Services

Land Use and Development Permitting

At Pacific Permitting we offer a full service package from helping you decide and design which type of project fits your needs, filling out all the required forms, obtaining all the necessary reports, advocating for your project all the way through gaining final approvals and finding a contractor. It’s not a matter “if” you get approval but “when”. We will advocate for your property rights and can cut through the red tape, streamline the permitting process, and clearly map out a compliance strategy.

Process

We will review project design and goals, explain the application process, prepare you with a realistic timeline and projected costs associated with gaining approvals. As your representative, during the permitting process, we will be the point of contact for all government agencies. Pacific Permitting works with local, state and federal jurisdictions. Pacific Permitting will ensure the requirements of county and state codes are met, and maintain a healthy, solutions-oriented relationship with government planning staff.  

Shoreline / environmentally Sensitive

At Pacific Permitting we are experts at permitting on shorelines and within environmentally sensitive areas, including Puget Sound, lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands. While we enjoy and understand the need of environmentally sensitive areas, we will fight for a fair and balanced outcome on any project. Bulkheads, homes, docks, soft shore, erosion solutions, land clearing, beach access stairways and other improvements near environmentally sensitive areas require complex local, state and federal environmental permits that we are not afraid to take on.

Agriculture

Coming from a farming background there is noting more satisfying than helping of our fellow farmers. Agriculture receives many exemptions and allowable uses that are not always common knowledge, even to planning staff within local government. No matter the project or compliance, Pacific Permits works to define what is allowable and what rules and regulations apply, gain approvals and find compliance strategies that work for your farm or ranch.

Compliance

Local, State and Federal regulations can be very complicated and fall within “gray” areas. We understand sometimes a boundary can be overstepped and code compliance needs to be met. Pacific Permitting has experience in working with bringing a project up to code, applying for permits after a code violation has occurred. We have projects where our staff has reached code compliance for landowners and eliminated more than $30,000.00 in fines for code violation.

Feasibility

We can prepare a complete feasibility analyses where we will discuss development regulations, land use, possible issues in the process, and projected costs and timelines. Pacific Permitting understands the application process, land use code and associated regulations, the timeline and projected costs associated with gaining approvals. We work with landowners, potential property purchasers, real estate agents and contractors.

Pacific Permits also offers guidance in determining which options and severity of shoreline armoring is feasible for your particular site based on rate of erosion and risk assessment.

Forage Fish Surveys

Shoreline projects involving work below the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) often involve the requirement of a forage fish spawn survey. Pacific Permitting has received the official certification to process Forage Fish Surveys. And is known as the leader in surveying within Camano Island. Surveys require lab analysis of winnowed samples of beach sediment to determine spawning is not present, determining if your contractor can start work. We prepare and submit all the required reports to government agencies and work directly with your contractor to ease the process of an unpredictable work schedule. Because a survey is based on presence or absence, if spawning presents itself before lab analysis we offer clients a discounted price.

Ordinary High Water Determination

Many development projects within shoreline jurisdiction are often limited based on the set backs required from the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) determination. OHWM is a moving environmental area that is considered the line between uplands and water bodies. Having an accurate OHWM determination will make or break a project. We offer a professional report considering all factors factors so that we can accurately determine the OHWM location.