Many permit forms are available to download from the Licensing and Permitting section of our website.
You can apply for building, planing, public works and most other permits at the PermitCenterat the Justice & Municipal Center, 3rd floor. For questions on permits contact a Permit Center staff member.
Apply for boat launch permits or passes, animal/pet licenses, and alarm permits at the Utilities desk at the Justice & Municipal Center, 2nd floor. For more information, call Utilities at (253) 447-4317.
Key Words: building, planning, tree removal, remodel, improvements, subdividing, short platting, long platting, right of way, encroachment, fireworks, signs, special event permit, alarm permit, pet license, boat launch permit.
How do I determine if there is a wetland on my property?
A wetland is an area where the soil is saturated with water for at least part of the year. They are not necessarily as obvious as a swamp, but are a vital part of the ecosystem. Wetlands aid in erosion and flood control and are home to many species of plant and animal, some endangered, and there are many regulations on development near wetlands.
The required setbacks depend on the zone in which the property lies. One exception is for lots near Lake
Tapps, which have different shoreline setbacks (see the Shoreline Management page for more information).
To determine the zoning of your property, please see the Zoning Map on our Maps Page or contact the Community Development Administrative Specialist.
To determine your setback requirements please view the apprpriate section of the Municipal Code using the links below. Contact the Associate Planner with questions about setbacks.
R-1 Zone:BLMC18.14.060 Setback and bulk regulations. R-2 Zone: BLMC18.16.050 Setback and bulk regulations. R-3 Zone: BLMC18.18.050 Setback and bulk regulations.
How do I determine where my property lines are located?
For help locating your private property lines, city right-of-ways, etc., please contact the Associate Planner.
The City does not provide lot survey services. To have your property surveyed, please contact a licensed land surveyor. A list of licensed surveyors is available from the Washington State Department of Licensing; visit their website at www.dol.wa.gov and find the Professional Licenses search page, or call 360-664-1575.
Search terms: Right-of-way; right of way; ROW; property lines, lot lines.
To learn more about the annexation process, current annexation applications, or to request to have your property annexed into the City of Bonney Lake, please view our Annexation Page or contact one of our
Planners.
If your property is in the process of being annexed, you will receive multiple notices from the City and you may be asked to sign a petition indicating whether or not you wish to be annexed.
You can also view a map of Recent Annexations on our Maps Page.
How do I find out about development plans in Eastown, Midtown, or Downtown?
Follow the links below for more information and upates on our Downtown, Midtown and Eastown areas.
For new development proposals see the
Current Projects Page and the Legal Notices Page online, or visit the Permit Center at the Justice & Municipal Center, 3rd floor.
For additonal questions about development plans around the City, please contact the City Planning staff.
Downtown: To find out about Downtown redevelopment plans visit our Downtown Plan Page.
The City’s Downtown Plan is located in the Community Character Element of the Comprehensive Plan.
Eastown: Eastown is generally described as that area along SR 410 from 214th Ave E to 234th Ave E. Eastown is generally developed at its western edge. Information on Eastown can be found on our
Eastown Sub-area Plan Page.
Midtown: Midtown is generally described as that area along SR 410 from Fennel Creek (192nd Ave E) to 214th Ave E.
How do I find out about future and existing trails in Bonney Lake?
To find out about future and existing trails see our Trails page.
Trails in the City are planned for in the City's Comprehensive Plan in the Parks Element (including the Fennel Creek Trail Plan). These plans may be downloaded from our Comprehensive Plan page.
Copies of Comprehensive plans are also available to view at the Justice & Municipal Center from the Community Development Department (3rd floor) and City Clerk (1st floor).
To view Design Commission agendas and minutes, or to learn more about the Design Commission please see the Design Commission Page or contact the Community Development Administrative Specialist, who is the staff contact for the Design Commission.
The area known as the 'WSU Demonstration Forest' is located south of SR 410 and northeast of S Prairie Rd E, west of 214th Ave E.
In 2005 Washington State University and Weyerhaeuser applied for a Comprehensive Plan amendment to allow urban development of the WSU Demonstration Forest. The application was placed on hold at the request of the applicants. In 2009 the applicants submitted a new Comperehensive Plan amendment application. The City Council approved the proposed amendment and a related Development Agreement on December 22, 2009. As part of the development agreement, over 47 acres of the forest was dedicated to the City.
How do I find out about the impacts the Cascadia Development will have on my neighborhood?
Cascadia is working with the County and local city staff, including the City of Bonney Lake's Public Works Director, to mitigate the impacts their development will have on the plateau.
For more information, contact Pierce County Planning & Land Services at (253) 798-7272 or online at www.piercecountywa.org/pals.
Title Eliminations are required when a building is removed off of a property and the title needs to be turned over and tied to the real property. This is handled by Pierce County.
For further informatino please contact the Pierce County Auditor's Office at (253) 798-2775 or (253) 278-6111.
To report vandalism, trespassing, or other problems in the Fennel Creek area, please contact the Bonney Lake Police Department at (253) 863-2218, or call 9-1-1 if there is an incident in progress.
To learn how you can help protect our local salmon, please contact the Fennel Creek Preservation Group at (253) 826-1079 and the Puyallup River Watershed Council (PRWC) at (253) 798-3096.
To report problems near or in the creek (pollution, discoloration, dying fish, plant life), contact the Fennel Creek Preservation Group (253-826-1079) and the Bonney Lake Community Development Department Administrative Specialist.
How do I find out the process to sub-plat my property and build another house?
See the Planning Division page for general information. You must submit a pre-application form and draft plans so the City can schedule a pre-application meeting with the Development Review Committee (DRC), which includes representatives from the Planning, Public Works, Building, and Fire Departments. The DRC serves as a 'one-shop stop' to identify and clarify any issues with the proposed project.
Following the review, the applicant can develop and submit plans and a Master Application Form, which is available on the Forms Page for download and at the Permit Center.
For complete information please see Bonney Lake Municipal Code Chapter 18.22.020 - Fences or Hedges. A permit is generally not required to construct a fence.
Please contact the Permit Center with questions or for more information.
A City zoning map may be found on our Maps Page, or you may contact the Community Development Department's Administrative Assistant. Please have the parcel number or address of the property in question.
To learn more about different zoning designations, visit our
Zoning Page.
Certificates of Occupancy are released by the City’s Building Department. To learn what requirements must be met to obtain a certificate of occupancy please contact the Permit Center.
Letters of Water Availability are handled by the City’s Building Department. To learn more about the process go to our
Public Works Permits Pageor contact a Permit Technicianin charge of letters of water availability.
In order to subdivide a lot, subsequent lots must meet the minimum lot standards and connect to sewer and water utilities. Minimum lot standards and bulk regulations can be found in Bonney Lake Municipal Code Chapter 18.
Additionally, a residence to be constructed on the lot must meet the required front, rear, and side setbacks specified by the Municipal Code. Subdivision requirements and design guidelines can be found in Bonney Lake Municipal Code Chapter 17.
How do I know if my house or property is in the city limits?
There are several ways to find out whether a property is in Bonney Lake city limits or in unincorporated Pierce County.
The easiest way is to use the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer's Parcel Search (ePIP) search engine: http://epip.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/atr/epip/search.cfm
1. Search for a property by entering the address or parcel number.
2. Open the property information (click the parcel number link).
3. Select the 'Map' tab.
4. Look at the parcel shading and label. Parcels inside city limits will display the name of the city. Parcels located outside City limits are not shaded and are labeled 'Pierce County'.
Alternatively, you may visit our Maps Page and view our City Limits Map.
The Bonney Lake Hearing Examiner interprets, reviews, and implements land use regulations as specified in the Bonney Lake Municipal Code Chapter 2.18.
The Hearing Examiner is appointed by the Mayor, and receives and examines all available information, conducts public hearings, and prepares a record of findings and conclusions. The Hearing Examiner is the final decision authority for Type 4 Development Reviews, including variances, conditional use permits, preliminary plats, planned unit developments, and administrative decision appeals. Additionally, the Hearing Examiner reviews and provides recommendations to the City Council on Type 5 Development Reviews, including rezones and shoreline permits.
Contact the Senior Planner with questions about Hearing Examiner authority and decisions.
To obtain or view a copy of an as-built, please contact the
GIS Analyst. Ideally, include a map of your area of interest and describe the location the as-built is needed for as specifically as possible. If possible, include development name, cross streets, addresses, and parcel numbers.
For tips and information on preventing frozen pipes, or how to deal with a frozen water line or water meter, please visit the Utilities page: www.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/utilities#frozen
During normal office hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) contact Public Works at(253) 447-3101 to request that your water be shut off at the meter.
For after-hours water/sewer emergencies, please call the dispatch center at (844) 821-8911.
To request a change in zoning, contact the City’s Planning staff.
Zoning changes may require an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan. To learn more about the process of changing City zoning, please visit our
Zoning page.
To schedule an inspection you must call the City’s automated inspection line at (253) 447-4357. Please have the Permit number, site address, type of inspection, contact name, contact phone number, and requested date of inspection ready.
Please allow one business day and be aware that inspection requests made after 3:00 p.m. cannot be scheduled for the following day. For additional questions contact a Permit Technician.
To get inspection results contact theBuilding Inspector who performed the inspection. Because our inspectors are often out of the office, you may prefer to contact a Permit Technician, who can usually access the results.
Whenever it is proposed to subdivide land into nine (9) or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites, or divisions, a Short Subdivision Application must be completed and filed with the Community Development Department with a Master Land Use Application and the remaining required documents as listed on the applications.
The above referenced forms may be found on our Forms Page.
To learn more about subdividing or combining parcels (short plats, long plats lot combinations), please visit our
Planning Permits Page or contact the Planning Division at (253) 447-4356.
To propose the subdivision of land into ten (10) or more lots, tracts, site, or divisions, submit the Preliminary Plat application and Master Land Use Application, and all relevant documentation, to the Community Development Department.
To subdivide land into less than 10 lots a Short Plat Application is required instead.
To combine lots by removing their boundary line, submit the Lot Combination application.
All relevant forms are available to downloaded from our Forms Page.
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