Procedures for permit types, public notices and hearing requirements
Chapter 20.20 (PDF*, 351KB) of the King County Code (KCC) establishes overall procedures and minimum application requirements for building and land development permits in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW, external link). In addition, this law establishes public notice and maximum processing timelines.
Permit types
Permit applications are classified into four land use decision types as follows. See KCC 20.20.020 (PDF*, 351KB) for more information.
| Permit type | Decision process | Applications |
|---|
Type 1 |
Decision by Director, no administrative appeal. |
Temporary use permit for a homeless encampment under K.C.C. 21A.45.010, 21A.45.020, 21A.45.030, 21A.45.040, 24A.45.050, 21A.45.060, 21A.45.070, 21A.45.080 and 21A.45.090; building permit, site development permit, or clearing and grading permit that is not subject to SEPA, that is categorically exempt from SEPA as provided in K.C.C. 20.20.040, or for which the department has issued a determination of nonsignificance or mitigated determination of nonsignificance; boundary line adjustment; right of way; variance from K.C.C. chapter 9.04; shoreline exemption; decisions to require studies or to approve, condition or deny a development proposal based on K.C.C. chapter 21A.24, except for decisions to approve, condition or deny alteration exceptions; approval of a conversion-option harvest plan; a binding site plan for a condominium that is based on a recorded final planned unit development, a building permit, an as-built site plan for developed sites, a site development permit for the entire site. |
Type 21,2 |
Decision by Director appealable to Hearing Examiner, no further administrative appeal |
Short plat; short plat revision; short plat alteration; zoning variance; conditional use permit; temporary use permit under K.C.C. chapter 21A.32; temporary use permit for a homeless encampment under K.C.C. 21A.45.100; shoreline substantial development permit3; building permit, site development permit or clearing and grading permit for which the department has issued a determination of significance; reuse of public schools; reasonable use exceptions under K.C.C. 21A.24.070.B; preliminary determinations under K.C.C. 20.20.030.B; decisions to approve, condition or deny alteration exceptions under K.C.C. chapter 21A.24; extractive operations under K.C.C. 21A.22.050; binding site plan; waivers from the moratorium provisions of K.C.C. 16.82.140 based upon a finding of special circumstances. |
Type 31 |
Recommendation by Director, hearing and decision by Hearing Examiner, appealable to County Council on the record |
Preliminary plat; plat alterations; preliminary plat revisions. |
Type 41,4 |
Recommendation by Director, hearing and recommendation by Hearing Examiner decision by County Council on the record |
Zone reclassifications; shoreline environment redesignation; urban planned development; special use; amendment or deletion of P suffix conditions; plat vacations; short plat vacations; deletion of special district overlay. |
1 See K.C.C. 20.44.120.C. for provisions governing procedural and substantive SEPA appeals and appeals of Type 3 and 4 decisions to the council.
2 When an application for a Type 2 decision is combined with other permits requiring Type 3 or 4 land use decisions under this chapter or under K.C.C. 25.32.080, the examiner, not the director, makes the decision.
3 A shoreline permit, including a shoreline variance or conditional use, is appealable to the state Shorelines Hearings Board and not to the hearing examiner.
4 Approvals that are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan may be considered by the council at any time. Zone reclassifications that are not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan require a site-specific land use map amendment and the council's hearing and consideration shall be scheduled with the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan under K.C.C. 20.18.040 and 20.18.060.
Minimum application requirements and timelines
Minimum submittal requirements for the permit types is provided in KCC 20.20.040 (PDF*, 351KB). Waivers to any submittal requirement may be allowed but only if the application is made and approved using the Waiver of Submittal Requirements form or the Fee Waiver/Adjustment Of Fees Authorization form. Locate these forms online under DDES' forms listed by title, or see forms and application materials for more information.
Please note that fee waivers (reductions) typically may only be granted if:
- The service paid for was not performed
- The fee duplicates another fee collected
- The fee was assessed in error causing unnecessary review
- Applicant sustains additional expenses due to a processing error by DDES.
Processing timelines for permit types are outlined in KCC 20.20.100 (PDF*, 351KB).
Applicant designation
Permit applications must be made by the property owner or his/her designee.
Each application requires the Land Use Permit Application form, available in fill-in Word* (136KB) or PDF* (126KB) format, to be completed by the owner, and a Certification of Applicant Status form, in fill-in Word* (69KB) or PDF* (88KB) format. A Certification and Transfer Applicant Status form, in fill-in Word* (79KB) or PDF* (77KB) format, is required for any other individual to act on behalf of the applicant or when a project is sold to another developer or company. Those listed on the form will be recognized as representatives of the owner. Both forms designate an applicant that is ultimately responsible for the permit and any permit review fees that are accrued. For additional information, please contact DDES customer service at 206-296-6600.
Pre-application meetings
Many permit types require the applicant to have a pre-application meeting with DDES staff prior to submitting the application. Exempt from this requirement are Type 1 single family residential permits and permits for existing buildings which do not add or require additional parking. DDES must apply a minimum hourly charge for all staff time at the pre-application. However, these costs can reduce the initial submittal fees if application is made within six months. More information about pre-applications is online. See pre-application meetings for land use permits and for building permits for application forms. Public notice requirementsKCC 20.20.060 (PDF*, 351KB) requires official public notice at major processing steps for permit Types 2, 3 and 4. Notice includes newspaper advertisement, mailings and posting sign boards at the development site. When application is made, applicants are required to post a Notice of Land Use Application sign - see Notice Board Requirements: Notice of Application (PDF*, 127KB). When a decision for an application is reached, applicants are required to again post a sign at the property. When all approvals are obtained to start construction, a Notice of Construction Activity sign must be posted until construction is complete - see Notice of Construction Activity Sign Requirements (PDF*, 117KB). For additional information, please contact DDES customer service at 206-296-6600. Go to the King County Code at www.kingcounty.gov/council/legislation/kc_code.aspx for the complete text of Title 20 (PDF*, 351KB) and other County ordinances.
*Note: To view PDFs, free software from Adobe is required. Fill-in Word documents require Microsoft software. For assistance and fill-in instructions, see helpful hints.
To request this information in alternate formats for people with disabilities, call 206-296-6600 or TTY Relay: 711.
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