Kitsap County Department of Community Development - Land Use Division State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and Environmental Review

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State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and Environmental Review

WHAT IS A SEPA REVIEW?

Kitsap County has adopted an ordinance, Ordinance No. 99-A and 99-B-1992, which implements the State Environmental Policy Act, RCW 43.21C.120 and the Washington Administrative Code 197-11. The State Environmental Policy Act (also called SEPA) requires a review of various activities or projects in order to assess the proposal's impact on the environment. "Environment" means the land, air, water, plants/animals, as well as impacts of noise, traffic, utilities, aesthetics, recreation and housing. This Ordinance is separate from the County's Critical Areas Ordinance, which establishes buffer and building setback requirements from environmentally sensitive areas such as streams, wetlands, steep slopes and shorelines.

WHEN DOES AN ACTIVITY REQUIRE A SEPA REVIEW?

The SEPA process is triggered only when a permit or approval is required by County Code. If you are applying for any of the following, you must file an environmental checklist:

Planned Unit Development

Conditional Use Permit

Rezone

Shoreline Substantial Development Permit

Shoreline Conditional Use Permit

Residential Subdivisions of 5 or more lots

Short Plats on lands which are partly or completely covered by water

Re-subdivision of a short Plat

Grading of more than 500 cubic yards of material

Grading of more than 50 cubic yards of material when the land is partly or completely covered by water, including wetlands.

Site Plan Review

Variance

Review and Approval

If your project meets any of the following conditions, you will also need to file an environmental checklist:

Non-farm building over 4,000 square feet of gross floor area (including any expansion of the structure)

Farm building over 10,000 sq. Feet

Parking for more than 20 automobiles

Construction which would occur on land which is partly or completely covered by water. This includes: streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands and saltwater shorelines

This is a partial listing. Please check with the Community Development Staff (360) 337-7181 to see if your project requires environmental review.

WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST?

Last Updated: April 27, 2006

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