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Site development
Click the tabs below to learn more about site development.
Overview
Site Development or civil site work consists of any work in the public right-of-way or on private property outside of the building walls. A Public Works Permit is required for most site work including but not limited to the following:
- Clearing, grading, excavation, earthwork (land disturbing activity) - Note that the City does not have a separate Clearing & Grading Permit.
- Paving, grind & overlay, adding gravel, or any conversion of softscape (landscaping) to hardscape (gravel, pavers, asphalt, concrete, etc.)
- Driveway and/or sidewalk addition or replacement pavement
- Parking lot striping (changing stall stripes or restriping where the stripes/stall lines can no longer be seen). Note- repainting over stripes that are currently still existing to make them darker does not require a permit.
- Drainage/stormwater work and vaults
- Water & sewer work (mains require a Public Works Permit, services require a Utility Permit)
- Franchise Utility work (conduit, directional boring, trenching, junction boxes/hand holes, installation of new/replacement utility poles and/or new equipment on a utility pole, small cell technology, antennas – Note: Franchise Agreements and Blanket Permits are required in addition to/before eligibility for a Public Works Permit.
- Fence installation in the right-of-way – see requirements in Fence Handout.
- Access gates & barriers, electronic sliding gates, etc.
- Retaining walls, rockeries, or landscaping walls in the right-of-way or on private property and exceeding 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall or supports a surcharge.
- Potholing, installation of monitoring wells, or other right-of-way work
For questions on the overall permitting process, please visit our Permitting Process page.
Permit applications
Permit applications and required submittal documents as listed in the submittal checklists shall be dropped off at the Permit Services lobby Drop-Box. Please download, fill out and sign, then print the following applications to submit with your permit package and follow all instructions for submitting your complete permit application package:
- Public Works Permit Application (PDF) - for site development/civil work
- Water/Sewer Utility Permit Application (PDF) - for utility services (see Public Works Permit for mains)
- Franchise Agreement Application (PDF) - for new Franchise Utilities not yet in Everett
- Traffic Street Use Permit (apply online) - for closure of sidewalks, parking lanes, and travel lanes
Submittal instructions
Please reference our permit application submittal & re-submittal Instructions (PDF) for instructions on dropping off permit applications to our Lobby Drop Box.
City of Everett business license requirement:
Contractors working in the city limits of Everett need a current City of Everett business license, processed through the City Clerk's Office. For more information visit the Business License web page or email the City Clerk’s Office for business license numbers or account status information.
Checklists & handouts
The following list contains informational handouts and submittal checklists that are applicable to site/civil work and Public Works Permits. Click on the link to open the document that best fits the type of project you are proposing or information you are seeking.
- Permit Services Self-Serve Resource Guide (PDF)
- Commercial construction submittal checklist (PDF)
- Residential construction submittal checklist (PDF)
- Accessory structures (PDF)
- Access gates & barriers (Fire Department requirements) (PDF)
- Fence Handout (PDF)
- Traffic electrical design development guidelines (PDF)
Stormwater resources & templates
- Separated stormwater basin - must meet requirements of Department of Ecology’s 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (2019 SWMMWW). For Separated Stormwater Basin small projects (MR1-5 only), use the Small Project Stormwater Report Template for Separated Area (PDF) as your drainage report.
- Combined sewer basin - must meet requirements in Volume I, Section 6-10 of the City’s Design & Construction Standards and Specifications (DCSS). Prepare a drainage report using the Small Project Stormwater Report Template for Combined Area (PDF).
- For small projects only triggering erosion and sedimentation control (no other stormwater management requirements), use the Construction SWPPP for Small Projects Template (PDF).
For more detailed Stormwater Information, please visit the City’s Stormwater Technical Resources webpage.
Permit fees
The following list contains fee schedules that are applicable to Public Works Permits, Utility Permits, and their associated impact fees.