A shoreline exemption, shoreline variance or a shoreline substantial development permit is required for any proposal in shoreline areas regulated in accordance with the state’s Shoreline Management Act prior to applying for any development permits, such as building permits or site development permits. Please review Shoreline Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 20.200 to learn more about the City’s Shoreline Master Program. 

How to Apply

Apply for this permit online at the City of Shoreline's eTRAKiT permitting portal. Once you are logged into your account, select Apply/New Permit from the left-hand sidebar and select the following permit type from the drop-down menu: Pre-Intake Record.

Once PIN requests are submitted, the rest of the intake process is facilitated by a permit technician. A permit technician will send further instructions by email to complete the process.

Prerequisites

• Neighborhood Meeting
  • The neighborhood meeting must be held before the application can be submitted to the City.

Required Documents

• Permit Application and Critical Areas Worksheet
• Submittal Fee
  • Please reference the City’s fee schedule for current application fees. 
• Construction Drawings
  • Must show the ordinary high-water mark (OHWM) and where the proposed structures are in relation to the OHWM, particularly on elevation drawings.
• Cover Letter
  • Must describe the scope of work in detail, including information about the structures, the building uses, site work, and extent of construction activity.
  • For Variances: must address the shoreline variance criteria in SMC 20.220.040, WAC 173-27-170, and RCW 90.58.020. Describe in detail how the proposed use complies with all decision criteria.
  • For Substantial Permits: must address the shoreline use policies and regulations in SMC 20.230 (Subchapter 2) specific to the development, and the shoreline modification policies and regulations in SMC 20.230 (Subchapter 3) specific to the development.
• Neighborhood Meeting Summary
  • Please see requirements in SMC 20.30.090(C).
  • Must include list of meeting attendees and their contact information (address or email address).
  • Must include a copy of the notice that was mailed, and the mailing list.
  • Summary of concerns, issues and problems expressed during the meeting, and the applicant’s response to each item.
  • A summary of proposed modifications or changes to address neighbor concerns, OR a summary of why the applicant is unwilling or unable to address the concern. 
• Site Plan
  • Must show the OHWM and where the proposed structures are in relation to the OHWM. 

Additional Documents (Possibly Required)

• Supporting Documents 
  • Studies or other items which help to clarify or support the request. 

Additional Permits (Possibly Required)

These are additional permits that may be required to accompany your application depending on your scope of
work.

• Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA)
  • This is through the State of Washington, not through the City of Shoreline.
  • Required if the proposal is water-ward of teh OHWM or will directly impact aquatic life or habitat.