2023 Changes to the Local Project Review Act
The City of Bellevue has updated its land use permit submittal requirements and processing procedures to align with recent amendments to the Local Project Review Act under Senate Bill (SB) 5290, signed into law in 2023. These changes are part of broader efforts to streamline permitting processes, improve efficiency, and enhance transparency, as approved by the Bellevue City Council.
Key updates include:
- Pre-Application Conferences: Now required for Preliminary Short Plats (LN permits) and Critical Areas Land Use Permits (LO permits), these meetings provide applicants with early guidance to navigate requirements effectively.
- Single PDF Submission: Applicants must submit all required plans as a single, bookmarked PDF to simplify document management.
- Completeness Check: Applications must pass a thorough completeness check to ensure they are fully prepared for review, reducing delays caused by incomplete submissions.
The updates also codify permit timelines, clarify application requirements, strengthen project management, and simplify submission processes. They apply only to land use permits, and the City’s permit pages have been updated to reflect the new requirements.
For more information on SB 5290 and the City’s actions, visit the Permit Streamlining LUCA page.
Information Sessions: Permit Submissions and Processing Updates
The Development Services Department hosted three information sessions to provide more information on the changes the City of Bellevue has implemented related to permit processing streamlining, including new submittal requirements, completeness checks and consolidated application materials. Review an outline of the presentation online.
Reporting
Under the updates to the Local Project Review Act through SB 5290, local jurisdictions are required to report annually on permit processing timelines and other metrics for processing certain permit types associated with housing. The annual reports must be posted to local jurisdiction websites and submitted to the Washington State Department of Commerce. The goal is to promote transparency, ensure accountability, and support efforts to streamline development processes. More information regarding the performance reporting requirements can be found on the Department of Commerce website. Bellevue’s annual performance report is available on the Annual Permit Performance Data page.