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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
Online applications:
Visit the online permitting portal to apply for the below listed permits types online:
- Public Works Permit: for site development/civil work
- Water/Sewer Utility Permit: for services not mains
- Tank Permit
- Traffic Street Use Permit: for closure of sidewalks, parking lanes, and travel lanes
Online submittal instructions: Please follow the Public Works Permit - required documents & upload instructions (PDF) for submitting digital documents on the online permitting portal for all permit types that require plan review and/or documents to be included.
Paper applications:
The below permit types are only available as paper applications at this time and must be submitted in hard copy:
- Annual Right-of-Way Use Permit Application (PDF)-for temporary uses of the right-of-way per EMC13.30
- Franchise Agreement Application (PDF)- for new Franchise Utilities not yet in Everett
Paper submittal instructions: Please reference our permit application submittal & re-submittal Instructions (PDF) for instructions on dropping off hard copy permit applications to our Lobby Drop Box.
City of Everett business license required:
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)
See stormwater resources tab for templates and handouts related to stormwater reports & requirements.
Stormwater requirements & templates
The following documents include required forms as well as guidance to aid the development community in preparing stormwater designs:
Separated stormwater basin:
Must meet requirements of Department of Ecology’s 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (2019 SWMMWW).
Small projects (Minimum Requirements 1-5 only):
- Use the Small Project Stormwater Site Plan/Report Template for Separated Area (PDF) for all small projects.
Preparation of Stormwater Site Plan, also called a drainage report, can be a daunting task and usually requires the services of a professional to prepare. This template is required to be used to address the Stormwater Site Plan requirements for small projects which do not require a full stormwater design. The template may be filled out by the property owner or project proponent, although some elements may still require professional qualifications to prepare. When fully completed this template addresses all of the requirements of Minimum Requirement 1 in the Stormwater Management Manual for a Stormwater Site Plan, and may be submitted as the Stormwater Site Plan for the proposed project. - Tip Sheet for Small Project Stormwater Requirements (PDF)
This tip sheet summarizes thresholds for a project to be eligible to complete the Small Project Site Plan/Report Template. Guidance on Minimum Requirements (MR) includes defining terminology and explanations on how to select Best Management Practices (BMPs). Information on implementing MR #5, BMP T5.13: Post Construction Soil Management is also included, as this BMP applies to all sites with disturbed lawn and landscape areas. - Small Project Declaration of Covenant for Inspection and Maintenance of Onsite Stormwater BMPs (PDF)
Projects that must address only Minimum Requirements 1-5 in the Stormwater Management Manual, and are eligible to submit the Small Project Site Plan Template, should use this Declaration of Covenant template instead of the standard facility version below.
Large projects (Minimum Requirements 1-9):
- Supplemental Guidance and Project Forms for Minimum Requirements #1-9
The following information provides supplemental guidance and a general outline for Minimum Requirement (MR) #1-9 Stormwater Site Plans (SSP). Required forms are attached to the end of this guidance document. - Declaration of Covenant for Inspection and Maintenance of Stormwater Facilities
All development projects which construct stormwater facilities are required to record a Declaration of Covenant which obligates the property owner(s) to maintain their stormwater facilities. Use this template for projects which do not qualify as Small Projects.
Combined sewer basin:
Must meet the requirements in Volume I, Section 6-10 of the City’s Design & Construction Standards and Specifications (DCSS).
- Portions of the city drain to a combined collection system that receives both sanitary sewage and stormwater. Projects that drain to this system are subject to different requirements than the rest of the city since runoff from the projects isn’t routed directly to surface waters.
- A general idea of the boundaries of the combined sewer system can be found in the City’s Drainage Basins & Watersheds Map.
- Prepare a drainage report using the Small Project Stormwater Report Template for Combined Area (PDF).
Additional Information:
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.