(1) 
Prior to formal submittal of a project permit application, an applicant may obtain early assistance from County staff through informal conversations or on-site visits. In addition, one or more conferences with appropriate County department representatives and other public agency representatives may be requested by the applicant, required by ordinance, or required at the discretion of the Administrative Official. The date, time and place of such conferences shall be at the agreement of the participants. While pre-application conferences are optional on some application types, applicants for those applications specified in YCC Section 19.30.040(1), Type 3 and 4 project permits, legislative actions described in YCC Chapter 16B.10, linear transmission facilities, critical areas and Shoreline permits are required to request this exploratory conference. The Administrative Official may waive in writing the requirement for a pre-application conference, upon written request by the owner or authorized prospective applicant, for projects that the Administrative Official determines are of a size and complexity to not require the detailed analysis of a pre-application conference, notwithstanding any provision of this Code to the contrary.
(2) 
Such conferences are intended as an informal discussion and review of possible applications to assist the applicant in discovery of appropriate county regulations, standards, application materials and review processes that would be required of a project. The pre-application conference is intended to provide an applicant with preliminary direction regarding the required content of the proposed application. However, the conference is not intended to provide an exhaustive review of all the potential issues that a given application could raise. A pre-application conference shall not include extensive field inspection or correspondence. The pre-application review does not prevent the County from applying all relevant laws to the application and does not constitute an approval of the project. The discussion at the conference and the information provided shall not bind or prohibit the County's future application or enforcement of all applicable laws and regulations.
(3) 
Such conferences are not publicized and the public is not permitted to attend in order that a potential applicant's interests be protected.
(4) 
A request for a pre-application conference is initiated by completing a pre-application form supplied by the Planning Division. The submittal requirements for pre-application conferences shall include a site plan of the entire project, a written narrative describing the proposal, other information as specified by the Administrative Official, and any additional information that the applicant wishes to provide.
(5) 
The conference will be held within thirty days of the pre-application conference request. The applicant shall be informed of the time and place of the meeting using the contact information provided on the pre-application conference request form.
(6) 
A pre-application conference does not vest a proposed project permit application. Pre-application submittals or materials do not constitute project permit applications. All project permit applications are vested under relevant County codes in effect at the time of filing a completed application.
(Ord. 4-1996 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 14-1998 § 1 (part), 1998; Ord. 5-2012 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2012; Ord. 6-2014 § 2 (Exh. A)(part), 2016; Ord. 7-2017 § 2 (Exh. A)(part), 2017; Ord. 12-2024 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2024)
(1) 
Applications for project permits shall be submitted upon forms provided by the Administrative Official. An application shall consist of all materials required by the applicable development regulations and the items below:
(a) 
A completed project permit application form signed, electronic/digital or wet signature, by the owner(s) of the property;
(b) 
The completed application will identify a single contact person or entity to receive determinations and notices required by this Chapter;
(c) 
All other items listed as application requirements in the relevant sections of the ordinance requiring review and listed within the specific project permit application;
(d) 
A site plan showing all parcels containing the site for all applications, as required by the applicable development regulations;
(e) 
The applicable fee;
(f) 
Any SEPA documents, as applicable;
(g) 
All written requirements stated in a pre-application summary.
(2) 
Who May Apply. Application for the various types of permits and approvals covered by this Code may be made by the following parties:
(a) 
Subject to the requirements of this Subsection, the property owner or any agent of the owner with proof of agency may apply for a Type 1, 2, 3, or 4 permit or for a site-specific rezone requiring a policy plan map amendment not involving a change to Urban Growth Area boundaries. If the application is for revision to a preliminary plat, or alteration of a final plat, the application must be signed by a majority of those persons having an ownership interest in the lots, tracts, parcels, or portion thereof to be revised or altered. If a final plat is subject to restrictive covenants which were filed at the time of the approval of the plat, and the application for alteration would result in the violation of a covenant, the application shall contain an agreement, with notarized signatures signed by all persons subject to the covenants, providing that those persons agree to terminate or alter the relevant covenants to accomplish the purpose of the alteration of the plat or portion thereof. An application for vacation of a final plat is subject to the requirements of RCW 58.17.212.
(b) 
A resident of the dwelling may apply for a home occupation permit.
(c) 
Any person may apply for an interpretation pursuant to YCC § 16B.03.070. In addition, the Administrative Official may issue interpretations of the County Code as needed.
(d) 
Any person may apply to propose a non-site-specific amendment to the Comprehensive Plan pursuant to the biennial procedure for consideration of Comprehensive Plan amendments set forth in YCC Chapter 16B.10.
(e) 
The Board of County Commissioners may direct staff to pursue the study of or amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and development regulations. The Planning Commission or the Administrative Official may recommend a comprehensive plan amendment, site-specific or area-wide rezone, or amendment to the text of any development regulation to the Board.
(3) 
An applicant may formally withdraw a project permit application upon written request directed to the Administrative Official.
(4) 
A request for a refund of a project permit application fee, except those issued pursuant to Title 12 or 13 of this Code, must be made in writing to the Planning Division. It shall be provided to the Planning Division prior to the issuance of a final decision by the Reviewing Official and within ninety days of the date the applicant is notified of the Administrative Official's determination of completeness pursuant to Section 16B.04.030 of this Chapter. The written request will include a basis for the refund, will identify the project for which the refund is requested, and the request must come from the same person or entity that paid the fee, or authorized agent specified on the application. The Administrative Official, or his/her designee, shall review all refund requests to determine if one of the following criteria are met:
(a) 
If a fee is collected in error, the applicable fee will be refunded;
(b) 
A refund of ten percent of the application fee is granted if the final decision of project permit application(s) was issued less than or equal to twenty percent (20%) of the original review period (see Table 5-1);
(c) 
A refund of twenty percent of the application fee is granted if the final decision of project permit application(s) was issued more than twenty percent (20%) of the original review period (see Table 5-1);
Table 5-1
Refunds Based on 16B.04.020(4)(b & c)
Application Type/Percent of Refund of Application Fee
Applications Not Requiring Public Noticing or a Public Hearing1
Subdivision Applications
Applications Requiring Public Noticing but not a Public Hearing2
Applications Requiring Public Noticing and a Public Hearing3
10% of the land use application fee (16B.04.020(4)(b))
If the permit is issued between 66 to 78 days after the application is deemed complete4
If the permit is issued between 91 to 108 days after the application is deemed complete4
If the permit is issued between 101 to 120 days after the application is deemed complete4
If the permit is issued between 170 to 204 days after the application is deemed complete4
20% of the land use application fee (16B.04.020(4)(c))
If the permit is issued 79 days or more after the application is deemed complete4
If the permit is issued 109 days or more after the application is deemed complete4
If the permit is issued 121 days or more after the application is deemed complete4
If the permit is issued 205 days or more after the application is deemed complete4
Notes:
1. Typically Type 1 applications
2. Typically Type 2 applications
3. Typically Type 3 or 4 applications
4. The review times for a permit application do not include any times in which the County is waiting for response from a notice of incompleteness or request for additional information or the applicant has requested a suspension of the review of an application. Any other reasons the application is paused also does not count towards the review calendar for the application.
(d) 
Where it is clear to the Administrative Official that a proposed land division or other permit application filed to remedy the violation(s) is clearly inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plans, the intent of the Zoning District or other provisions of County code or state law, the application shall be returned without processing and any fee refunded. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of this Title regarding processing of applications and decisions and appeals related thereto, this determination of the Administrative Official shall not be appealable under the provisions of this Title; or,
(e) 
Outside of the above criteria, all other refunds are reviewed and awarded at the discretion of the Administration Official, or his/her designee, and in any amount the Official or their designee determines to be appropriate.
(Ord. 4-1996 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 14-1998 § 1 (part), 1998; Ord. 5-2012 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2012; Ord. 7-2017 § 2 (Exh. A)(part), 2017; Ord. 12-2024 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2024)
The Administrative Official shall provide written or electronic notice to the applicant in accordance with the procedure in RCW 36.70B.070.
(Ord. 4-1996 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 14-1998 § 1 (part), 1998; Ord. 5-2012 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2012; Ord. 7-2017 § 2 (Exh. A)(part), 2017; Ord. 12-2024 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2024)
(1) 
A project permit application shall be deemed complete for purposes of this Section when it meets the submission requirements specified in Section 16B.04.020(1) above. The Reviewing Official's determination of completeness shall not preclude the County from requesting additional information or studies either at the time of the notice of completeness or at some later time, if new information is required or where there are substantial changes in the proposed action.
(2) 
If the Reviewing Official does not does not deem an application procedurally complete or incomplete within twenty-nine (29) calendar days after receiving payment for the application, the application shall be deemed procedurally complete.
(Ord. 4-1996 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 14-1998 § 1 (part), 1998; Ord. 5-2012 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2012; Ord. 7-2017 § 2 (Exh. A)(part), 2017; Ord. 12-2024 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2024)
(1) 
When an application is deemed incomplete or is deemed complete and additional information is required, the following procedures shall be followed:
(a) 
The applicant is to be notified through written or electronic communication. The notice to the applicant must outline the required information to satisfy the notice of incompleteness or request for additional information, and that they have sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the notice of incompleteness or request for additional information in which to submit the required information.
(b) 
Within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date stamp on documentation sent to satisfy the notice of incompleteness or request for additional information, the Reviewing Official shall proceed according to the procedures stated below:
i. 
If the submitted information satisfies the request the Reviewing Official shall notify the applicant in written or electronic communication; or,
ii. 
If the submitted information does not satisfy the request the Reviewing Official shall follow up with a written or electronic communication detailing what additional information or clarifications are needed, why those items are needed, and that the applicants have sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the letter to submit the required information. For a notice of incompleteness, if a letter is not mailed within fourteen (14) calendar days of the stamped date documentation is submitted then the application is deemed procedurally complete.
(c) 
The process stipulated in YCC § 16B.04.050(1)(b) shall be repeated until all items stated in any notice of incompleteness or request for additional information are met.
(2) 
All notices of incompleteness and requests for additional information shall contain the following information:
(a) 
A statement informing the applicant that if they are nonresponsive within sixty (60) consecutive days of the date of the letter, an additional thirty (30) days will be added to the timeframe in which Yakima County must render a decision on the application.
(b) 
If the applicant wishes to suspend the review of the application for more than sixty (60) days an additional thirty (30) days will be added to the timeframe in which Yakima County must render a decision on the application. To suspend the review of an application the processes in YCC § 16B.07.040(1)(g) shall be followed.
(c) 
Yakima County is required to notify the applicant that, because the application is determined to be incomplete, processing has been placed on hold until Yakima County receives the required information described. The applicant has up to sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the letter to return the required submittals after which the file will lapse and become null and void. Once we received it, Yakima County has fourteen (14) calendar days to review the submitted information and determine if the application is complete or if additional information is needed.
(3) 
A project permit application for which a decision has not yet been made may be canceled for inactivity if the County returns the application for modification or correction (including a request for additional information for an incomplete or complete application) and the applicant fails to respond to the County's request within sixty (60) days of the request.
(4) 
All notice of incompleteness or request for additional information extension requests must be submitted by the applicant and shall contain the following information:
(a) 
The length of time the extension is requested;
(b) 
Reason(s) for needing an extension.
(Ord. 4-1996 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 14-1998 § 1 (part), 1998; Ord. 5-2012 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2012; Ord. 7-2017 § 2 (Exh. A)(part), 2017; Ord. 12-2024 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2024)
When the project permit application is complete, the Administrative Official shall accept it and note the date of acceptance.
(Ord. 4-1996 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 14-1998 § 1 (part), 1998; Ord. 5-2012 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2012; Ord. 7-2017 § 2 (Exh. A)(part), 2017; Ord. 12-2024 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2024)
To the extent known by the Administrative Official, other agencies with jurisdiction over the project permit application shall be identified in the County's determination of completeness required by Section 16B.04.030.
(Ord. 4-1996 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 14-1998 § 1 (part), 1998; Ord. 5-2012 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2012; Ord. 7-2017 § 2 (Exh. A)(part), 2017; Ord. 12-2024 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2024)