Permit Applications and Handouts

If you are interested in pursuing a commercial project, consider scheduling a Presubmission Conference. This is a free consultation with Community Development, Public Works, & Environmental Health to help identify if the proposed project is feasible and which types of permits you may need.

Fill out the Presubmission Conference Application and email it to mollie.hurt@lewiscountywa.gov to get started. The application can also be submitted via mail or in person.

The MSR is the first step for development. The planning department will review your proposal and verify that it meets all county zoning and critical areas regulations. This step also identifies what county, state and federal permits are needed for your development. After the MSR has been approved, you can apply for a septic permit, fill & grade permit, building permit, etc. Customers regularly have questions about whether a lot is buildable for the purposes of sale or purchase, or for challenging the tax assessment of the property - please see the Feasibility Study Handout for more information.

Fill out the Master Site Review Application and submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

If the site you would like to develop needs a site address or establishes a road approach or private road, please submit the appropriate application below. These applications do not require an approved Master Site Review prior to submission.

• Site Address Application – No fee associated
• Road Approach Application
• Private Road Name Application

Submit your documentation submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

Once your Master Site Review has been approved, you can apply for a building or development permit. If you live within the city limits of Morton, Mossyrock, Toledo, or Pe Ell you do not need to complete a Master Site Review - you will submit the City Approval Form listed below instead.

City Approval Form - For Morton, Mossyrock, Toledo, and Pe Ell Only

Building Permit

• Building Permit Application
  • Building Permit Handout
  • Garage Construction Handout
  • ADU Handout
  • Pole Building Handout
  • Deck Handout
  • Energy Code Worksheet

For additional information on the new energy code click here.

Other Development Permits

• Mobile Home Placement Application
• Airport Obstruction Zone Application
• Fill & Grade Application
• Flood Plain Development Application
• Fire Protection System Application

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email. The fees for these permits will be determined based on the proposed project. Use the Permit Fee Estimator to get an estimate of the price of the proposed project.

• Septic Permit Application
• Sewer Availability Form
• Water Availability Notification Form – Municipal
• Water Availability Notification Form – Public
• Water System Purveyor Consent Form
• Well Site Inspection Form

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 2025 NE Kresky Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

The following forms are used to determine availability of water and sewer within Lewis County unincorporated areas and is processed through Community Development.

• County Water Availability Form
• County Sewer Availability Form

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

• Stormwater Permit Application
• Road Plan Review Application
• Road Standards Deviation Application
• Reduced Right-of-Way Setback Application
• Road Approach Application
• Work in ROW Application
• Other PW Forms & Documents

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

Administrative Applications are Type I and II land use permits that may be needed for a development depending on zoning regulations. These applications are identified during the Master Site Review process. Approval of Administrative Applications are made by staff.

• Administrative Variance Application
• Administrative Approval Application
• Administrative Reduction Application

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

After an administrative decision (Type I or Type II) is made by Lewis County, the public (or specific parties of record identified in Lewis County Code) have the right to appeal based on the Lewis County Code. The appeal information is listed on the issued written administrative decision.

After submitting the petition to appeal, the request will be forwarded to the Lewis County Hearing Examiner. Unless the petition is dismissed, the Hearing Examiner will hold a hearing in accordance with Lewis County Code 2.25. The items that are required to be submitted with the Appeal of Administrative Decision Form to begin the appeal process are listed on the form.

Administrative Appeal Form

Special Use Permits, Binding Site Plans and Variances are Type III land use permits that may be needed for a development depending on zoning regulations. These applications are identified during the Master Site Review process. A recommendation of approval is made by staff to the Hearings Examiner where a final decision is made during a public hearing.

• Special Use Application
• Special Use Application – Mining
• Binding Site Plan Application
• Variance Application

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

“Division” or “division of land” means a subdivision, short subdivision or large lot subdivision not otherwise exempt or provided for as a lot(s) of record within this title, which alters the legal description of any lot, tract, parcel, or portion thereof.

Boundary Line Adjustment (Type I):

A process for the purpose of alteration of parcels by adjusting boundary lines which does not create any additional lot, tract, parcel, site, or division and does not create a resulting lot, tract, parcel, site, or division containing insufficient area and dimension to meet minimum requirements for width and area of the zone.

• Boundary Line Adjustment Application

Simple Segregation – Alternative Process for Large Lot Subdivision (Type I):

A simple segregation is the creation of up to four tracts, five acres in size or larger, leaving no tract less than five acres in size. Lots within a simple segregation shall meet the minimum lot size of the underlying zoning district. This is an alternate process to facilitate the occasional segregation of a tract of land, meeting the requirements in LCC Section 16.12.520. Simple segregations are not reviewed for critical areas, water, septic or road construction, and have not been reviewed for the creation of a buildable lot.

• Simple Segregation Application

Land Division Application – Short Plat, Large Lot Subdivision, or Long Plat Subdivision.

Subdivision (Long Plat – Type III): The division of land into five or more lots, when at least one of which is less than five acres in size, in compliance with RCW 58.17.030 as amended and LCC Chapter 16.05.

Short Subdivision (Short Plat – Type I): The division of land into four lots or fewer, at least one of which is less than five acres in size, in compliance with RCW 58.17 as amended and LCC Chapter 16.10.

Large Lot Subdivision (Type I): The division of land into two of more lots, when lots are less than 20 acres in size, of which no lot is less than five acres, and in compliance with LCC Chapter 16.12.

• Land Division Application

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

The State Environmental Policy Act Checklist (SEPA) is an environmental review which may be required for some development applications. SEPAs are published in the paper of record and may have a public notice posted on the site. The typical SEPA has a 14-day public comment period and a 7 day appeal period. If your development needs a SEPA review it will be identified during the Master Site Review process.

• SEPA Checklist

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

The Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) is used for all projects located within a Shoreline Jurisdiction. The JARPA is used for Shoreline Exemption, Substantial Development, Conditional Use and Variance applications. If your development requires a Shoreline Permit it will be identified during the Master Site Review process.

• JARPA Form

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

Private properties owners may request a change to the zoning designation on their property if the change can meet the approval criteria of Lewis County Code 17.12.110. Please note, changing a resource land designation – ARL, FRL or MRL – can only happened during a comprehensive update of all resource land designations. Only cities or the county may propose an amendment to an urban growth area (UGA) boundary; private property owners may not request a UGA amendment.

• Rezone Application
• UGA Amendment Application

If you have questions about rezoning a property or making changes to the Urban Growth Area boundaries, contact Mindy Brooks at mindy.brooks@lewiscountywa.gov or call 360-740-2610.

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

• Burn Permit Application
• No Shooting Zones Form
• Music Festival Application
• Wireless Communication Facility Application

Submit your documentation to the Community Development Office, located at 125 NW Chehalis Ave in Chehalis, or by email.

Fee Schedule