09/20/2007: "Only One “ADU Conversion” Permit Still Available"

For those who qualify for an Accessory Dwelling Unit “conversion permit”, there is still one permit available. To qualify for the permit, the structure to be converted must have legally existed for at least five years and be less than 1,000 square feet in size. If it is in a rural area, the structure must sit on a parcel at least five acres in size.

All of the ADU conversion applications which were filed before the first deadline in March have been reviewed and processed. Applications will be accepted for the remaining permit starting OCTOBER 1, 2007 at 8 a.m.

The one remaining building permit available this year is for property owners who want to convert an existing structure into a detached “accessory dwelling unit” (ADU), also known as guest houses.

Examples that would qualify “could include a barn or a studio that was built to code under proper permits,” says Permit Coordinator Allen B. Shayo, “or it might be a house under 1000 square feet whose owners want to build a larger house and convert their current home into an ADU.”

Beginning October 1, property owners may apply for an ADU Conversion Permit from the Community Development and Planning (CD&P) Department in person or by mail or fax. Applicants must provide their property tax number at the time of contact. The first applicant determined to be eligible will be asked to submit a complete building application within six months of notification. Others will be placed on a wait list, which will expire at the end of the year.

The San Juan County Community Development & Planning (CD&P) office is located at 135 Rhone St. in Friday Harbor. Its mailing address is PO Box 947, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. fax (360) 378-3922. Applications will be considered in the order received and the permit issued on a first-come basis to the eligible applicant. Applicants using fax or mail must include full contact information, address and the tax parcel number to be considered.

For more information, contact Allen Shayo, Permit Coordinator for the San Juan County Community Development and Planning Department at: (360) 370-7586.