November-December 2023

Permits Required Outside of Community Development

In your permit’s journey for a Single-Family Residence (SFR), you may need to apply for additional permits or letters from departments and organizations outside Community Development. Here are some possible encounters:

Septic or Sewer

Kitsap Public Health District is the agency that approves adequate sewage disposal and water supply for every home. Kitsap Public Health District can help with the following services:

• Septic System permits (for new installations, replacements of failing systems and components, or new connections)
• Building Clearances (for construction on properties with existing septic systems)
• Building Site Application (septic designs)
• Property Conveyance Inspection (review of septic systems, records)

If your project is located in unincorporated Kitsap County but has access to a sewer system, you must follow the application process to connect to that particular sewer system. If it is the Kitsap County sewer system, Public Works has a page that walks you through the steps to connection.

Water

Public water utilities serve approximately 80% of Kitsap County residents. You will want to check with your local water purveyor to understand their process for hooking up to their system; if your home is one of the 20% that doesn’t have access to public water utilities, you will want to work with Kitsap Public Health District.

Right of Way

Activities involved with building your residence that would modify the right of way or strip of land over which highways, railroads, power lines, or utilities are built and maintained will require an additional permit. Clearly mark the location of proposed and existing utilities on your Building Site Plan. This will help determine if a Right of Way permit, issued and inspected by Public Works, is necessary. Visit the Right of Way Permits page to find out more information.

A Permit’s Journey is 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. View the DCD News page to review the entire series.

Reminder: This is a generic example of a Single-Family Residence permit being constructed in unincorporated Kitsap County. The process in your city may vary. You should check with them to verify the process.

Community Development Donates 873.5 Pounds of Goods to North Kitsap Fishline

The Community Development Activities Committee organized a competitive food drive for North Kitsap Fishline, led by DCD's Liliana Jones. The food drive ran from September 25^th until October 13^th. The Community Development staff were placed into division teams, which competed to provide the most donations. There was 1 point assigned for each item and 2 points for anything listed in the most needed items. The Current Planning team earned the most points to win the competition.

The North Kitsap Fishline is an organization in Poulsbo that has existed since 1967. They aim to “provide food and access to resources that offer stability, improve health and well-being, and help people onto a path to self-sustainability.” If you want to learn more about North Kitsap Fishline, you can view their site at FishlineHelps.org.

A Draft of Kitsap County's 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update will be Available Soon!

County staff have been working on updating the Comprehensive Plan and development regulations and plan to release draft documents for public review on December 15, 2023.

Curious to know how our roads and infrastructure will accommodate population growth? Take a look at our draft Capital Facilities Plan (CFP), which provides needed improvements to roads, utilities, parks and services such as schools and fire necessary to accommodate growth.   

Wondering about the environmental impacts of different land uses as our county grows? Check out the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which provides an overview of significant environmental impacts and will discuss alternatives, including mitigation measures, that would avoid or minimize adverse impacts.

These documents will be available to review on our Comprehensive Plan Update webpage. Be sure to follow our webpage and sign up for notifications to learn about upcoming public meetings and outreach events over the next several months.

For questions, comments, or feedback please email compplan@kitsap.gov.

Kitsap County to Study Sea Level Rise

Kitsap County has been awarded a grant by the Washington State Department of Ecology to conduct a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Risk Assessment. The grant is through the Shoreline Planning Competitive Grant Program for $230,000.

Under this grant, the County will hire a consultant to assist the Department of Community Development and Public Works in identifying potential losses or damages from flooding due to sea level rise, characterize the risk of loss, and highlight areas of the community, resources, infrastructure, or assets considered most vulnerable. Work is expected to begin in early 2024 and is due by June 2025.

With more than 200 miles of marine shoreline, the County is already experiencing hazards due to rising sea levels. Coastal erosion and flooding increase public and private infrastructure risks, health, and safety. This project builds on the County’s past planning efforts, emphasizing the need to comprehensively plan for and adapt to the impacts of rising sea levels.

Project Details

The project will use existing data to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based model of localized sea level rise projections, flood hazards resulting from the migration of shorelines, coastal flooding hazards resulting from extreme events, and groundwater changes.

The analysis will be based on the best available science and assess two future scenario dates (e.g., 2050 and 2100).

Community engagement events and surveys will be conducted to gather public perspectives. Outreach efforts will also include consultation with Tribal partners, non-government organizations, businesses and industries, and community or neighborhood groups throughout the assessment process.

The final report will summarize the counties' vulnerabilities and identify where to focus adaptation and resiliency efforts. Findings from the report will be presented to different community groups and boards. The assessment will be used for various planning purposes, including informing future revisions to the County's shoreline master program, critical areas ordinance, public works transportation improvement program, wastewater systems, stormwater, capital facilities plan, and Comprehensive Plan.

Please contact Jim Rogers, Lead Planner, at SLR@Kitsap.gov for more information.

Tips to Celebrate the Holidays Safely

Community Development encourages you to consider fire safety as the holidays approach. During the holiday season, it’s important to prioritize fire safety to ensure a joyful and safe celebration. Here are some tips:

1. Christmas Trees
   • Water your natural Christmas tree regularly to prevent it from drying out.
   • Keep the tree away from heat sources such as candles, fireplaces, and heating vents.
2. Decorative Lights – Electrical problems cause nearly 1/3 of Christmas tree fires
   • Use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
   • Inspect your lights for frayed wires, broken sockets, or loose connections before use.
   • Turn off holiday lights or place on a timer.
   • Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect.
3. Candles
   • Keep candles on a stable surface and in sturdy holders
   • Never leave a burning candle unattended
   • Keep candles out of reach of children and pets
   • Consider flameless candles as an alternative
4. Cooking Safety
   • Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Unattended cooking is a leading cause of home fires
   • Keep flammable items, such as kitchen towels and oven mitts, away from heat sources
   • Turn pot and pan handles towards the back of the stove to avoid bumping and burns
   • Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby to cover the pan if it catches fire.
   • Have a fire extinguisher available and know how to use it
   • Now is a good time to test your smoke alarms.

Important Calendar Dates

November 26-27th - Offices closed in observance of Thanksgiving

December 25th - Offices closed in observance of Christmas

January 1st - Offices closed in observance of New Year's Day

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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.