Categories of UDC Permit Types

The UDC groups land use permits required by the County into several different permit types for processing, almost all of which utilize the Permit Application (PDF). The purpose for requiring a permit to conduct a certain land use is to ensure that the proposed use is compatible with the policies of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan and the regulations of the UDC. The Comprehensive Plan and the UDC are accessible from the website and available for review or purchase at the DCD Permit Center in Port Townsend. A list of the individual permits issued under the UDC is found below.

The Permit Application (PDF) is required for all permits issued under the UDC, except for Evaluations of Existing Onsite Sewage Systems (EES) that are only for the sale or transfer of property.

Types of Permits

Type I Permit

This is an administrative permit (i.e., approved or denied by the UDC Administrator within DCD). If the proposal is categorically exempt under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), there is no public notice of the permit application. However, if a Type I permit is not categorically exempt under SEPA, then notice of the application is required and written comments regarding the proposed project from agencies and the public are accepted and considered. In all cases, there is no public hearing required on the application. Proposals that include elements within the jurisdiction of other agencies, such as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, are forwarded to those agencies for a minimum 14-day comment period.

Type II Permit

This is an administrative permit (i.e., approved or denied by the UDC Administrator within DCD). Public notice of the application is required and written comments regarding the proposed project are accepted and considered. There is no public hearing required on these types of applications, except for "C(d)" uses, which may require a public hearing and final decision by the Hearing Examiner, if deemed necessary by the Administrator, or if the Administrator's final decision on a project application is appealed, in which case a public hearing is held and the final decision is made by the Hearing Examiner.

Type III Permit

This type of permit application is discretionary in nature and requires public notice and a public hearing before the Jefferson County Hearing Examiner. The Hearing Examiner makes the final permit decision (except for certain types of shoreline permits), unless appealed. If the project decision is appealed, then a closed-record hearing is held and final decision is made by the Appellate Hearing Examiner.

Type IV Permit

This type of permit application is ministerial in nature and does not require public notice or a public hearing (i.e., final plats). The final decision is made by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners at a regularly scheduled meeting.

Type V Permit

This type of permit application is legislative in nature. It involves review by the Jefferson County Planning Commission, which makes a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. Public notice and a public hearing are required before the Planning Commission. The final decision is made by the Board of County Commissioners.

For more information on Type V Permits or legislative actions, visit the Long-Range Planning page.

List of County Land Use Permits by Permit Type With Code Reference

Note: The UDC is codified as Title 18 of the Jefferson County Code (JCC). All previous UDC references (e.g., Section 2 Definitions) are no longer in use.

Type I Permits

Permits
 Refer to:
Septic Permit/Evaluation of Existing System (EES) JCC Section 18.30.040(1) and Title 8, Chapter 8.15
Building/Demolition Permit JCC Section 18.15.040 and Table 3-1
Allowed "Yes" Use Consistency Analysis JCC Section 18.15.040 and Table 3-1
Home Business Table 3-1 and JCC Section 18.20.200
Stormwater Management JCC Section 18.30.070
Road Access JCC Section 18.30.080
Boundary Line Adjustment JCC Chapter 18.35 Article II
Minor PRRD Amendments JCC Chapter 18.15 Article VI-M
Sign Permit JCC Section 18.30.150
Shoreline Master Program Exemption/Permit Revisions JCC Chapter 18.25
Temporary Use (based on use may be Type II or Type III) JCC Sections 18.20.380 and 18.20.390

Type II Permits

Permits Refer to:
Discretionary “D” or Unnamed Use Classification JCC Sections 18.15.040(2), 18.15.045 and Table 3-1
Cottage Industry JCC Section 18.20.170 and Table 3-1
Short Plat, Preliminary and Final JCC Chapter 18.35 Article III
Binding Site Plan JCC Chapter 18.35 Article V
Conditional (Administrative) “C(a)” Use JCC Table 3-1 and Chapter 18.40 Article VIII
Conditional (Discretionary) “C(d)” Use JCC Table 3-1 and Chapter 18.40 Article VIII (Discretionary Permit Review Process Determined by Administrator)
Variance, Minor JCC Chapter 18.40 Article IX
Wireless Telecommunication Ordinance 06-0712-99 (UDC Appendix C)
Shoreline Substantial Development (Primary Use) JCC Chapter 18.25
Forest Practices Act/Release of Six-Year Moratorium/Release for Single-Family Residence JCC Section 18.20.160(5)(c)
Appeal JCC Chapter 18.40 Article V and Section 18.40.840 SEPA

Type III Permits

Permits Refer to:
Conditional “C” Use JCC Chapter 18.40 Article VIII
Long Plat, Preliminary* JCC Chapter 18.35 Article IV
Planned Rural Residential Development Preliminary Approval (PRRD) and Major Amendments JCC Chapter 18.15 Article VI-M (must be in conjunction with an underlying land division application)
Plat Vacation/Alteration JCC Chapter 18.35 Article I
Variance, Major JCC Chapter 18.40 Article IX
Reasonable Economic Use Variance JCC Section 18.15.220
Wireless Telecommunication Ordinance 06-0712-99 (JCC Chapter 18.42)
Shoreline Management Substantial Development, Secondary Use JCC Chapter 18.25
Shoreline Management Conditional Use JCC Chapter 18.25
Shoreline Management Variance JCC Chapter 18.25
Appeal JCC Chapter 18.40 Article V and Section 18.40.840 SEPA

Type IV Permits

Permits Refer to:
Long Plat, Final JCC Chapter 18.35 Article IV
PRRD, Final JCC Chapter 18.15 Article VI-M

Type V Permits

Permits Refer to:
Special Use (Essential Public Facilities) JCC Section 18.15.110
Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan / UDC / Land Use District Map Amendment JCC Chapter 18.45
Jefferson County Shoreline Master Program Amendment CC Chapter 18.25
For information on the fees associated with the permits listed above, visit the Permit Information and Application Forms page.