Shoreline building permits in Kitsap County

Have you ever wanted to build a waterfront property in Kitsap County? You can! But before you start, you may want to review Kitsap County’s shoreline building permits.

The Shoreline Master Program, or SMP, is what guides zoning and building around the County with the purpose of categorizing environmental designations to preserve land and wildlife surrounding our shores. For a waterfront home remodel, any interior renovations have no impact on this and may continue to operate with the regular permits required. Changes to a home’s layout or additions are where you can expect to slow down.

For example, if you’re proposing:

Existing 2,000 sq. ft. house → 2,800 sq. ft. house with a new waterfront-facing addition

The County will look at the shoreline buffer, setbacks, existing structure, shoreline designation, critical areas, and mitigation requirements.

In other words, where your property is located under the Shoreline Master Program is what will determine 1) how far you can build from shore, 2) what permits you need, and 3) if it’s possible in the first place.

For more information on the shoreline building visit kitsapcounty.gov.