June - July 2024

In this Issue

Reading Time: Approximately 1 ½ minutes

The summer solstice was this past Thursday, marking the official start of summer. With schools out, it’s time for long days, warmer weather, outdoor activities, and holidays. As you prepare to celebrate Independence Day, please take a moment to review our fireworks safety tips. Sign up for our Burn Ban notifications to stay informed about safe burning practices as conditions change throughout the summer.

Another sign of early summer is the rapid growth of your lawn, garden, and weeds. Remember, RCW 17.10 requires landowners to prevent noxious weeds from seeding and spreading to neighboring areas. The Noxious Weed program is piloting a disposal program to assist with this effort. Read more about it below.

You may have noticed derelict or abandoned vessels if you’ve spent time on the water. We have secured grant funding through the National Estuary Program Habitat Strategic Initiative to develop a Derelict Vessel Removal program. Learn more about this program here.

Summer is also moving season, and your project may be nearing its conclusion like our Single-Family Residential (SFR) permit in “A Permit’s Journey.” In this issue, we will explore the final inspection phase of your permit. If you are beginning a project, you can view previous newsletters to learn more about the Single-Family Residence permit process.

In early July there will be a series of Zoom meeting gathering input from shoreline property owners across the Puget Sound about shoreline management. Read more about how you can be involved in these conversations.

You may have noticed continued building activity in your neighborhoods. Our permit statistics for the first quarter of 2024 show that 1,102 building permits were submitted, nearly matching the record of 1,117 permits set in the first quarter of 2021. Our department is committed to process improvement and has just completed a comprehensive review of the permitting process with an outside consultant. Stay tuned for future updates as we implement the recommended changes.

Fireworks Safety

Reading Time: Approximately 2 minutes

Each year, people are injured and property is destroyed by consumer fireworks. This Fourth of July Holiday, the Kitsap County Fire Marshal urges residents to be very careful, especially given the current drought and drying conditions that elevate the risk of fires. "We want everyone to enjoy the holiday, but safety must come first. Simple precautions can prevent tragic accidents,” said fire marshal David Lynam.

Here is what you need to know:

KEY DATES AND REGULATIONS

Fireworks Sales Permitted: June 28 to July 4, 12 p.m. (noon) - 11 p.m.

Use this flyer to identify the difference between a legal firework and an illegal firework.

Discharge Permitted:

• Unincorporated Kitsap County and Port Orchard: July 4, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Poulsbo: July 4, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Bremerton: 11 a.m. July 3 through 12:00 pm July 5^th.
• Bainbridge Island: No fireworks allowed

Please be courteous to your neighbors and mindful of the effect that fireworks can have on individuals, pets, and other animals by limiting firework discharge to legally established days and hours.

SAFETY TIPS FOR HANDLING FIREWORKS

Prioritize Safety: Always prioritize safety measures and follow recommended guidelines for handling fireworks.

Discharge Fireworks Safely: Discharge fireworks from your property and ensure that no part of the firework, including embers, leaves your property. Individuals and property owners may be held liable for any damage caused by fireworks. Violators of fireworks regulations may face fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.

Dispose of Fireworks Properly: Soak used fireworks in water for at least 15 minutes, wrap them in plastic, and place them in the garbage. Do not pour leftover water down sinks or storm drains to avoid water pollution.

CELEBRATE WITH PROFESSIONAL DISPLAYS

Residents are encouraged to attend organized public fireworks displays for a safer and more enjoyable experience. Some local events include:

Bremerton Bridge Blast: June 29, 10:15 p.m.

Fathoms O’ Fun: July 6, 10 p.m.

Kingston Fireworks: July 4, 10 p.m.

HELP KEEP EMERGENCY LINES CLEAR

Only call 911 for fireworks complaints if there is an imminent threat to life or property, such as a fire or an injury.

Noxious Weed Disposal Pilot Program

How to Participate: Transport weeds to one of the participating facilities listed below.  Let facility attendants know that you have noxious weeds to dispose of. Provide some information including: Name, Phone Number or Email, Weed Species, and Address of the property the weeds were removed from.  *Entire load must be noxious weeds. Pleae do not mix with other waste, yard clippings, etc.    Participating Facilities:  Olympic View Transfer Station  Hard hat and high visibility vest required for mechanical tipping  Hansville, Olalla, and Silverdale Garbage & Recycling Facilities and Bainbridge Disposal  Limit to one standard pickup load (8’ bed) or less per day, per property  Hand unload only  These facilities have the right to turn loads away if capacity is reaching its maximum for the day Remember to secure your load!  Bagged or loose, your load should be secured by tarp or net, or be subject to a $10 unsecured load fee. This is especially important to prevent the spread of noxious weeds as they are moved from your property to the disposal facilities. For additional information about noxious weeds and the program, click here.

Final Inspection

Reading Time: Approximately 2 ½  minutes.

Our permit has reached the last phase of construction; it is the final inspection. A project's most significant challenges leading to the final inspection include timing and completeness. We will review some of the items to consider before requesting your final inspection.

In preparation for the final inspection, the primary contact on the account will receive an email notification with a helpful checklist similar to the one we are going through here to ensure the project is prepared for the final inspection.

Caution: You may not be the primary contact if you are working with someone to help you through the permit process, including a permit runner or a builder.

COMPLETE

• The permit has a list of conditions that must be met before requesting the final inspection. These can be viewed by logging in to the Online Permit Center and viewing the issued permit. Another option is to review the printed, issued permit on site, which includes the conditions.
• Changes can happen during construction; be sure that any permit revisions that had to be made have been issued.
• The best way to proceed is to request inspections as you complete the task. This will avoid having to uncover and redo completed areas for inspection and ensure that all outstanding inspections are completed before requesting a final inspection.
• A project may have several related permits associated with the build. This may include Site Development Activity Permits (SDAP), Right of Way (ROW) permits, or Health District. All additional permits must be closed and finalized before the primary permit's final inspection is requested.
• Pay any outstanding fees. If impact fees were deferred, revisions were made, or additional inspection fees have been incurred, there will likely be a balance owed that will need to be paid before requesting the final inspection.
• Manufactured/Mobile Homes: Upload the VIN documentation for the manufactured/mobile home and ensure that all landing, decks, or porches meet the guidelines in the Manufactured Home Permitting Process

TIMING We do our best to accommodate next-day inspections, but a final inspection will always have an automatic 2-day waiting period. This allows us an opportunity to verify the items listed above have been met. If it is found to be incomplete, the request for a final inspection will be canceled. The cancellation message will be sent to the primary contact listed on the project.

Please prepare for a successful final inspection by ensuring that all items are complete and build in some time before scheduling the moving trucks. Any issues found at the time of final inspection will need to be completed before occupancy can occur.

Kitsap County Derelict and Abandoned Vessel Removal Program Underway

Reading Time: Approximately 1 minute

Kitsap County is developing a county-wide derelict vessel removal program in concert with the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) existing Derelict Vessel Program that will serve the cities and port districts within Kitsap County.

The County received grant funding through the National Estuary Program Habitat Strategic Initiative, administered by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife & Washington Department of Natural Resources, to develop this program.

Derelict and abandoned vessels impact the marine bed and submerged aquatic vegetation by grounding out and dragging anchors along the seabed. Water quality contamination from spills and leaching associated with these vessels impacts the quality of shellfish harvested by local tribes and the recreational community.

Throughout 2024-2026, Kitsap County will facilitate regular meetings with stakeholders, including port districts, law enforcement agencies, and local government officials to develop a local derelict vessel program that utilizes the resources available through DNR's program. For up-to-date information, sign up for GovDelivery emails or texts. More information can be found on the County's Derelict Vessel Removal Program webpage. To learn more about the existing DNR Derelict Vessel Removal Program, visit DNR's website.

Contact:

For questions and/or comments on this program please contact Brittany Gordon at: BGordon@kitsap.gov or (360) 801-6240

Residential Shoreline Management Discussion

Join the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Washington State University’s (WSU) Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC), on behalf of Shore Friendly, in a study on residential owners’ management of their shoreline. We're organizing online Zoom discussions in early July with shoreline property owners across the Puget Sound region. Your insights are invaluable, and no prior knowledge of shoreline management practices is necessary. Each session will last about an hour, and participants will receive a $20 e-gift card.

To sign up, visit https://opinion.wsu.edu/shoreline. For questions, contact lena.le@wsu.edu. We look forward to your participation!

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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.