Community Development

Welcome!

Jefferson County’s Department of Community Development (DCD) is your "one-stop shop" for all building, code enforcement, land use (development review), and long-range planning.

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Note: The next meeting of the Planning Commission is October 4, 2023. The October 4 meeting will include a public hearing regarding the proposed Shoreline Master Program (SMP) update. See the project webpage for details and documents. 

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                        --For information on the new building codes, Click Here
                        --New energy brochure for 2023, Click Here
                        --Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Brochure: Click Here

Click here for information on Site Development Review (SDR) & Legal Lot of Record (LLOR) Determination.

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Meet the new DCD Management Team.

June 2023

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Email the Divisions:

Building & Admin: dcd@co.jefferson.wa.us
Land Use Planning: planning@co.jefferson.wa.us 





How May We Help You?

DCD has made changes to its Web page to improve our customer-centered approach to permitting. Please visit our "What's New!" webpage for the latest updates.

Staff Consultation and Self-Service

DCD offers a suite of options to answer questions and help plan development (See FAQs and/or Customer Assistance Self-Service Guide):

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Staff-Consultation Meeting by Appointment. This is our new Customer Assistance Meeting (CAM). Schedule an appointment or request an email to discuss more in-depth questions and projects. Examples include how critical area and shoreline regulations affect projects. 48 hour minimum advance scheduling is required. All Customer Assistance Meetings in 2023 will be free. Customer Assistance Meetings are still scheduled through the DCD website and last 30 minutes per meeting.

Building Permit Intake Meeting. DCD will no longer accept applications by drop-off or mail. You must schedule an appointment with front staff to submit. If your are interested in making an appointment for submitting your permit, please grab your parcel number, then click the button above to choose a desired appointment.

Self-service. Many tools, such as those listed below, are available to research property online. The DCD office also has a computer available during business hours for public research.

These are the most frequently used tools for researching a property:



 

BUILDING CODES

The current effective date of the 2018 building code is February 1, 2021. Any building plans received through April 30, 2021 will be accepted by Jefferson County under both the 2015 or 2018 Building Codes. This includes International Codes, Washington State amendments, and Washington State energy and plumbing codes. To see how the codes have changed visit:

2018 International Residential Code
2015 International Residential Code
2018 Washington State Energy Code

Port Townsend Leader Home & Garden

Check it out, it's a great reference tool with building guidelines and contacts for both the County and the City.