Property and zoning information services at DDES

The Department of Development and Environmental Service's Permit Center provides up to 15 minutes of free land use information to walk-in customers on a first-come, first served basis.

More complex and detailed inquiries may require a pre-application/feasibility meeting, for which fees are charged at the department's hourly rate ($140 as of June 1, 2007). Land use pre-application/feasibility meeting forms are available online or by mail by calling DDES customer service at 206-296-6600.

A great deal of property and zoning information is also available via the DDES Web site at: www.kingcounty.gov/permits. Property specific information including zoning, mapped critical areas and districts (schools, water, fire, sewer) can be located using property research tools. Also helpful are DDES customer information bulletins on a wide variety of construction, land use and permit process topics.

DDES has computer terminals in the Permit Center for customer use. The DDES Web site can be accessed from these terminals, providing much of the zoning information listed below.

Outlined below are types of information available for our customers.

Property zoning: How is my property zoned?

Resources include:

• DDES frequently asked questions (FAQ) on property issues.
• DDES Maps & property research. The GIS parcel locators provide access to zoning and other information on specific properties. See Check jurisdiction and zoning for instructions on how to find information.
• The King County Zoning Atlas, also available at any King County library.
• Walk-in customer service at the DDES permit center, limited to 15 minutes of service free of charge.
• DDES customer phone service at 206-296-6600.
• Pre-application/feasibility meeting with DDES staff for research needs exceeding 15 minutes, which is billed to the customer at the department's hourly rate.

Zoning setbacks: What areas of my property cannot be developed because of setback requirements?

Resources include:

• DDES frequently asked questions (FAQ) on property issues.
• King County Zoning Code, Title 21A.12 (PDF*, 111KB). The King County Code is online at www.kingcounty.gov/council/legislation/kc_code.aspx and available at all King County Libraries.  See DDES Codes and policies for more information.
• Walk-in customer service at the DDES Permit Center, limited to 15 minutes of service free of charge.
• DDES customer phone service at 206-296-6600. A Land Use Coordinator will return telephone requests for information within two weeks of a request.
• Pre-application/feasibility meeting with DDES staff for research needs exceeding 15 minutes, billed to the customer at the department's hourly rate.

Permitted uses: What can I do with my property?

Resources include:

• DDES frequently asked questions (FAQ) on property issues.
• King County Zoning Code, Title 21A.08 (PDF*, 141KB). The King County Code is online at www.kingcounty.gov/council/legislation/kc_code.aspx and available at all King County Libraries.  See DDES Codes and policies for more information.
• Walk-in customer service at the DDES Permit Center, limited to 15 minutes of service free of charge.
• DDES customer phone service at 206-296-6600. You should expect a return phone call from a Land Use Coordinator within two weeks of a request.
• Pre-application/feasibility meeting with DDES staff for research needs exceeding 15 minutes, billed to the customer at the department's hourly rate.

Mapped critical areas

King County Code requires special protection for: wetlands, streams, steep slopes, flood hazard areas, coal mine hazard areas, erosion hazard areas, landslide hazard areas, seismic hazard areas and volcanic hazard areas.

Resources include:

• DDES frequently asked questions (FAQ) about critical areas.
• DDES Maps & property research. Note: Web-based critical areas information is a general guide only. It is not accurate enough to be used as part of a permit application submittal.
• King County Zoning Code, Title 21A.24 (PDF*, 233KB). The King County Code is online at http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/legislation/kc_code.aspx and available at all King County Libraries.  See DDES Codes and policies for more information.
• DDES Critical Areas Designation process.
• Walk-in customer service at the DDES Permit Center, limited to 15 minutes of service free of charge.
• For a detailed analysis of critical areas on any given parcel, a consultant may be required.

Land use permit submittal requirements

Land use permits include subdivisions, lot line adjustments, clearing and grading, critical areas review, shorelines review and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process.

Resources include:

• Please note: Most permit applications are submitted by appointment only. To schedule an appointment to submit a permit application, please call 206-296-6797.
• DDES land use permit information, permit forms, handouts and application materials and customer information bulletins.
• Walk-in customer service at the DDES Permit Center, limited to 15 minutes of service free of charge.
• DDES customer phone service at 206-296-6600.
• Pre-application/feasibility meeting with DDES staff for research needs exceeding 15 minutes, billed to the customer at the department's hourly rate.

Pre-application requests

Resources include:

• DDES Pre-application meeting information, permit forms, handouts and application materials and customer information bulletins. After submitting your pre-application meeting request, you will be contacted to schedule the meeting.
• DDES customer phone service at 206-296-6600.

Subdivision of land

The number of lots that your zoning will permit, minimum lot size, and the subdivision process.

Resources include:

• DDES frequently asked questions (FAQ) about subdividing.
• Walk-in customer service at the DDES Permit Center, limited to 15 minutes of service free of charge.
• DDES customer phone service at 206-296-6600. You should expect a return phone call from a Land Use Coordinator within two weeks of a request.
• Pre-application/feasibility meeting with DDES staff for research needs exceeding 15 minutes, billed to the customer at the department's hourly rate.

For more information, please contact Jarrod Lewis, Permit Center Supervisor, at 206-296-6713 or e-mail jarrod.lewis@kingcounty.gov.

*Note: To view PDFs, free software from Adobe is required. See helpful hints for assistance.

To request this information in alternate formats for people with disabilities, call 206-296-6600 or TTY Relay: 711.