housing shortage in Selah, and the city and region continue to grow in population. This results in low vacancy rates, a lack of housing choices for residents seeking to move, and increased competition for the limited supply of available homes. When competition is high, housing prices and rents will increase.

Over a third of all families and households in the Yakima Valley are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their household income on housing costs. By increasing the supply of housing in formats that are affordable to more families and individuals, we can support secure and stable housing for more residents and increase community resiliency during times of economic uncertainty.

Through the HAP, the City of Selah aims to ensure that more housing is available and affordable for people of all income levels, that a greater variety of housing types will be available, and that existing housing is well-maintained. The HAP will be flexible to accommodate future growth and change in Selah.

Housing is typically considered affordable if total housing costs do not exceed 30% of a household's gross income. Housing affordability is an issue that affects all kinds of families and individuals in Selah, not just low-income households. This plan will address housing affordability challenges across the entire income spectrum. It will include strategies to encourage both market rate housing development, as well as housing that is subsidized to be affordable for low-income residents.

Developing a HAP involves several phases of work. The process will include assessing housing needs and market conditions using publicly available data sources; reviewing past studies and research on the topic; gathering information through interviews with stakeholders; and engaging the public.

The plan will be developed from March of 2023 and end in December of 2023. A preliminary project schedule is shown on the City of Selah's Main HAP webpage.

The City of Selah's community includes a wide range of residents and households with diverse needs and challenges. The City of Selah wants to hear from the entire community to develop the HAP so that the housing strategies will be reflective of all residents, and be grounded to the needs of the community and its strengths and weaknesses.

Broad community engagement in developing the HAP ensures that the plan reflects housing needs that might not show up in statistical data, such as the connection between housing and human services.

Please see a list of common household projects that require a permit. If you don't see your project listed, please call 509-698-7365, and we will be happy to assist you! For all the Yes answers, fill out the Other Permit Types (PDF)

• Re-Siding - Yes
• Replacing Windows or Doors -Yes
• Re Roofing - Yes
• Replacing countertops or cupboards - No
• Replacing/installing any of the following: Toilet, Sink, Tub/shower, Dishwasher, Water Heater - Yes
• Adding or modifying a Furnace or A/C unit - Yes
• Installing Wood/Pellet stove or Gas fireplace -Yes
• Underground sprinklers - Yes
• Fencing - Please Call
• Repairing, Replacing, or Altering of Water Line - Yes
• Demolition of structure - Yes
• Repairing, Replacing, or Alteration of Sewer Line - Yes
• Repair, Replace or alteration of Driveway, Curb or Street - Yes
• Painting (exterior or interior) - No

No Permit is Required for the Listed Projects

• One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the projected floor area does not exceed: 120 square feet Commercial or 200 square feet Residential. ** Still required to meet standards for lot coverage, set backs, and zoning. Please call for further explanation **
•  Fences not over 6 feet high (six feet in the side or rear yard area, and to a height not to exceed four feet in the front yard area) ** Still required to meet standards for lot coverage, setbacks, and zoning. Please call for further explanation ** Other restrictions apply to corner lots.
•  Movable cases, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches tall.
•  Retaining walls, which are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding class I, II or II-A liquids. ** Still required to meet standards for set backs. Please call for further explanation **
•  Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work.
•  Window awnings in Group R-3 and U Occupancies, supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional support.
•  Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep.
•  Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and ration of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.
•  Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one and two family dwellings.
•  Decks not exceeding 200 hundred square feet in area, that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the exit door required by Section R311.4.

Note: Unless otherwise exempt, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above-exempt items. Exemption from the permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.

You will be required to STOP work and fees will be doubled when a property owner or duly authorized agent has failed to obtain requisite permit approval prior to commencing development or use.

(Ord. 1634 § 178, 2004.)

• 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)
• 2018 International Residential Code (IRC)
• 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
• 2018 International Fire Code (IFC)
• 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

• Minimum Frost Depth - 24 inches
• Earthquake Zone- 2
• Seismic Area - C
• Wind 110 mph, Exposure 2
• Snow load 30 pounds per square foot

Call Before You Dig

Washington State Law requires that before commencing any excavation of 12 inches or more, the excavator shall provide notice of the scheduled commencement of excavation to all owners of underground facilities through a one-number locator service. Failure to do so and which results in damaged utility can be costly to the excavator. Therefore, the one-call number for the Upper Yakima Valley Utilities Locate Center is 800-553-4344 or 811. This is a free call and no cost is required for the locate, and a 48 hour notice is required.

Read the notice and correct the violations as indicated. If you need more time to complete the corrective actions, follow the contact information at the bottom of the notice. We will work with you to achieve compliance.

• Municipal Code 6.75- Code Enforcement
• 6.75.090 Appeal Procedures
• 6.75.100 Penalties

A site visit will be conducted at the end of the specified time frame to determine compliance. If compliance is achieved, the case will be closed. If there are unresolved issues and no contact has been made a Citation may be issued, monetary penalties may be imposed, and the violation may be abated. Additionally, criminal charges may be filed.

Fill out a formal Code Enforcement Complaint Form (PDF)

No, for tracking purposes, we need a matter of record, so all complaints must be completed in writing on the Code Enforcement Complaint form.

It can be as quick as a few weeks to several years depending on the complexity of the issues involved.

Ultimately, it is the property owner's responsibility, though the actual violator (such as a renter) may also be named.

No, violations are between the City and the violator(s). Anyone can file a public records request for any documented information with the City's records clerk.

In most cases, no, Code Enforcement is for the health and welfare of the general public. A dispute regarding vegetation over a fence line is typically a civil issue between private parties.

No but the Selah Police Department has an Animal Control officer therefore, you may contact the Selah PD at 509-698-7346.

All public parking enforcement is directed to the Selah Police Department. You can contact the Selah PD at 509-698-7346