Frequently Asked Questions

The City will make a concerted effort to process permit applications in a timely manner while addressing regulatory and environmental concerns. Process time depends on:

• If additional analysis or studies are needed
• Permits needed
• Project complexity
• Whether information is already available

The Community Development Department can provide you with an estimate of  how long your project review may take.

Begin by contacting the Community Development Department to learn what permits are needed and if SEPA review is required.

The SEPA Checklist will help us to identify any likely environmental impacts and what actions, if any, that may be needed to help reduce or avoid any potential impacts. The city will use this information to decide a project's likely environmental impacts and whether a proposal/project will:

• Are adequately addressed by existing regulations
• Can be countered through mitigation
• Require further study

However, once the review process starts, changing a proposal can make it easier or more difficult to complete the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA ) review process, and receive permits and approvals. If a change helps avoid environmental impacts, the permitting process is likely to be easier and could avoid the need to do an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

In cases where the review process is nearer completion, significant changes may require portions of the SEPA process to be repeated. The best approach is to incorporate environmental considerations when a project is still in the planning stage.