November 2022

Burn Ban Lifted - General Outdoor Burning May Resume

The Kitsap County Fire Marshal announces that general outdoor burning may resume in unincorporated areas of Kitsap County effective immediately. The recent rainfall and anticipated wet weather patterns have significantly reduced the county's fire hazard and decreased the demand for fire resources across the state. With the return of burning, Kitsap County Fire Marshal David Lynam reminds people that extra safety is still required. "Lighter fuels are much wetter than before, but the heavy fuels are still quite dry – particularly for downed timber and those burn piles that have stacked up all summer," according to Lynam. "Please be extra careful as fires can easily get out of control and spread after such a long dry period," Lynam added.

All rules governing outdoor burning still apply:

• A burning permit is required for all general outdoor burning.
• Burning permits may be obtained online from your local fire district.
• Burning is allowed only during daylight hours and must be attended to at all times.
• Fires must be limited to no more than ten by ten in size, at least fifty feet from a structure, and a water supply and tools to control the fire must be available at all times.
• General outdoor burning is prohibited within city limits.

Contact your local fire district for additional information.

Kitsap County Takes Strides to Improve Monitoring of
Critical Areas and Shorelines

Mitigation and monitoring requirements are codified in Kitsap County Code (KCC) Title 19, Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), and Title 22, Shoreline Master Program (SMP). The Kitsap County CAO regulates development affecting wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, streams, critical aquifer recharge areas, frequently flooded, and geologically hazardous areas. The Kitsap County SMP regulates development along marine shorelines, rivers, and streams with more than 20 cubic feet per second mean annual flow, lakes, reservoirs, twenty acres or greater, associated wetlands, and their buffers.

When activities impact critical areas, shorelines, or their buffers, development may be permitted under the condition of a mitigation plan designed by a qualified consultant or professional. A successful plan will result in no net loss of ecological functions. An approved plan becomes the basis for a Monitoring Covenant between the landowner and Kitsap County. Mitigation plans require monitoring for at least five years and do not expire if the property changes ownership. Monitoring ensures sufficient and effective implementation of mitigation that maintains ecological functions and processes.
You can view more detailed information on monitoring requirements in KCC Sections 19.200.230(E) 22.400.110(C)(2).

Beginning January 1, 2023, applicants whose permits are issued under the condition of a mitigation and monitoring plan will be required to

1) Pay a Monitoring Permit Fee,

2) Record a Monitoring Covenant with Kitsap County and,

3) Submit annual monitoring reports, due no later than December 31.

See the Critical Area and Shoreline Protection and Monitoring brochure for more information about project requirements in these areas. DCD Environmental Planners can answer questions about how these requirements affect specific projects and permitted activities.

Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)

Kitsap County designed the TDR program to ease development pressure in rural areas. The program directly benefits the participants, those who buy and sell development rights, but also benefits the public by conserving rural land and allowing greater development intensity in urban areas.  

Rural landowners convert development rights into TDR certificates and then sell the certificate to urban landowners. The rural landowner still owns the land, and some uses are still allowed, such as farming, forest harvesting, open space preservation, and recreation. 

Urban landowners use the TDR certificates to change their land's zone or land use designation. Zone changes can reduce setback requirements, increase allowed density, increase height allowance, and other design standards that are preferable to a developer. 

See more at the Kitsap County TDR web page

Reach out to DCD Land Use Planner- Darren Gurnee

The Comprehensive Plan establishes the direction for Kitsap in addressing land use, environmental protections, employment, housing, transportation, and other facility and service priorities over the next 20 years. The Board of Commissioners uses this document to guide decisions on policy, County Code, and development review.

Open House - Join Us, November 17th

Please join us for an Open House to learn about Kitsap County's Comprehensive Plan Update 2044. Your input is valuable as we create our collective vision for the next 20 years.

This is the vision for the future of:

• Land Use,
• Environment,
• Transportation,
• Capital Facilities (schools, police and fire facilities, solid waste systems, park facilities, etc.),
• Housing

This open house will be IN PERSON. 

Kitsap County Commissioner Chambers
619 Division Street
Port Orchard, WA

November 17, 2022
5:15 pm - 7:00 pm.

You may drop in at any time during open house hours.

Reclassification Requests - An Interactive Map

Did You Know? Fireplaces, Woodstoves, Etc.

The temperatures have finally come down, and soon we will see the start of freezing weather. If you are considering the installation of a woodburning stove or fireplace, here are some things to remember:

• Woodstoves, fireplaces, solid-fuel-burning appliances, chimneys, hearths, and associated floor coverings require a mechanical permit and an inspection. Units designed for installation within a manufactured home require an alteration/installation permit from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Mobile Home Division.
• All wood stoves and solid-fuel-burning appliances must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will also need to be “listed” by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), International Code Council (ICC), or another nationally recognized testing agency.
• No wood stove or fireplace shall be permitted for use as the sole source of heat in any new or remodeled structure or dwelling.
• Wood stoves are NOT allowed to be installed in garages or accessory buildings.
• You can only burn manufactured logs or wood seasoned for at least one year. You cannot burn plastic, foil, or any other garbage.

Please remember that a woodburning appliance or fireplace installed without a permit or inspection is a code violation and may invalidate your fire insurance policy. See our brochure for more details, including how to locate certification labels and other installation details.

Important Calendar Dates

November 11th - Veteran's Day - DCD Office Closed

November 17th - Comprehensive Plan Drop-In Open House

5:15pm-7pm

November 24th and 25th - Thanksgiving - DCD Office Closed

December 26th - Christmas - DCD Office Closed 

January 2, 2023 - New Year's Day - DCD Office Closed

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Kitsap County Department of Community Development
614 Division Street - MS36
Port Orchard, WA 98366

Media Contact: Alicia Adler

KITSAP COUNTY
Kitsap County government exists to protect and promote the safety, health and welfare of our citizens in an efficient, accessible and effective manner.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The mission of the Department of Community Development is to foster the development of quality, affordable, structurally safe and environmentally sound communities.