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1. What is a site development permit?

A site development permit is a permit that allows someone to perform work (storm drainage system construction, road construction, driveway construction, clearing, grading, filling, excavating, ditching, and creation of impervious surfaces, etc.) on a piece of land.

2. When is a site development permit required?

Below are typical situations where site development permits are required:

• Grading or clearing work in a floodplain.
  
• Grading or clearing work in a wetland or wetland buffer.
  
• Grading or clearing work in a critical area or its buffer.
  
• The removal, deposit, or displacement of 50 cubic yards or more of material on a site.
  
• Any clearing or grading work within 25 feet of a ditch, creek, stream, river, or drainage
course.

• Clearing 6,000 square feet or more of land.
  
• Altering a stormwater drainage system or drainage course.
  
• Creating an impervious surface. Impervious surfaces include roads, driveways, parking
lots, and roof tops.

• New home construction.
  
• Construction of a subdivision.
  
• Construction of commercial or industrial buildings.

Other activities may require a site development permit. For a complete list of regulated activities, exemptions, and requirements, see Title 17A (Construction and Infrastructure Regulations - Site Development and Stormwater Drainage) and Title 18E (Critical Areas).

3. How do I get a site development permit?

To obtain a site development permit there is a process of application, review and issuance that must be completed. Making an application requires the payment of review fees and the submittal of plans and reports. Information as to what is required for a site development application may be obtained by using the Ask a Permit Tech option on our web page, or by visiting the Development Center. After application County staff perform a review of the submitted plans and reports and may require changes to them if they are found to not be in compliance with County codes. Issuance of the site development permit occurs when staff find that County codes are addressed and the applicant pays the site development inspection fee.

4. Who should I talk to if I have vesting questions regarding the site development work for my project?

The best person to talk to is the Development Engineer assigned to your project. If you are unaware of who your development engineer is, contact Mitch Brells, Development Engineering Area Supervisor, at (253) 798-3755.

5. How can I check the status of my site development permit?

Visit our Online Permits website or call (253) 798-3762.

6. Once I make application for my site development permit, may I start site development work?

No. The Development Engineering Section must review the submitted plans/reports and issue the site development permit. This can take as little as one business day for some applications, or as long as a month or more for more complicated reviews. Beginning site development work without an issued site development permit could result in higher permit fees as well as monetary civil penalties of up to $1000.00 per day.

7. Who prepares the plans and reports that I need to submit for a site development permit?

In very simple situations, the applicant can prepare the plans, and in some cases a licensed professional land surveyor, geotechnical engineer, or professional engineer will be required to prepare the required plans and reports.

8. Can I/how do I get an extension for my general site development permit?

The authority to extend a general site development permit rests with the Development Engineering review engineer for the project. You must contact the review engineer to determine if your project is eligible for an extension (most are). If it is, the current annual inspection fee associated with the permit in question will need to be paid to have the permit extended for one year.

9. Can I/how do I get an extension for my residential site development permit?

The normal life of a Residential Site Development Permit is two years. One year extensions may be granted on a case by case basis by contacting either the review engineer who approved your permit, or your assigned site development inspector, and paying the applicable permit extension fee (normally 25% of the original application fee).

10. At what point is work considered 'minor work in the Right-of-way' vs. an 'off-site public road improvement'?

A 'Minor Improvement in Existing Right-of-way' application is for work such as ditch relocation, pathway construction, connecting to a catch basin, installing a cross culvert, shoulder widening, minor entering sight distance clearing or grading that does not require a vertical or horizontal alignment change in the road, etc. An 'Off-site Public Road Improvement' application is for work such as turn lane construction, correction of an entering sight distance problem at the project access point that requires changing the vertical or horizontal alignment of the County Road, installation of curb, gutter and sidewalk along a project frontage, etc.

11. What is an infiltration trench?

An infiltration trench is an underground drain field specifically sized for the amount of new or replaced impervious surfaces on your parcel. (It is similar to a septic drain field, but usually much smaller.)

12. What is impervious surface?

Any surface that prevents or retards the entry of water into the soil and/or causes the water to run off the surface in greater quantities than natural conditions prior to development. Rooftops, gravel, or paved driveways and sidewalks are the most common impervious surfaces in single family projects.

13. What is a dispersion trench?

A dispersion trench is much like an infiltration trench, except the top is designed to allow for sheet flow of stormwater. This is used where infiltration is not achievable, or there is sufficient vegetated flow path for stormwater dissipation.

14. Do you have a list of surveyors and engineers?

No. Phone numbers for surveyors and engineers may be found in the local telephone directory or internet.

15. Who do I talk to about a violation (filling, grading, clearing, work in floodplains, work in drainage course, etc.) on my property?

Violations of these types are handled in the Code Enforcement Section of Development Engineering but the initial contact regarding them should be with Pierce County Responds at (253) 798-4636.