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Land-Use Applications
How Do I Submit an Application?
Electronically
Send your application and other attachments to PlanningDept@islandcountywa.gov
- PLEASE NOTE - if your email includes attachments which are larger than 7MB, it will not be delivered. A Planner can provide a file sharing link, the applicant can send a file sharing link, or you can mail a USB drive
- Once a planner is assigned to look over your submittal they will let you know they have received your application and advise you of its completeness.
- If everything looks ready, the planner will provide you with an estimate for the fees and let you know how many hard copies are needed.
- Please mail the required hard copies, a copy of the estimate provided to you, and a check for the required permit fees to one of the addresses below.
Via USPS
Planning & Community Development, 1 NE 7th St., Coupeville, WA 98239
Via FedEx or UPS:
Planning & Community Development, 1 NE 6th St., Coupeville, WA 98239
In Person
Call 360-679-7339 and ask to schedule a "Land Use Permit submittal appointment" with a planner. Plan for approximately 60 minutes to review and deliver your application.
Applications A-E
Application | Details |
---|---|
Animal Management Plan | For use to determine whether non-household pets can be properly contained, kept and managed, within a property. |
Applicant Authorization Form | For use by a property owner who has an agent that is handling their land use permit. The form allows the County to interact directly with the agent on a permit application. |
Boundary Line Adjustment | For the adjustment of boundary lines between platted or unplatted lots, lot combinations, or boundary line corrections. Cannot be used to create additional lots. |
Certificate of Zoning Compliance | Process for establishing, that a lot, use or structure lawfully existed prior to the effective date of the Island County Zoning Code. For lots, uses, or structures that would otherwise be out of compliance with the current code. |
Clearing and Grading | Clearing is the cutting and removal of vegetation. Grading is the excavating or filling of soil. Form needed if: 500 cubic yards of cut or fill; 2 acres or more cleared to bare earth; conversion out of Forest Practices; and/or clearing in critical areas or their buffers. |
Critical Areas Permitted Use | Required for permitted alterations to Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation areas. This considers the size of the lot, the type of use or structure proposed, and the ability to reduce or mitigate for impacts to the critical area. |
Comprehensive Plan/ | Form for Comprehensive Plan or Development Regulation amendment requests. Must be submitted by July 31st to be considered for the next year's Docket or Work Plan. |
JPA Amendment Supplemental | Additional form needed if the request is to revise a Joint Planning Area |
UGA Amendment Supplemental | Additional form needed if the request is to revise an Urban Growth Area |
Nomination for Habitat or Species of Local Importance | Additional form needed if the request is to nominate a new Habitat or Species of Local Importance in accordance with the process outlined in ICC 17.02B.220 |
Design Alternative Application | For properties within the Freeland Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area (NMUGA) only. The Freeland Zoning Code (ICC 17.06) offers opportunity for design alternatives to certain required standards. |
Ebey's Certificate of Appropriateness | Required for most development within Ebey's Landing Historical Reserve. For more information about Ebey's and how to determine what review level your project will be, click here. |
Calendar of deadlines for Ebey's COA and meetings of the HRC and HPC | |
Environmental Consultants - List of Qualified Professionals | Required for most development within Ebey's Landing Historical Reserve. For more information about Ebey's and how to determine what review level your project will be, click here. |
Applications L-P
Applications | Details |
---|---|
Long Plat | For the division of land into five (5) or more lots approved pursuant to ICC 16.06. |
Preliminary Long Plat | A neat and approximate drawing of a proposed subdivision showing the general layout of streets and alleys, lots, blocks and other elements. Used as the basis for the approval or disapproval of the general layout of a subdivision. |
Final Long Plat | The final drawing of the subdivision and dedication prepared for filing of record with the Island County Auditor, and containing all elements and requirements. |
Lot Combinations
(see also Boundary Line Adjustments) |
The combination of two (2) or more lots where no public dedication is modified, as of 01/10/2023 lot combinations have the same application requirements as Boundary Line Adjustments per Ordinance No. C-04-23; PLG-001-23. |
Public Benefit Rating System Application | The State Open Space Tax Act, Chapter 84.34 RCW, provides an opportunity for landowners to apply for a reduction in property taxes for certain categories of open space, agricultural, and timber lands. This tax reduction is based upon a current use assessment (CUA) of the land rather than on the traditional fair market value system of "highest and best use. |
Basis for Assessment for Island County PBRS | Island County's PBRS establishes a priority ranking system for various open space resources, classifying them into high, medium, or low priority categories, and assigns a point value for each category. The PBRS's assessed valuation schedule determines the percentage of tax reduction based upon the total number of points accumulated under its rating. This document is a guide to the program's point criteria. |
PBRS Affidavit | Properties currently in PBRS must submit an affidavit annually which continuing compliance with the terms and conditions under which open space classification was granted and the current uses of the property. |
Pre-Application Meeting Form | To review and discuss the application requirements with the applicant and provide comments on the development proposal. |
Planned Residential Development | A cluster residential project approved pursuant to ICC 16.17. A PRD may include detached or attached dwelling units |
Plat Alteration | To modify a plat which has already been approved and recorded. Specifically: changes to lot boundaries which do not qualify as boundary line adjustments, lot combinations, boundary line corrections, withdrawals, or vacations; or changes to easements dedicated to the public; or changes to the conditions of approval of a recorded plat. |
Short Plat Alteration | For alterations to approved and recorded plats of four (4) or fewer lots
|
Long Plat Alteration | For alterations to approved and recorded plats of five (5) or more lots
|
Public Transportation or Utility Projects | For public transportation or utility projects which are proposed to impact a wetland or its buffer. |
Applications R-S
Application | Details |
---|---|
Reasonable Use | Used to assess the logical or rational use of a specific parcel of land that is encumbered by wetlands and their buffers. This considers the size of the lot, the type of use or structure proposed, and the ability to reduce or mitigate for impacts to the wetland or buffer. |
Type 1 Reasonable Use | For proposals in which the wetland buffer alteration has not and will not exceed cumulatively 2,800 square feet. |
Type 2 Reasonable Use | For proposals in which the wetland buffer alteration has or will exceed cumulatively 2,800 square feet. |
Rural Stewardship Plan Application | For proposals seeking to implement a Rural Stewardship Plan for a property in order to be eligible for either a reduction in land use intensity or to qualify for the Public Benefit Rating System program.
For more information please see the Rural Stewardship Guide. |
SEPA (State Environmental
Policy Act) |
The SEPA process identifies and analyzes environmental impacts associated with governmental decisions. These decisions may be related to issuing permits for private projects, constructing public facilities, or adopting regulations, policies, and plans. The SEPA review process helps agency decision-makers, applicants, and the public understand how the entire proposal will affect the environment. SEPA can be used to modify or deny a proposal to avoid, reduce, or compensate for probable impacts. |
Shoreline Exemption | For activities within Shoreline Jurisdiction which are classified as permitted uses per ICC 17.05A.080 and which do not qualify as Substantial Development per ICC 17.05A.130.E. For more information on shoreline development click here. |
Standard Shoreline Exemption | See explanation above for Shoreline Exemption. |
Limited Review Shoreline Exemption | For those activities which meet the explanation above for Shoreline Exemption and which also meet the criteria of the policy linked here. |
Shoreline Variance/Conditional Use | For activities within Shoreline Jurisdiction which are classified as conditional uses per ICC 17.05A.080 or which are requesting to vary from the standards of the Shoreline Master Program ICC 17.05A. For more information on shoreline development click here. |
Short Plat | For the division of land into four (4) or fewer lots, tracts or parcels approved pursuant to ICC 16.06. |
Preliminary Short Plat | A neat and approximate drawing of a proposed subdivision showing the general layout of streets and alleys, lots, blocks and other elements. Used as the basis for the approval or disapproval of the general layout of a subdivision. |
Final Short Plat | The final drawing of the subdivision and dedication prepared for filing of record with the Island County Auditor, and containing all elements and requirements. |
Site Plan Review (SPR) | For review of site plans and maps for commercial and certain residential and nonresidential land development proposals. To assure that they meet the stated purposes and standards of the zoning district, provide for the necessary public facilities, and protect and preserve topographical features and adjacent properties through appropriate siting of structures and landscaping. |
SPR - Cell Tower | A structure designed and constructed to support one or more antennas used by commercial wireless telecommunication
facilities. |
SPR - Non-Residential Zones | For projects which require a site plan review and which are located in the Rural Center, Rural Village, Rural Service, Light Manufacturing, or Airport Zones. |
SPR - Rural Zones | For projects which require a site plan review and which are located in the rural, Rural Residential, Rural Forest, Rural Agriculture, and Commercial Agriculture Zones. |
SPR - Rural Commercial Events | For events occurring at a specific site ten (10) times or less in a given year. Rural commercial events are incidental and subordinate to the primary use on a parcel and include activities such as music/entertainment events (with or without amplified sound), receptions, meetings, weddings, and other advertised events. |
SPR - Surface Mine | For the processes of the commercial removal of minerals from the surface of the earth. |
Substantial Development Permit | For those activities within Shoreline Jurisdiction which meet the criteria of ICC 17.05A.130.E. |
Applications T-Z
Application | Details |
---|---|
Temporary Use Permit
|
A use specified in ICC 17.03.180 requiring no permanent improvements and conducted for a limited duration. |
Temp - Infirm Relative | For placement and use of a temporary residence for relatives with a physical or mental infirmity. |
Temp - Special Events and Farmers Markets
Fire Code Permit - May also be needed |
A farmer's market is a temporary seasonal outlet for local area farmers, crafters and food processors to sell their wares directly to the consumer, usually occurring on a weekly or less occasional basis.
Special events means an event occurring at a single location annually or more frequently but in no case more than five (5) times a year. |
Type 1 - Ministerial Application | For proposed development and uses which qualify as a Type I permit per the Land Use Tables contained in ICC 17.03.035 and processed in accordance with ICC 16.19. |
Variance | Permission to depart from the development code when, because of special circumstances applicable to the property, strict application of the development code provisions deprives such property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the vicinity that are identically zoned. |
Water System Review Application | To establish a water system's current and future service area meet the needs of Island County as defined in the Island County Comprehensive Plan, the Island County Development regulations, and the Island County Coordinated Water System Plan |
Wetland Buffer Improvements | For the re-establishment, rehabilitation, or enhancement of altered wetlands. |
Zoning Amendment Application | For zoning amendments which are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan or Subarea Plan. For those zoning amendment requests which would require a Comprehensive Plan amendment, please see the Comprehensive Plan Amendment form above. |
Zoning Code Interpretation | For clarifying ambiguities in the text of the zoning code or classifying uses that are not expressly referenced. |
- What are the permit fees?
-
For information about permit fees, download Island County's land use permit fee schedule (pdf)
- How can I submit a permit?
-
Electronically
- Send your application and other attachments to PlanningDept@islandcountywa.gov
- PLEASE NOTE - if your email includes attachments which are larger than 7MB, it will not be delivered. A Planner can provide a file sharing link, the applicant can send a file sharing link, or you can mail a USB drive
- Once a planner is assigned to look over your submittal they will let you know they have received your application and advise you of its completeness.
- If everything looks ready, the planner will provide you with an estimate for the fees and let you know how many hard copies are needed.
- Please mail the required hard copies, a copy of the estimate provided to you, and a check for the required permit fees to one of the addresses below.
Via USPS:
Planning & Community Development, 1 NE 7th St., Coupeville, WA 98239
Via FedEx or UPS:
Planning & Community Development, 1 NE 6th St., Coupeville, WA 98239
In Person
Call 360-679-7339 and ask to schedule a "Land Use Permit submittal appointment" with a planner. Plan for approximately 60 minutes to review and deliver your application.
- What zone is my property?
-
Find your zone on Island County's interactive IC Geo Map. Instructions can be found on the opening home page.
- What uses are allowed in my zone?
-
Please click this link to be directed to our Land Use Tables. Directions on how to use the tables can be found at the top of the linked page.
- What permit type do I need?
-
You can find this information in the Land Use Tables. Directions on how to use the tables can be found at the top of the page.
- How long will my permit take?
-
The below timeframes begin the date the application is officially deemed complete and only includes the time which the County is actively reviewing the permit. This means if the County is waiting on additional information from an applicant, it could take longer than the times below.
Type I: Type I permits are ministerial and the final determination is made by planning staff. Planners aim for 30 to 60 days but can take up to 120 days.
Type II: Type II permits are administrative, they require the posting of a public notice sign and a 14 to 30 day public comment period depending on permit type. The final determination is made by planning staff. Planners aim for 60 to 90 days but can take up to 120 days.
Type III: Type III permits require a pre-application conference and a community meeting before submittal of the application. They require posting of a public notice sign and a 14-day public comment period. Planning staff issue a recommendation but the final determination is made by the Hearing Examiner after holding a public hearing.
It can take 120 days to get the staff recommendation to the Hearing Examiner. Then about 6 weeks to schedule a date with the Hearing Examiner. The Hearing Examiner issues their decision within 10 days of the hearing.
- Can you recommend a consultant?
-
As a government institution, Island County and its staff cannot endorse any specific private professional. However, for environmental projects, the county maintains a list of Qualified Environmental Consultants. This is a list of professionals who have submitted their qualifications to the Department and have been determined to meet the criteria of ICC 17.02B.060 for "Qualified Professional"
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Planning & Community Development
Physical Address
1 NE 6th Street
Coupeville, WA 98239
Mailing Address
1 NE 7th Street
Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone 360-679-7339Fax 360-679-7306