January 2023

A Permit's Journey - A Multi-Part Series

Welcome to our multi-part series called, A Permit’s Journey. We will cover the basic steps that a general permit will take at Kitsap County. Your process may differ depending on the type of permit you seek or if you live outside of non-incorporated Kitsap County. If you live in a city, your process will follow that city’s steps.

PREPARATION

A permit’s journey begins in the Permit Application Portal. The Permit Application Portal is an excellent place to work through a project you are considering because it will provide you with a list of the documents you will need to prepare without an obligation to complete the application. You can log in and upload your documents when you are ready to proceed with your project. This gives you time to follow all instructions, review online resources, or seek assistance to prepare the documents as thoroughly and accurately as possible. You will know you have submitted all required documents because each item will have a green check, and the submit button will light up and allow you to submit the entire application. Now intake can begin.

INTAKE

Intake is the first interaction our permit technicians have with the information you have provided us about the type of permit you are seeking and the relevant documents you have provided. During intake, we will view the information you have submitted. Our permit technicians will verify that the documents are complete and have followed the guidelines indicated in the directions. If a permit technician finds incomplete or inaccurate forms, the documents will be sent back to you requesting changes, which can increase the permit’s time in the intake step.  

The most common issues we find include the following:

• Submitting wrong file types (Document Standards & Requirements)
• Construction Plans that are not grouped appropriately (Document Standards & Requirements)
• Site Plan Missing Information (Site Plan Guide)
• Stormwater Documents Missing or Incomplete Information (Video at the Top of the Page)

Intake can take time to complete depending on the number of permits that have been submitted. Since 2020, we have been operating on a higher-than-usual volume of permits submitted, and the time for intake to be completed has reflected that in longer processing times. As of the time of writing this article intake can take up to 15 days. To reduce your time in intake, you will want to submit an application that’s as accurate and complete as possible. 

We have many resources and opportunities to help you along the way. There are a variety of online brochures and videos, virtual live chat, virtual appointments to meet with staff, and lobby hours for in-person assistance; we recommend making an appointment. You can find our hours and links to make appointments on our Contact Us page.

Once your permit has completed the intake process, payment for your permit will be requested. After you have paid your permit fees, the permit will go into TECHNICAL REVIEW.

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

When development activities are proposed in or near environmentally critical areas and shorelines, Kitsap County Code (KCC) Title 19, the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), and Title 22, the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) prescribe protective measures to maintain the ecological functions and processes of these important locations with a goal of no net loss. Negative impacts should be avoided whenever possible.

For example: wetlands and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas should remain intact, and buffers along streams and shorelines should retain natural character and native vegetation. If development impacts cannot be avoided, they may be permitted under the condition of a mitigation and monitoring plan.

Mitigation and monitoring plans may consist of the following:

• Rectifying impacts by repairing, rehabilitating or restoring the affected environment.
• Reducing or eliminating impacts over time by preservation and maintenance operations.
• Compensating for impacts by replacing, enhancing, or providing substitute resources or environments.

Plans must be designed by qualified professionals and must include project-specific criteria for monitoring the mitigation project. This helps the County evaluate whether the project has succeeded in achieving no net loss of environmentally significant functions and values.

Beginning January 1, 2023, applicants whose permits are issued under 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 of each year.

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

Monitoring is essential to improving outcomes for our community and the ecosystems whose values and functions we are charged with protecting. Monitoring approved mitigation plans for success ensures increased transparency, fairness, and accountability. More detailed information on mitigation and monitoring requirements is available in KCC Sections 19.200.230(E) 22.400.110(C)(2).

2023 Fees Updated

The fees for 2023 have been updated and placed on our Fee Schedule page. You can also find information on our policies, including how we determine annual fees, refunds, reactivation, and extensions. Check out the page if you have any questions about making payments.

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

Thanks for joining us at the recent Open House for the Comprehensive Plan. One of the most common questions or conversations we have with people at outreach events is about decisions made where people don’t feel connected to the decision-making. This makes your participation in activities such as the in-person Open House and other virtual events so important. We need insight from various people to make the most inclusive decisions possible.

We will have more meetings in February on Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Alternatives for those of you who missed out on previous opportunities. You can always keep up with the latest information and events on the Comprehensive Plan page or ensure that you are on the Comprehensive Plan Announcements subscriber list.

Important Calendar Dates

January 11, 11-Noon - Bicycle and Electric Vehicle - BOCC work-study

January 16, DCD Office Closed

January 23, 5:30 pm Bicycle and Electric Vehicle - BOCC public hearing

February 6, 11:30-noon Bicycle and Electric Vehicle - BOCC Deliberations

February 9, 6:00 pm, Zoom Open House – EIS Alternatives

February 13, 5:30 Bicycle and Electric Vehicle - BOCC public hearing for action only

February 15, 6:00 pm, Zoom Open House – EIS Alternatives

February 22, 6-8:00 pm, In-Person Open House, Commissioner’s Chambers, EIS Alternatives

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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.