Kitsap County, WA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

070 sets two overlapping permit requirements administered by the Department of Public Works. First, no one may construct or alter a permanent or temporary vehicular access, a driveway or road approach, onto a county road without a road approach permit; a copy must stay on site during construction, and any land-use change or site improvement that increases traffic volume or affects sight distance at an existing approach triggers a new permit. Second, no one may conduct construction activity within a county right-of-way without a separate right-of-way work permit, except for routine maintenance, general maintenance on roads that predate January 13, 2013, or repairs to aboveground utilities.

Utility relocation tied to a county road improvement project still needs a permit even though its fee can be waived. Applicants for right-of-way construction work must be a licensed and insured Washington contractor, and must submit plans showing the location, size, length, time period and purpose of the work; any extension or alteration of waterline installations additionally needs fire marshal review before the application is submitted. Emergency repairs to underground utilities are the one exception that can proceed before a permit issues, but the responsible party must notify Public Works of the location and nature of the repair as soon as practicable and file the permit application on the next working day, complying with the road standards as far as practical. 080.