Community Development News - Burn Ban Continues, Lobby Hours Changing, and more
Kitsap County Washington sent this bulletin at 09/03/2022 09:00 AM PDT
September 2022
Our offices will be closed in recognition of Labor Day, Monday, September 5th.
The DCD Lobby will be CLOSED for in-person services on
Mondays and Fridays,
beginning September 6th.
Although our lobby doors are closed, we will continue to focus on processing and reviewing your permit applications during this time. In addition to many of our services, including Live Chat and phone appointments, continuing to be available, there are several ways to gather information online anytime, including outside of business hours.
The lobby will remain open for in-person services Tuesday-Thursday from 9 am-Noon.
Live Chat with Permit Technicians, Land Use, Building, and Environmental Staff will be available, Monday - Thursday, 9 am-Noon.
Virtual and phone appointments will be available, Tuesday-Friday.
Carports can be an alternative to garages and an easier way to provide shelter from the elements. If you are considering building a carport to shield your vehicle from the weather, keep in mind that both attached and detached carports require permits to be built on your property.
Some things you will want to consider when building your carport:
Setbacks from property lines vary depending on the zoning district your home is located in. Some communities have other zoning provisions that may apply, including lot coverage or screening. See our brochure on Residential Setbacks and if you are unsure of your zoning you can look up your parcel at Parcel Search.
A carport that is not open on at least two sides will be considered a garage and will be required to adhere to provisions for garages.
The Kitsap County Department of Community Development (DCD) is always looking for ways to improve the transparency and accessibility of public information for our community. We have recently completed a new website intended to help you navigate the process of gathering information from public records.
The information includes:
Frequently Asked Questions,
Self-Service Records,
Tips on how to get the most accurate information in as timely a manner as possible,
Additional outside resource links.
Please use this page as your first resource for gathering your DCD public record information. Please contact us if you still require our help, and we will be glad to assist further.
Kitsap County Extending Reclassification Requests for Comprehensive Plan Update through September 15
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. This extension effort is to increase public participation and receive specific requests for amendments as early in the process as possible. These requests may include urban growth area sizing, property zoning, goals and policies, and County Code.
Examples could include:
Zoning changes that increase the amount of housing or development allowed on a property. Zoning changes that allow commercial or industrial uses on a property.
Code changes that impact the development of certain uses in a specific area.
Kitsap is extending the submittal period through September 15, 2022. Proposals will be reviewed for potential inclusion in land use alternatives or draft documents to be approved by December 31, 2024.
The application materials can be found on our webpage. Staff will be available to meet with applicants on a first-come basis to answer submittal and process questions. Meeting times are limited. Book your virtual appointment online.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please visit the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update webpage or contact Colin Poff at or (360) 337-7181.
Partial Ban on Outdoor Burning Began August 5th
Our summer weather continues as we jump into September with schools returning, and the beginning signs of Fall right around the corner. As a reminder, the Kitsap County Fire Marshal announced a Stage One ban on outdoor burning that began at midnight Friday, August 5, and is anticipated to remain in place until the typical fall weather brings rainfall to the area.
Outdoor burning is prohibited under the ban, and burning permits are suspended. The exceptions to the outdoor burn ban include:
Recreational fires in approved appliances and locations
Permitted state or federal campgrounds
Recreational burning includes small fires for cooking, religious, or similar purposes, less than three feet in diameter in fire pits, fireplaces, or outdoor appliances. Never leave any fire unattended, as even small recreational fires can spread to surrounding areas. Those who have recreational fires are always asked to have a sufficient water source to put the fire out.
Nearshore Restoration Projects Underway in North Kitsap
Finn Creek
With funding from the State’s Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund, Wild Fish Conservancy is partnering with Kitsap County to restore the stream and estuary at Norwegian Point Park in Hansville. Finn Creek has been confined to a ditch and a series of aging culverts, or pipes. Wild Fish Conservancy has been working with the local community and Kitsap County to develop a plan to improve habitat for fish and wildlife while also addressing community needs for flood control and parking. Preliminary and final designs are underway.
When dikes and a tide gate were constructed a century ago, endangered juvenile Chinook (King) salmon could no longer access the salt marsh to rest, hide from predators, and find food on their way out to the ocean. Funding from the state’s Estuary and Salmon Recovery Program and Salmon Recovery Funding Board has allowed the Mid-Puget Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group to partner with Kitsap County, local tribes, natural resource agencies, and the surrounding community to study the opportunity to restore the salt marsh adjacent to Point No Point Lighthouse in Hansville.
Lead engineers from Blue Coast Engineering are currently gathering groundwater and surface water data to inform restoration opportunities. Preliminary results from the data collection work were presented at an August 25, 2022, community meeting. For more information, visit the project website: Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group » Point No Point Estuary Restoration.
September 20 at 5:30 pm, Planning Commission Work Study for Bike Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Code and Findings of Fact for Countywide Planning Policies
September 27 at 6:00 pm, Comprehensive Plan Virtual Meeting focused on Housing
October 11 at 6:00 pm, Comprehensive Plan Virtual Meeting focused on Environmental and Climate Change
October 19th at 6:00 pm, Comprehensive Plan Virtual Meeting focused on Silverdale
October 25th at 6:00 pm, Comprehensive Plan Virtual Meeting focused on Capital Facilities and Transportation
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.