Large Onsite Sewage System (LOSS) Regulations for Rural Kitsap County

 Large On-Site Sewage System (LOSS) 

An integrated arrangement of components for a residence, building, industrial establishment or other place which:

a.      Conveys, stores, treats, and/or provides subsurface soil treatment and disposal on the property where it originates, or on adjacent or nearby property; and

b.      Where the system is not connected to a public sewer system; and

c.      Includes piping, treatment devices, other accessories, and soil underlying the disposal component of the initial and reserve areas; and

d.      Designed for a capacity that exceeds 3,500 gallons of sewage volume per day, at any common point.

Why did the County Regulate LOSS in the Rural Areas?

Kitsap County enacted emergency ordinance 371-2006 on December 18, 2006, that placed a moratorium on permit applications in rural unincorporated Kitsap County that intended to use a LOSS system. The purpose of the moratorium was to preserve the status quo of development in the rural areas, because relatively small vested lots exist in rural areas of Kitsap County.  If developed, those lots could result in urban densities.  The moratorium has been rolled over continuously since December 2006. 

The Board recognized that under Kitsap County Code, development or redevelopment of these lots utilizing LOSS may facilitate development at urban densities, which is not consistent with the rural element of the Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan and the Washington State Growth Management Act. 

Historically, such lots had limited development potential because standard on-site septic systems used to serve such lots could not be utilized.  However, with the advent of emerging technology, the use of LOSS with enhanced treatment potential have been proposed for use with smaller land area requirement thus enabling cases where small nonconforming lots may develop at urban densities. 

In order to provide complete protection to the rural areas of Kitsap County, the Department of Community Development is currently working on “Legacy Lot” regulations.  A “Legacy Lot” is commonly known as a lot the was created prior to 1937 and was not subject to any subdivision laws. 

The Board of County Commissioners adopted new regulations  on LOSS in the rural areas of Kitsap County on Monday, June 14, 2010.  Please click on the link below to read the new regulations.

Please visit the Title 16 Code Update page for further information on the creation of Legacy Lot regulations.

 Final Regulations
 

Katrina Knutson-Senior Planner

Department of Community Development

(360) 337-5777

Last Updated:
 January 12, 2011