Everett’s Permit Services office coordinates construction and development permitting, while Planning reviews land-use applications under the City’s development regulations. Building and land-use applications are managed through the Online Permitting Portal, where applicants can submit projects, upload documents, pay fees, and track review status. Land-use approvals are separate from construction permits and can be required for matters such as conditional uses, subdivisions, variances, design modifications, and zoning compliance.
Everett regulates development through its Unified Development Code in Title 19 of the Municipal Code. Property conditions can add substantial review requirements, particularly where wetlands, streams, frequently flooded areas, fish and wildlife habitat, or geologically hazardous areas are present. The City’s updated critical-area regulations govern development and vegetation disturbance within these areas and their required buffers.
Shoreline projects follow another review path under Everett’s Shoreline Master Program and may require a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit or other shoreline approval. Tree removal is more site-specific: City approval can be required for trees within critical areas or buffers and for trees that form part of required landscaping or an approved development plan, rather than through a universal private-property tree permit.
Site and public-right-of-way work is reviewed separately. Grading, paving, utilities, retaining walls, and qualifying right-of-way construction use Public Works permitting, while sidewalk, parking-lane, or travel-lane closures and dumpsters can require a Traffic Street Use permit. Applicants can begin with Everett’s Permit Services resources and then confirm zoning, critical-area, shoreline, tree, and right-of-way requirements for the site.