A. 
Pre-application conferences shall be required for all new homes, substantial remodels, any additions, decks or other projects that have a value over $50,000. Pre-application conferences may be requested by a property owner or their agent for any potential project or if the building official or public works director requires that a conference take place. The purpose of a pre-application conference is to help facilitate the review process through discussion and clarification of the code requirements and information or documentation required for a complete application.
B. 
Depending upon staff availability, pre-application conferences may be held within 15 days of the request.
C. 
At the conference, or within five working days of the conference, the applicant may request that the following be provided:
1. 
A form which lists the requirements for a completed application;
2. 
A general summary of the procedures to be used to process the application;
3. 
The references to the relevant code provisions or development standards which may apply to the approval of the application;
4. 
The city's design guidelines.
D. 
It is impossible for the conference to be an exhaustive review of all potential issues. The discussions at the conference or the form sent by the city to the applicant under subsection C of this section shall not bind or prohibit the city's future application or enforcement of all applicable law.
(Ord. 738 § 1, 1996; Ord. 923 § 3, 2013; Ord. 1022, 8/12/2025)
Applications for project permits shall be submitted upon forms provided by the administrator. An application shall consist of all materials required by the applicable development regulations, and shall include the following general information:
A. 
A completed project permit application form;
B. 
A verified statement by the applicant that the property affected by the application is in the exclusive ownership of the applicant, or that the applicant has submitted the application with the consent of all owners of the affected property;
C. 
A property and/or legal description of the site for all applications, as required by the applicable development regulations;
D. 
The applicable fee;
E. 
Evidence of adequate water supply as required by RCW 19.27.097; and
F. 
Evidence of sewer availability.
(Ord. 738 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1022, 8/12/2025)
A. 
Determination of Completeness. Within 28 days after receiving a project permit application, the city shall mail, by registered mail, return receipt requested, or personally provide a written determination to the applicant which states either: (1) that the application is complete; or (2) that the application is incomplete and what is necessary to make the application complete. [RCW 36.70B.070.]
B. 
Identification of Other Agencies with Jurisdiction. To the extent known by the city, other agencies with jurisdiction over the project permit application shall be identified in the city's determination required by subsection A of this section. [RCW 36.70B.070.]
C. 
Complete Application – Additional Information. A project permit application is complete for purposes of this section when it meets the submission requirements in CHMC § 19.02.002, as well as the submission requirements contained in the applicable development regulations. This determination of completeness shall be made when the application is sufficient for continued processing even though additional information may be required or project modifications may be undertaken subsequently. The city's determination of completeness shall not preclude the city 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. [RCW 36.70B.090(1).][1]
[1]
Editor's Note: RCW 36.70B.090 expired June 30, 2000, pursuant to 1998 c 286 § 8.
D. 
Incomplete Application Procedure.
1. 
If the applicant receives a determination from the city that an application is not complete, the applicant shall have 90 days to submit the necessary information to the city. Within 14 days after an applicant has submitted the requested additional information, the city shall make the determination as described in subsection A of this section, and notify the applicant in the same manner.
2. 
If the applicant either refuses in writing to submit additional information or does not submit the required information within the 90-day period, the application shall lapse.
E. 
City's Failure to Provide Determination of Completeness. A project permit application shall be deemed complete under this section if the city does not provide a written determination to the applicant that the application is incomplete as required by subsection A of this section. [RCW 36.70B.070(4)(a).]
F. 
Date of Acceptance of Application. When the project permit application is complete, the administrator shall accept it and note the date of acceptance.
(Ord. 738 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1022, 8/12/2025)
Within 10 days of accepting a complete application, the administrator shall do the following:
A. 
Transmit a copy of the application, or appropriate parts of the application, to each affected agency and city department for review and comment, including those responsible for determining compliance with state and federal requirements. The affected agencies and city departments shall have 15 days to comment. The referral agency or city department is presumed to have no comments if comments are not received within the specified time period. The administrator shall grant an extension of time for comment only if the application involves unusual circumstances. Any extension shall only be for a maximum of three additional days. [RCW 36.70B.070.]
B. 
If Type III, IVA and IVB procedures are required, notice and hearing shall be provided as set forth in Chapter 19.03 CHMC.
(Ord. 738 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1022, 8/12/2025)
A. 
An applicant may make minor revisions to the application after the determination of completeness.
B. 
A “minor revision” to an application is limited to changes to:
1. 
Floor plans that do not substantially alter the site plan or building elevations;
2. 
Parking and circulation configurations that do not change the basic parking areas or circulation concept. Examples of major modifications to parking and circulation include relocating parking areas from one area of the site to another or adding or deleting circulation areas that could have potential impacts to adjacent or surrounding properties;
3. 
Outside building configurations that do not create a greater bulk, scale, or change in natural vistas;
4. 
Building placements that do not change the general location and layout of the site;
5. 
Grading alterations that do not change the basic concept, significantly increase slopes, or building elevations, or change course of drainage which could adversely affect adjacent or surrounding properties;
6. 
Landscape areas that do not alter the general concept or remove any agreed-upon protected trees;
7. 
Architectural changes that do not change the basic form and theme;
8. 
Exterior material or color changes that do not conflict with the original architectural form and theme, and which are consistent and compatible with the original materials and colors.
C. 
Any revision other than a minor revision requires a new application.
(Ord. 1022, 8/12/2025)