June 2023

A Permit's Journey - Peninsula Home & Garden Seminar

This month we return to our permit’s journey, a series that began in January 2023. Our permit has passed successfully through Intake and went Under Review or Technical Review. This means that we are amid concurrent review of the documents we submitted. Previously, we discussed stormwater review.  

Reminder: This is a generic example of a Single-Family Residence permit. I am also covering information about unincorporated Kitsap County. Your city may vary, and you should check with them to ask any questions.

Fire Marshal Review

Most applications for new single-family homes have a fire marshal review step.  Fire marshal staff reviews applications to ensure that:

• first responders can find and access properties in the event of an emergency,
• locations within the high fire danger Wildland Urban Interface areas have adequate fire-resistive construction and defensible spaces,
• and that there are fire hydrants with adequate water supplies nearby. 

Roads providing fire access to single-family homes must be at least 20 feet wide and equipped with a cul-de-sac or other approved turnarounds.  Fire hydrants providing at least 500 gallons per minute of water flow are usually sufficient for single-family construction.  Large homes (greater than 5,000 square feet) or those served by roads less than 20 feet wide or without turnarounds or fire hydrants may have additional requirements for fire protection.

Resources

Fire Code Requirements for Development

Fire Flow Table

Free West Sound Marine Mobile Pumpout

More options are available for recreational boaters to pump out their boat sewage safely and efficiently in the Puget Sound area. “Pumpout boats” that travel to where the boaters are located are gaining support and expanding at marinas and ports. These boats, funded by grants, prevent around 8-10 million gallons of sewage from entering Puget Sound each year, which helps protect shellfish beds and improve the overall quality of the water. Boaters find mobile pumpout boats appealing because they come directly to them, making it convenient to do the right thing and pump out their sewage instead of dumping it into the water. There are several tools available to assist boaters in this process:

• The West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery (WSPER) have introduced the West Sound Mobile Pumpout program, which will operate primarily on Saturdays from June 17-September 30, 2023, and July 4^th. The service will be available at Poulsbo, Eagle Harbor, and Blake Island State Park locations. Boaters can book a free appointment online.
• Pumpout Boat Tracker is a GIS map that shows the real-time location of mobile pumpout boats. This tool is still being developed, and feedback from boaters is actively sought to make improvements.
• Pumpout Nav is a free phone app that helps boaters maintain clean holding tanks and healthy waters in Washington. The app allows boaters to locate nearly 200 pumpout and dump stations in Washington and numerous pumpouts in California and Oregon. It is available for both iOS and Android. Additionally, boaters can use a free pumpout adapter, a simple screw-in nozzle that prevents sewage spills.

Kitsap County Fire Marshal Issues a Stage One Burn Ban

The Kitsap County Fire Marshal announced a stage one burn ban on outdoor burning beginning at 8 am, Monday, June 12. Under the ban, all burning permits are suspended. Most outdoor burning is prohibited with a few exceptions, including: Recreational fires in approved appliances and locations; recreational burning takes place in designated areas for cooking, enjoyment, or ceremonial activities. Permitted state or federal campgrounds. "This is about a month earlier than usual. Little rain since mid-April dried fuels to a seasonal level making the ban on outdoor fires necessary and will likely remain so through the rest of fire season," says David Lynam, Kitsap County Fire Marshal. It is important to have a shovel, a connected water hose, or a five (5) gallon pail of water nearby, and there should always be a responsible person present until the fire is completely out. Even small recreational fires can spread to surrounding areas in such dry conditions. Subscribe to stay current on burn bans or visit the Kitsap County Fire Marshal's site: kcowa.us/burnban.

Permit Dashboard Updated - Where is My Permit in Line?

You have submitted your documents for your project, and now the waiting process begins. Even if you have been following along on our Permit’s Journey articles and understand all the steps your permit will take, you still want a better understanding of the current status of your permit.

The Where’s My Permit in Line? dashboard can help you understand where your permit is in the process. The dashboard was recently updated to include more information about all the permits we service.

The first thing you see when you arrive at the new dashboard is a breakdown of permits by type. These permits are first-run permits. For example, some permits are commercial, fire, etc., and most are residential. It further breaks down the categories by type of permit; examples under residential include single-family residences, covered porches, decks, etc.

If you have already had a first review and received a request for corrections, your permit will not be included in these counts. However, you can still use the link in the upper right corner to understand where you are in the queue.

Finding Your Place in the Queue

After following the link in the top right corner, you will place your permit number, including the hyphen, in the search bar. Following these steps will give you more information about the status of your permit.

2021 Building Code Implementation Delayed The State Building Code Council voted on May 24, 2023, to delay the effective date of the 2021 codes for 120 days. The new effective date for all building codes is October 29, 2023. Previously, the effective date was July 1, 2023. The Council also directed SBCC staff to convene two Technical Advisory Groups to consider stakeholder proposals to modify commercial and residential energy codes sections. Kitsap County Department of Community Development (DCD) will continue to accept applications based on the existing 2018 codes until 11:59 PM on October 28, 2023. A complete application must be submitted, with all necessary documentation to complete the review, to be vested under the 2018 building code. For more information regarding the delay, please visit the Washington State Building Code Council website at https://www.sbcc.wa.gov.

Virtual Inspections FAQs

Who is eligible to use the Virtual Inspection program?

Currently, your project is eligible if it is a residential gypsum wallboard, insulation, or has been identified by an inspector as eligible for reinspection.

Will all inspections occur virtually?

The initial implementation is limited. As the program develops its use will be expanded to other types of inspections. 

How will I know if my inspection qualifies for the Virtual Inspection program?

If eligible, your inspector may leave a card indicating that you qualify for reinspection. It will also be the first thing you see on the inspection results.

What wireless connection type should I use during a Virtual Inspection?

If WIFI is available in your area, it is the preferred and recommended choice. If there is no WIFI, then a secondary option is your cellular network. If neither option is available, then your site does not currently qualify for a virtual inspection.

Is there an additional charge to use the virtual inspection program?

No, it is covered in your permit charges similar to a regular inspection.

Why virtual inspection?

During busy times it can take more than a couple of days to schedule an inspector back out at a site. The virtual inspection provides additional tools and resources to obtain an inspection more quickly than may otherwise be possible.

How do I schedule a virtual inspection?

At this time all requests for virtual inspections go through Kitsap1 by calling (360) 337-5777 and having your permit number available.

Important Calendar Dates

June 19 - Juneteenth - Offices Closed

July 4th - Fourth of July - Offices 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.