Shoreline Exemption Information & Submittal Checklist – King County, WA

The Shoreline Exemption Information & Submittal Checklist is the King County Department of Local Services, Permits publication that explains when a written shoreline exemption is required under the State Shoreline Management Act and lists the documents to submit with a shoreline exemption application.

The State Shoreline Management Act (SMA) places all shorelines in the state within the shoreline jurisdiction. Local governments review development proposed there and issue either a shoreline exemption or a shoreline substantial development permit. This checklist covers the exemption path. It is a four-page document dated February 2025.

The checklist has several parts:

• An explanation of what the SMA requires and how to tell whether a project is inside the shoreline jurisdiction.
• The rule for when a written exemption is required, citing RCW 90.58.030, WAC 173-27-040, RCW 90.58.140, WAC 173-27-050 and King County Code (KCC) 21A.25.290.
• Common examples of work that needs a shoreline exemption.
• Check boxes for required and optional submittal documents.
• The five-step review process and the permits that may follow.

It is not a substantial development permit application. The checklist also warns that some proposals may need other shoreline permits, such as a shoreline conditional use permit or a shoreline variance permit.

Property owners and applicants who propose development within the shoreline jurisdiction in unincorporated King County, and whose project is exempt from the definition of substantial development, use this checklist to assemble a shoreline exemption application.

King County Code 21A.25.290 requires a written shoreline exemption for an exempt proposal when either of these applies:

• WAC 173-27-050 applies (federal permit review); or
• the use or modification will occur waterward of the ordinary high water mark, except for maintenance of agricultural drainage that is not used by salmonids or as otherwise provided in subsection F of KCC 21A.25.290.

Examples the checklist gives of work that needs a shoreline exemption include normal maintenance or repair of existing structures, the normal protective bulkhead common to single-family residences, farming, irrigation and ranching practices, navigational aids such as channel markers and anchor buoys, and personal docks in fresh waters below the cost limit printed on the checklist.

Projects that are not exempt need a substantial development permit instead. Some proposals may also need a shoreline conditional use permit or shoreline variance permit. The checklist does not describe who may apply on someone else's behalf.

Submit the checklist documents when you apply for a shoreline exemption for a project inside the shoreline jurisdiction; the checklist prints no separate due date. Once you submit, King County Permitting Division staff have twenty-eight (28) days from the date of filing to decide whether the application is complete enough to begin review. An application that does not meet the submittal requirements is deemed incomplete, and additional information is requested before substantial review starts.

The Ecological Critical Areas Report and, for bulkheads or shoreline armoring, the Geotechnical Report are optional at submittal but highly recommended, because they are commonly required during review. Having them ready at the initial submittal helps you avoid exceeding resubmittal timeline requirements. The checklist sets no renewal or validity period.

The checklist directs you to apply online at MyBuildingPermit.com; it names no mail or in-person channel.

• Online: at MyBuildingPermit.com select King County | Land Use | Any, then Project Type | Shoreline Development | Shoreline Exemption.
• After you submit: staff review the application for completeness. Once it is complete, they notify you of the required fees. A fee applies, and the application is routed for review only after it is paid. For the amounts, see the "Use Fees" section for shoreline permit fees on the King County website.
• Public notice: if the proposal is subject to SEPA, the application requires public notice, and a Permitting Division staff member gives you instructions.
• Decision: decisions are made administratively, and you receive a written decision. A copy goes to certain state agencies and tribes.

The checklist lists King County resources to check permit status, make a payment and schedule inspections. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.