Wetlands

What is the Purpose of this Permit?

Wetlands are regulated by Federal, State, and Local governments. As a result, multiple permits may be required for any project involving work in or near a wetland. Please see the Notes/Comments section for a general list of potential permits. Many of these requirements are mentioned in other sections of the Permit Handbook. Where this is the case, the section is noted in parenthesis. Please refer to those sections for detailed permit descriptions.

Who issues this Permit?

Department of Ecology

What Activities Require this Permit?

Working in or near wetlands, areas that are transitional between open water and uplands or that may be periodically inundated or saturated.

How Much Will this Permit Cost?

Variable. Please contact the permitting agency.

Do I Need to Include Anything with my Application?

Specific requirements vary according to jurisdictional authority.

Is the Decision on my Permit Dependent on Anything Besides the Information in my Application?

Variable. Please contact the permitting agency.

How Long Will it Take to Review my Application?

Where do I Submit my Application?

Variable according to the permit(s) in question. Refer to the individual permit descriptions for more detail.

Schematic:

schematic

How Long is my Permit Valid?

Variable according to the permit(s) in question. Refer to the individual permit descriptions for more detail.

What is the Appeal Process for the Permit?

Variable according to the permit(s) in question. Refer to the individual permit descriptions for more detail.

Notes / Comments:

• Local Jurisdiction (City or County Planning):
  Floodplain Development Permit (Local Permits), Shoreline Substantial Development, Variance, or Conditional Use Permit (Local Permits), Growth Management Critical Areas Ordinance Requirements.
• State Jurisdiction:
  Aquatic Use Authorization (Aquatic Resources, Department of Natural Resources), Hydraulic Project Approval (Aquatic Resources, Department of Fish and Wildlife), Section 401 Water Quality Certification (Federal Requirements, Ecology), Administrative Orders (Ecology), Coastal Zone Consistency Determination (Federal Requirements, Ecology), Noxious Aquatic and Emergent Weed Transport Permit (Aquatic Resources, Department of Agriculture).
• Federal Jurisdiction:
  Section 404 Permit (Federal Requirements, Army Corps of Engineers).

Legal Authority:

• Chapter 173-201A WAC
• Chapter 173-225 Federal Water Pollution Control Act WAC
• Chapter 90.48 Water Pollution Control WAC
• Chapter 36.70A.060 Natural Resource Lands and Critical Areas RCW
• Chapter 77.55 Construction Projects in State Waters RCW
• Chapter 90.58 Shoreline Management Act of 1971 RCW

Links:

• Department of Ecology Wetland Contacts by region
• Department of Ecology Wetlands home page
• Guidance on Wetland Mitigation in Washington State - Department of Ecology
• Isolated Wetlands
• Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) form
• Prior Converted Cropland (PCC) Wetlands
• Wetland Delineation Supplements - Arid West
• Wetland Delineation Supplements - Western Mountains
• Wetlands Delineation Manual - USACE
• Wetlands Rating Manual for Eastern Washington - Department of Ecology
• Wetlands Rating Manual for Western Washington - Department of Ecology

Statewide Contact:

* Permit information last updated 1/17/2013.