NEW

Applications to amend the Comprehensive Plan will be accepted between January and February 2022.  Further information on this process is available on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process webpage. 

Applying for a permit to build a new single family residence?  Use our online permitting process. We have added the single family residence to our list of permits available for online submittal -- no appointment needed!  Visit our Submitting an Online Permit Application page for help with the Online Permit Center and begin the application process today.

October Process Improvement Day Recap

PCD was closed for process improvement day on Thursday, October 21. The items the Department focused on were:

1. Before you buy or build webpage - The intent of this website improvement is to provide resources to both the real estate industry as well as potential buyers/sellers. It will be a "one stop shop" for information that is available on the City's website, but may not be easily found at this time.
2. New Camino Guide - Development of a new website tool that will guide applicants through the permitting process and provide accessible parcel information to all.
3. Programmatic Buoy Permit Development - We are finalizing a draft process for a programmatic buoy permit which will eliminate the need for individual shoreline permits for buoys.
4. Testing and training the reconfiguration of our single family residence permit - Staff have been working on streamlining the application and processing of permits for a single family residence.  The new configuration allows for online portal applications and joint electronic review using the Bluebeam Revu tool.  We hope to roll this process improvement out soon, so please stand by for further updates!

The goal of these days is to provide time for our staff to work on items that improve the customer experience. We thank you for your support and look forward to serving you. If you have suggestions on items you would like us to focus on, please send them our way by e-mailing pcd@bainbridgewa.gov.  Our next Process Improvement Day is scheduled for Thursday, November 18.

New Alteration/Subject to Field Inspection Online Permit Rolled Out

The City has created a new online permit for residential alterations or remodels that are solely within the interior of a home.  These alterations must not involve going outside the existing footprint or raise roof lines.  

Examples of work covered under the R-ALT-STFI permit type include:

• Kitchen remodel - Moving appliances around within the kitchen space and/or adding a beam to eliminate posts.
• Interior space remodel - Moving or deleting walls.
• Reconfiguring bedrooms - Does not include adding a bedroom.
• Small structural changes - Requires stamped engineering plan at time of submittal.
• Bathroom remodel.
• Adding interior LP gas lines for new appliances (gas fireplace)
• Above existing garage space - Creating ADU's are not eligible for this type of permit.
• Changing staircases or railings.

Work that is NOT eligible for this permit type:

• Alterations outside the existing footprint work.
• LP tank replacements.
• Additions to existing homes.
• Alterations inside the existing footprint to add a bedroom.
• Detached garages.
• Grading on property.
• New utility installation.
• Tree clearing or vegetation management.
• Commercial improvements.
• Raising of roof or changing roof heights and/or size.
• Drainage improvements.
• Seismic retrofitting of either interior or exterior of home.

This permit is supported by an online application process very similar to our residential mechanical (R-MEC) permit and may be applied for using the Online Permit Portal.

Planning & Community Development rolls out new phase in electronic permitting process:  Applicant Uploaded Submittals. 

Steps for applying and uploading documents are found on our Submitting a Permit Application webpage.  

To see the most commonly required submittal documents for each permit type, please click one of the links below:

Land Use Permits
Commercial Building Permits
Residential Building Permits