Community Development

Click here to view projects currently under land use review, projects approved for land use (not under construction), projects under construction, and pre-application/permit applications not submitted.

Department of Community Development Responsibilities:

The Department of Community Development works to ensure Port Orchard remains a safe, vibrant, and well-planned community. We guide growth and development in a way that protects the environment, preserves neighborhood character, and supports a strong local economy. Our team provides responsive service to residents, businesses, and visitors through planning, permitting, inspections, and code compliance.

The Department of Community Development is responsible for Land Use Planning, Permitting Administration, Building and Fire Permits, Code Enforcement, and Parking Enforcement.

The Community Development Director oversees departmental operations, code and policy development, in coordination with city administration, and regional and state agencies, ensuring that all functions comply with city codes, adopted plans, and state law. The Director serves as the Department Head, Floodplain Administrator, and SEPA Official, providing leadership and oversight for the department’s personnel. Direct reports include the Principal Planner, the DCD Deputy Director, the Permit Center Manager, and the City’s Parking Enforcement Officers. This leadership role is essential in guiding operations, monitoring project implementation timelines, maintaining transparency and accountability, and providing high-quality public service.

Planning Responsibilities:

Planning  develops and updates long-term plans for how land should be used. This includes the comprehensive plan, the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan, subarea (neighborhood) plans, as well as administration of the city’s Shoreline Master Program.

Planning has an active role in administering zoning regulations which determine what can be built where. It provides zoning code and development review, updates codes in response to state legislation, and reviews urban design and community development projects, ensuring a balanced mix of residential, commercial, industrial, and public spaces.

Public engagement is a cornerstone of Planning, as exhibited by its participation in public meetings and outreach, and by soliciting public comments on planning issues, policies, and development proposals.

Planning reviews applications for rezoning, variances, conditional use permits, new subdivisions, building permits, signs, and critical areas, by evaluating proposals for compliance with city codes, environmental policies, and other applicable regulations.

Planning Personnel:

• Principal Planner
• Senior Planner
• Associate Planner (s)
• Assistant Planner(s)
• Planning Technician

Permit Center Responsibilities:

The Permit Center is the administrative hub for permit applications for zoning and land use, environmental review, construction, fire code compliance, utility connections, site development, and activities in the city’s right of way. The Permit Center Manager oversees staff and directs operations. The Permit Center Staff provides receptionist services to the Department and receives the permit applications. After verifying that the submittal contains the documentation necessary for technical review, they then distribute to the appropriate departments for review. Review is performed by Planning, Building, Fire, Addressing, Engineering and Public Works, to ensure all municipal requirements are met before issuing the permit. When the permit is ready to be issued, the Permit Center Staff collects all applicable fees before the permit is released. They also schedule all inspections as they are requested.

The Permit Center is all electronic. Permitting software programs are used to review applications, track timelines, and issue permits. We accept applications and schedule inspections online. For more information, visit the Permit Center website at: https://portorchardwa.gov/permit-center/

Public guidance by the Permit Center includes assisting contractors and developers to understand permitting requirements procedures and helping applicants to comply with local regulations before work begins. They provide information on timelines, fees, documentation and regulations. Pre-Application meetings and new business walk-throughs are scheduled through the Permit Center.

If questions are beyond the scope of the Permit Center, calls and emails will be directed to Professional Staff for responses. When the applicant wants to meet simultaneously with representatives from multiple departments, Permit Center Staff will assist with scheduling a Pre-Application meeting.

Are you thinking about opening a new business in Port Orchard? The Permit Center is the place to start! Let us help you with your research before you sign a lease or move into a new building. We can schedule a 30-minute meeting with our Building Official and other Staff to walk you through the process. We’ll cover points such as business licensing, application forms you will need, allowable uses per zoning, code requirements, leasing a location, tenant improvement projects, and obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy. There is no cost to this service.

Please let us know what you have in mind, and request a new business walk-through meeting by emailing the Permit Center at permitcenter@portorchardwa.gov

Permit Center Personnel

• Permit Center Manager
• Permit Technician(s)
• Permit Clerk(s)
• Administrative Support Staff

Parking Enforcement Responsibilities:

Parking Enforcement involves monitoring and regulating the use of public parking spaces to ensure compliance with local parking laws and ordinances. Responsibilities include: keeping emergency routes and fire lanes clear; ensuring turnover in commercial districts to support businesses; reducing traffic congestion and unsafe parking behavior; and enforcing parking access for people with disability permits. Parking Enforcement Officers patrol streets and city lots for illegally parked cars; issue citations for violations (parking tickets); monitor payment kiosks; alert police when abandoned, stolen, or unlicensed vehicles are spotted; and maintain reports, affidavits, and logs.

For more information, please visit the Port Orchard Parking Overview webpage:

https://portorchardwa.gov/port-orchard-parking-overview/

Parking Enforcement Personnel

• Parking Enforcement Officer(s)

Building and Fire Responsibilities:

Building and Fire is responsible for ensuring that construction and development within the City of Port Orchard meets the minimum Building and Fire Code requirements that have been adopted by Washington State, and all local amendments in Port Orchard Municipal Code 20.200.008.

https://sbcc.wa.gov/state-codes-regulations-guidelines/state-building-code

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.27.050

https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/PortOrchard/#!/PortOrchard20/PortOrchard20200.html#20.200.008

Fire Protection System Reporting using IROL: Port Orchard uses IROL for compliance tracking of existing systems in buildings, such as; fire suppression, fire alarm systems, Type I hood cleaning and hood suppression systems for commercial kitchens, and private hydrant systems. These reports are not submitted directly to the City. All reports need to be submitted through IROL (Inspection Reports Online). For more information and to register a commercial property for online submissions, use this link: https://www.inspectionreportsonline.net/

Fire Watch Procedures and Resources: The Fire Code Official may require a building to be evacuated or may allow an approved Fire Watch to be provided when a fire alarm or suppression system is not operational.

South Kitsap Fire & Rescue (SKFR) may place a building on fire watch outside of City regular business hours on behalf of the City Fire Code Official.

This fire watch must be provided for all occupants left unprotected by the shutdown until the fire protection system has been returned to service. When approved, buildings will be placed on assigned fire watch duties while fire alarm or sprinkler systems are out of order. Fire Watch Personnel are required to have at least one means of notifying 9-1-1, as well as a way to notify occupants of an alarm.  Fire Watch personnel shall only be assigned this duty and perform constant patrols of the premises and watch for fires.  No other duties shall be assigned to the designated fire watch personnel.

Fire watch personnel must be:

• On site and awake at all times.
• Have knowledge of the location of fire extinguishers.
• Have knowledge of the location of all exits.
• Maintain exiting pathways for clearance.
• Correct any deficiencies relating to unsafe operations that could create a fire.

A Fire Watch Log is required to be on site and available to DCD’s Fire Code Official and Code Enforcement Officer.  The form can be downloaded from this link:

https://portorchardwa.gov/documents/fire-watch-log/

Completed Fire Watch Logs are to be emailed to Port Orchard Code Enforcement, codeenforcement@portorchardwa.gov  on Friday before noon.

To request release of a Fire Watch upon impaired equipment being restored to normal working conditions, contact Port Orchard Code Enforcement: codeenforcement@portorchardwa.gov

Alarm Activation Report. If an alarm is activated, even if it is a false alarm, a report must be submitted to the City of Port Orchard Fire District. The report is for recordkeeping purposes only. Non-emergency follow-up will be with the Port Orchard Fire Code Official and the Code Enforcement team. Use the form linked below to make a report.

https://portorchardwa.gov/documents/alarm-activation-report/

Building/Fire Personnel

• DCD Deputy Director – serves as the City’s Building Official and Fire Code Official
• Building / Fire Plans Examiner(s)
• Building / Fire Inspector(s)

Code Enforcement Responsibilities:

Code Enforcement: The City of Port Orchard’s Code Enforcement works to promote and maintain a safe, healthy, and desirable living and working environment on all private properties throughout the city. This is achieved by ensuring compliance with several chapters of the Port Orchard Municipal Code (POMC) in addition to other applicable regulations.

Code Enforcement Officers investigate complaints, inspect properties, and contact property owners when corrective actions are necessary. The primary goal is to achieve voluntary compliance through education and cooperation.

Code Enforcement Personnel

• Code Enforcement Officers

What Code Enforcement Does Not Handle

Important Note: Code Enforcement is not a substitute for law enforcement. For emergencies or criminal matters, please contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Some issues fall outside the jurisdiction of Code Enforcement. These include:

• Civil Disputes – Property line disagreements, non-payment for goods or services, title disputes, landlord-tenant conflicts, foreclosure issues, breach of contract, or fraud. You may find helpful information on the web site of the Dispute Resolution Center of Kitsap County or Washington Law Help. org

• Law Enforcement Matters – Criminal activities, noise complaints, and trespassing, which should be directed to local law enforcement.
• Public Health: Concerns related to sanitation, rodents, wells, septic systems, and food safety, please visit Kitsap Public Health District or contact them at (360) 728-2235.
• Electrical Code: Permitting and violations related to electrical work. For more information please visit the Department of Labor & Industries web site or contact them at (360)902-5800

Filing a Complaint

A Code Enforcement investigation begins only after a written complaint is submitted. You can file a complaint by completing the Complaint form below:

Fillable Complaint Form (in progress 10/14/25)

Contact Code Enforcement

Email Address:

Send us a message

Mail to:

City of Port Orchard
Attention: Code Enforcement
216 Prospect St
Port Orchard WA 98366

Office  located at:
720 Prospect St, Port Orchard WA 98366

Hours:

Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Closed all major holidays