[Capr-announce] Take caution: DDES offers fee amnesty for unlawful development

[Jeff Wright]

To CAPR Supporters And All Rural King Co. Property Owners,

 

King Co. DDES has put forward the "offer" below.  Be very wary, especially
if you have a clearing and grading issue, as this appears to be an avenue
for the County to circumvent those portions of the Clearing and Grading
Ordinance that were declared unlawful by the Appeals Court in CAPR v. Sims.
If you feel that you might fall into this category, please contact CAPR at
info at capr.us. 

 

 

 

 

Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) 

E-mail news service 

DDES has issued the news release:  DDES offers property owners fee amnesty
program for unlawful development (October 1, 2008 through April 1, 2009).
Read the news release online at
<http://your.kingcounty.gov/permits/publications/news/FeeAmnesty08Oct01.aspx
>
http://your.kingcounty.gov/permits/publications/news/FeeAmnesty08Oct01.aspx.
The text of the news release is also available below.

DDES news release

October 1, 2008

DDES offers property owners fee amnesty program for unlawful development
(October 1, 2008 through April 1, 2009)

Property owners in unincorporated King County who did building, clearing or
grading work without the required permit have a chance to bring their
property into compliance with the legal code and avoid the usual penalty
fees.

King County is offering penalty fee amnesty for the next six months so
property owners with illegal construction or clearing and grading activity
can engage the permit review process at DDES and still pay the standard
permit fees. Title 27 of the King County Code authorizes DDES to double
permit fees charged for construction, clearing, or grading activity
conducted without permits in the unincorporated area. To be eligible for the
program, the unpermitted activity must have occurred prior to October 1,
2008 and a complete permit application must be filed with DDES by April 1,
2009.

"The permit process is designed to protect public health, homeowner safety,
and the environment," said Stephanie Warden, DDES Director. "This is a
positive way to encourage property owners with unlawful development to
legalize construction and partner with King County government to improve
their property."

In the past, other counties have seen deck collapses resulting in injury and
even death after the original structure was built without permits.
Similarly, structures built in areas susceptible to heavy snows are required
to sustain specific snow loads in order to prevent collapse. A more common
example of unpermitted activity is a garage illegally converted into living
space. Unpermitted development can also cause problems during the pending
sale of a home.

Property owners securing permits after activity has occurred are still
required to comply with all provisions of King County development
regulations, e.g., clearing and grading, critical areas, building and fire
codes, and Health Department regulations for septic and well designs.

If you know you have unlawful development

Property owners who know that construction has occurred on their property
without permits should contact the DDES Permit Center at 206-296-6600 to
inquire about the permit application process (this scenario is known as
already-built construction, or an ABC permit).
<http://your.kingcounty.gov/property/permitapps/formspacket.aspx?PacketID=1>
Permit application materials for ABC permits are available on the DDES Web
site at www.kingcounty.gov/permits. The materials packet will explain the
required steps and review process for ABC permits. Property owners wanting
to address illegal clearing or grading on their property should contact the
DDES Site Development Services section at 206-296-6759.

As noted above, the DDES Fee Amnesty Program for unpermitted construction
and grading will remain in effect until April 1, 2009. For additional
information, please contact Paula Adams, DDES Public Information and Records
Officer, at 206-296-6682.

For more information about DDES, visit our Web site at
<http://www.kingcounty.gov/permits> http://www.kingcounty.gov/permits.

 

For DDES' e-mail news service subscription information, see
<http://your.kingcounty.gov/permits/publications/subscribe.aspx>
http://your.kingcounty.gov/permits/publications/subscribe.aspx.  

 

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