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Land Use Permits
Types of Permits
The below examples are just that. See the Land Use Applications & Handouts page for additional information and applications. Please contact the Permit Center at 253.835.2607, or email, to discuss the specific permit requirements for your project.

  • Use Process I 
    • Minor (non single family home) additions, facade improvements, etc.
  • Use Process II 
    • New (non single family home) buildings and additions that do not trigger State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review
  • Use Process III 
    • New (non single-family home) buildings and additions that trigger SEPA review, residential reasonable use exceptions, certain intrusions into wetland / stream buffers
  • Use Process IV 
    • Variances, certain intrusions into wetlands / streams and their buffers, limited number of land uses (i.e., churches in residential zones)
  • Use Process V
    • Quasi-judicial rezone

 Subdivisions
 Shoreline 
  • Shoreline Substantial Development 
    • Significant development along city shoreline (most single-family homes are exempt)
    Shoreline Conditional Use
    • Certain in-water improvements and specific types of development along city shoreline
  • Shoreline Variance
    • Request for relief from dimensional standards in shoreline area
  • Shoreline Exemption

  Miscellaneous
  • Preapplication Conference 
    • Meeting to discuss project before formal application; recommended for most projects and required for any project that requires SEPA review
  • State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Review 
    • Any development which exceeds 12,000 square feet, 40 parking spaces or 20 dwelling units; most developments of any size in critical areas
  • Clearing and Grading Plan Approval 
    • Any project that involves earth moving and tree removal (see exceptions), usually incorporated into associated land use or building permit
  • Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permit
    • Addition of a second dwelling unit (either attached or detached) to a lot already improved with a single-family home
  • Director’s Approval
    • Intrusion into geologically hazardous areas, stream / wetland rehabilitation