Building:When do I call for inspections? What building inspections do I need? What does the inspector look for? Do I need a permit to put up a new sign? How long does it take to get a building permit? How long is a building permit good for? Whose responsibility is it to have the work inspected? Streets:How do we get our street paved or repaired? How do we get a street light repaired? How do we get a speed bump? How do we get a "Children at Play" sign for the street? Where do I report Street Light Outages? Stormwater:What part of the stormwater system does the City maintain? When are stormwater permits required? Planning:How do I know the zoning of my property? What uses are allowed in a specific zone? What are my residential setbacks? How high can I build my fence? What is a View Protection Overlay Zone? How do I know if my property contains a "critical area"? How will a "critical area" affect how I use my property? What is the difference between a short plat and a subdivision? When can I apply for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment? Are pre-application meetings required? Engineering:Does the City do surveys? Water/Sewer:How much does it cost to connect to the water or sewer system? How do I know the mineral or chemical content of my water? Parks:Which parks belong to the City? Can we reserve a park? Code Enforcement:How many unregistered cars are you allowed on your property? Rats have been seen on my property. What can I do?
BUILDING:
When do I call for inspections?Call (360) 874-5533 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule the Building Inspector. Last minute calls may not be able to be honored.
What building inspections do I need?To know for sure about your specific project, you need to talk with the Building Inspector. Typically, residential projects require inspections of foundation, framing, plumbing, and the roof. The City does not do electrical inspections.
What does the inspector look for?The Building Inspector is not a quality control inspector or construction inspector. The Building Inspector is looking for compliance with the building codes and life safety issues addressed by the codes. Poor quality construction or lack of workmanship is considered an owner’s issue, and the City cannot help enforce quality standards.
Do I need a permit to put up a new sign?Yes. Sign permits include concerns about structural stability and meeting City standards. Questions about signs should be directed to the Planning Department.
How long does it take to get a building permit?That depends on the size of the project and the completeness of the application. Permits are reviewed by several staff members, and the processing can take one to two weeks for a simple project to several months for a complex commercial building.
How long is a building permit good for?A building permit is good for six months, unless the project is not progressing. As long as the project has visible progress, the permit is usually not considered abandoned. It is the permit holder’s responsibility to request a permit extension if one is needed, before it expires.
Whose responsibility is it to have the work inspected?The permit holder is required to call for inspections. It is not up to the Building Inspector to remind the permit holder that the project needs an inspection.
STREETS:
How do we get our street paved or repaired?The City overlays streets based on the available budget and the condition of the street. For minor street repairs, such as potholes, call the City Public Works Department at (360) 876-4991 and notify the office staff that there is a pothole that needs repair. That information will be forwarded to the Public Works crew. The City does not maintain or pave private roads.
How do we get a street light repaired?You can report it directly to www.Intolight.com or you can call the Public Works office staff at (360) 876-4991 and tell us which light is out. It is very helpful if you report the 12-digit number that is on the pole.
How do we get a speed bump?The City can install speed humps on public roads that have less than 750 cars per day and are requested by the neighborhoods. To get the process started, the neighbors need to send a written request to the Public Works Department.
How do we get a "Children at Play" sign for the street?The City does not allow "Children at Play" signs in the right of way. If a neighborhood wants a specialized sign to alert the drivers, one can be designed, but the citizen has to pay for it.
Where do I report Street Light Outages?You can contact Puget Sound Energy by clicking Here (Off site link)
STORMWATER:
What part of the stormwater system does the City maintain?Public Works maintains the catch basins and culverts that are in a City street. It also maintains those stormwater ponds that are owned by the City of Port Orchard. Property owners are responsible for maintaining their own property, to include foot drains, roof drains, and residential basins. If a homeowners association or group of neighbors owns the stormwater pond and private roads, they have to maintain the pond and stormwater system in the road.
When are stormwater permits required?A minor stormwater permit is required for projects that create less than 5,000 square feet of impervious surface. Land clearing also requires a minor stormwater permit. For larger projects, a major stormwater permit is required. Typically a major stormwater project requires the services of a licensed engineer.
PLANNING:
How do I know the zoning of my property?Call (360) 874-5533 and ask the Planning staff for the information. They will be happy to oblige.
What uses are allowed in a specific zone?That depends on the zone. The Zoning Ordinance is on the web and can be linked through the Planning Department page. Or you can call the staff at (360) 874-5533 and they can discuss it with you.
What are my residential setbacks?A setback is the distance from the building to the property line. For a single family home, it is usually 15 feet in the front, 10 feet on the back, and 5 feet on the sides. However, you need to check the Zoning Ordinance to make sure of the setbacks for your specific piece of property.
How high can I build my fence?You can construct a fence 6 feet high without a building permit. However, it cannot create a sight obstruction for motorists.
What is a View Protection Overlay Zone?To help preserve views, the City has created View Protection Overlay Zones. These are designated areas that have more stringent requirements on new construction. The View Ordinance does not guarantee a view, but it does help try to preserve a portion of the neighbor’s view. For more information, check with the Planning Department.
How do I know if my property contains a "critical area"?Critical areas are those areas that require special attention for new development or have special environmental impacts. They include steep slopes, creeks, and wetlands. To truly know if your property has critical areas, you will need to have a professional inspect your property. Otherwise, the City has certain maps that can give you an indication.
How will a "critical area" affect how I use my property?If a "critical area" is located on your property, then you may be required to demonstrate how you will protect the "critical area" as part of your development proposal. This may result in construction setbacks.
What is the difference between a short plat and a subdivision?A short plat in the City is the division of a piece of property into four or less parcels. More than four parcels will require compliance with the subdivision ordinance. This is different than some agencies which allow a short plat to create nine parcels.
When can I apply for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment?Any rezone has to be consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is modified only once a year and the City consolidates the amendment applications. Call the City Development Director at (360) 874-5533 to determine the applicable deadlines.
Are pre-application meetings required?They are mandatory for most land use actions and commercial building permit applications. These meetings allow the City staff to meet with the applicant and review the project requirements. There is a charge for these meetings which will be credited to the fees for land use applications within one year. For additional requirements, please call (360) 874-5533.
ENGINEERING:
Does the City do surveys?No. The City will hire professional land surveys for public property requirements. The City does not survey private lands or resolve private property issues.
WATER/SEWER:
How much does it cost to connect to the water or sewer system?The cost of connection is a combination of several fees, to include latecomer’s fees, connection fees, material costs, facilities fees, and others. The City requires time to calculate the cost and will provide you with a written answer. The best way to get this information is to fax the request with the address, tax parcel number, and a description of the project to the Public Works Department at (360) 876-4980.
How do I know the mineral or chemical content of my water?The City does all the required testing of its water supply and shares this information in the annual Consumer Confidence Report. (Files are in PDF format and require Adobe Reader)
PARKS:
Which parks belong to the City?In the Port Orchard area, there are county, city, and South Kitsap Parks and Recreation District parks, and each have separate ownership and rules. For locations of the City parks, click on the Comprehensive Parks Plan link listed under the Planning Department, or here.
Can we reserve a park?The City parks cannot be reserved, unless the City Council makes an exception. The City does own the Active Club, and the Public Works office schedules those rooms.
CODE ENFORCEMENT:
How many unregistered cars are you allowed on your property?The property can have one unregistered vehicle, and it must be in a closed garage or under a secured tarp.
Rats have been seen on my property. What can I do?If you call Public Works, the City will put poison in the manholes. It will not put rat poison outside of the sanitary sewer system. The property owner or resident should put all debris and potential habitat material in a solid container with a secured lid. Bird feeders are often a large part of the problem. People should clean up underneath the feeders regularly to eliminate a food source.
Top of Page
|
