Boards, Commissions & Committees

Boards and commissions that serve the citizens of San Juan County.

1. Agendas & Minutes

   Access easily searchable meeting agendas and minutes for various boards, commissions, and committees.

2. Board & Committee Vacancies

   View a listing of board and committee vacancies and how to apply for one of the vacancies.

3. New Board-Committee Member Training

4. Agricultural Resources Committee

   The Agricultural Resources Committee advises the Council about issues affecting the agricultural environment of the County by identifying emerging issues relating to local and regional agriculture.

5. Agricultural Tax Advisory Committee

   The provides input on Agricultural Property Tax policies. Guiding resolution is Resolution 48-2012.

6. AOC/LIO

   Recognizing that ecosystem recovery requires local actions to best motivate change, San Juan County and federally-recognized local tribes in cooperation with a state agency called the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) established a Local Integrating Organization (LIO).

7. Board of Equalization

   The Board of Equalization is wholly separate and apart from the Assessors Office. It is comprised of three County residents appointed by the San Juan County Council, and are selected for their knowledge of real estate values.

8. Board of Health

   The Board of Health has responsibility over all matters pertaining to the preservation of the life and health of the people of San Juan County.

9. Building Advisory Council

   Developed to assist the Council and Building Department regarding the implementation of building codes, public education regarding the construction and permit process, and to provide assistance or advice to the Council related to building code adoption and implementation in San Juan County.

10. Citizens Salary Commission

    The Citizens Salary Commission shall have the duty as determined by the Commission to review and set the salaries of County Elected Officials.

11. Civil Service Board

    This commission establishes a merit system of employment for county deputy sheriffs and other employees of the office of SJC Sheriff, thereby raising the standards and efficiency of such offices and law enforcement in general.

12. Clean Water Advisory Committee

    Clean, fresh water is vital to our drinking water supply and our watershed creeks and wetlands. Natural flowing surface water and treated storm water from impervious areas infiltrate into our ground water or drains to nearshore beaches and the Salish Sea.

13. Deer Harbor Plan Review Committee

14. Eastsound Design Review Committee

    The Eastsound Design Review Committee shall be empowered to grant design approval to projects which may not comply with the architectural standards.

15. Eastsound Planning Review Committee

    The Eastsound Planning Review Committee shall advise the Planning Department, Planning Commission and Council on land use and development matters affecting Eastsound.

16. Employee Safety Committee

    View the Employee Safety Committee agendas and minutes.

17. Fair Board

    The Fair Board, through its appointed staff, directs and administers the management of the County fair and fairgrounds including buildings and equipment, and oversees the budget under the direction of the Council.

18. Ferry Advisory Committee

    The Ferry Advisory Committee provides study and recommends resolutions in ferry transportation matters as these affect the San Juan Islands.

19. Hearing Examiner

20. Housing Advisory Committee

    The Commission recommends affordable housing goals, strategies and programs to meet the affordable housing needs of the County.

21. Human Services Advisory Board

    The Advisory Board oversees the aims, purposes and programs in the fields of public health, alcohol and drug abuse, developmental disabilities, mental health and early childhood education in accordance with WA State code and provides the Council and public with information and advice. This board consists of nine to fifteen members serving three-year staggered terms.

22. Land Bank Commission

    The Land Bank shall preserve areas in SJC that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, and cultural value, and act as the mechanism to implement the acquisition of various real property interests in conservation areas as authorized law.

23. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee

    The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is an advisory committee to the Council and will review and comment on any proposed increase on the rate of tax imposed; repeal of an exemption from a tax imposed; change in the use of revenue received; or change in the SJC Code regarding Hotel/Motel funds.

24. Lopez Island Library

    Find members on the Lopez Island Library committee.

25. Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District

    The district oversees the operation of the Lopez Solid Waste Facility.

26. Lopez Village Planning Review Committee

    A Lopez Village Planning Review Committee (LVPRC) was appointed by the County Council to develop a subarea plan proposal for the Lopez Village Urban Growth Area.

27. Marine Resources Committee

    The Marine Resources Committee shall protect and restore the marine resources of San Juan Committee in furtherance of the benchmarks of the Murray-Metcalf Northwest Straits Citizen Advisory Commission.

28. Northwest Senior Services

    Under the Northwest Regional Council this board advises the Area Agency on Aging and Council on the needs of area senior citizens and adults with functional disabilities.

29. Noxious Weed Control Board

    The board is an advisory board to the County regarding the state noxious weed program and has rule making and administrative responsibilities under chapter 17.10 RCW, serving as responsible stewards of Washington by protecting and preserving the land and resources from the degrading impact of noxious weeds.

30. Open Space Advisory Team

    The purpose of the Advisory Team is to provide an objective and diversified review and evaluation of the resources/features under consideration and develop recommendations for the Planning Department, Planning Commission and Council.

31. Orcas Library Committee

    Find out who the members are in the Orcas Library Committee.

32. Parks & Recreation Commission

    The Commission is a volunteer citizen's advisory body appointed by the San Juan County Council.

33. Planning Commission

    Planning Commission advises Community Development and Council on land use issues, code and comprehensive plan amendments and open space applications.

34. San Juan Island Library

    Here you will find members and contact information for the library committee.

35. Solid Waste Advisory Committee

    The SWAC shall advise on all aspects of solid waste management planning; assist in the development of programs and policies concerning solid waste management; and recommend appropriate public policy to the Council and the Friday Harbor Town Council.

36. Veterans Advisory Board

    Here you will find member term information and background on the board.

Community Development

To support healthy, diverse, sustainable island communities, and a high quality of life through effective planning, administration, and enforcement of building and land use codes that balance and accommodate appropriate development of the community while protecting the natural environment.

1. Online Permit Center-Search, Pay, Inspections

2. Permits, Forms & Information

   Permit forms, instructions, and sample drawings,contact information for electrical inquiries.

3. Building

   The Building Division of the Community Development and Planning Department administers the State adopted codes, including the International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fuel/Gas, and Existing Building Codes; the Uniform Plumbing Code and the State Energy and Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Codes.

4. Land Use

   Administers regulations, amends regulations, writes new regulations, establishes policies to clarify regulations, and provides staff support to Council and certain committees.

5. Comprehensive Plan

   View the Comprehensive Plan file broken up by its sections and appendices.

6. Shoreline Master Program

   The Shoreline Master Program (SMP) is the local instrument by which San Juan County and the State Department of Ecology (DOE) jointly administer the 1971 Shoreline Management Act (SMA), Chapter 90.58 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).

7. Maps

   Comprehensive Plan land use shoreline maps for the 3 districts, urban growth areas maps, Village and Hamlet Activity Centers, subarea plans, and other maps.

8. Hearing Examiner

   Hears shoreline permits, conditional use permits, appeals of administrative determinations, long subdivisions.

9. Code Enforcement

   Enforcement of building and land use codes

10. Long Range Planning

    Long-Range Planning approaches land-use planning by studying environmental conditions and the cultural landscape, and then creating or changing County policy statements and the development regulations that carry those policies out.

11. Commissions, Councils and Committees

12. Developing shoreline property

    Shoreline and critical area regulations that apply to building a house, armoring, shoreline stabilization, shoreline modification, stairs to the beach, tree removal, bank erosion, designing bank protection, RPA, dock construction, dock repair, docks and piers, retaining walls and all development in the shoreline.

13. Current Development Projects

    Documents for large or controversial development projects are placed on this page to allow for public access the project documents.

14. Vacation Rentals Information and Application

    This page includes information on San Juan County's vacation rental program, including information on how to apply for a permit if you do not have one and how to certify compliance with your existing permit.

15. Marijuana

    This page provides information about permitting marijuana growing and/or processing facilities in San Juan County.

County Government

1. County Council

   Find out when the council meets and how the council is elected.

2. County Code

   The Clerk of the County Council's Office has the official version of the San Juan County Code. Users should contact the Clerk of the County Council's Office for ordinances passed subsequently.

3. Adopted Ordinances

   View the San Juan County adopted ordinances.

4. Approved Resolutions

   Resolutions

5. Pending Documents for Public Hearing

County Management

1. County Manager

   An Administrative Services Department was created in 1994 to assist the Board of Commissioners in handling internal tasks necessary for a organization with over 200 full and part-time employees.

2. Board of Equalization

   The board is directed by state law, Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

3. GIS

   While GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems, you can better imagine it as the marriage of information (such as a spreadsheet) and a map.

4. Human Resources

   Find benefit information, job descriptions, current job openings, and employment applications.

5. Information Services

   Information Services provides technology management for all County departments.

Elections Office

New Elections Site

1. Auditor

2. Elected Officials

3. Voter Information

4. Election

5. Current Election

6. Candidate Information

7. Precincts and District Maps

8. Taxing Districts

9. Initiative & Referenda

10. Ballot Drop Boxes

11. Elections Calendar

Environmental Resources

We preserve our fresh water resources, protect the marine environment, and manage recycling and solid waste throughout the County by implementing projects and programs in partnership with others.

1. Clean Water Utility

   Learn about the responsibilities of the storm water division of the Public Works Department.

2. Stormwater Management

   View lists of stormwater resources.

3. Solid Waste Utility

   Washington State has a system of waste management that relies on partnerships among state and local governments and the private sector.

4. Marine Programs

Finance & Records

1. Assessor

   The Assessor's primary duty is to determine the value of all taxable real and personal property for the purpose of equitable tax distribution for various taxing districts.

2. Auditor

   The County Auditor's Office is responsible for financial services, supervising elections, registering voters, licensing and recording of legal documents.

3. Treasurer

   The County Treasurer serves as the Ex Officio Treasurer for Junior Districts and School Districts and is the custodian of all funds for the County, Junior Districts and School Districts.

Health & Community Services

The Department of Health and Community Services provides a wide array of direct public health services and referral to additional social services available in the community.

1. Administration

2. Community Health

   Our goal is to provide population-based services and assure access to preventive health services in the community.

3. Environmental Health

4. Human Services

5. Senior Services

   Senior Services programs are offered under contract with Northwest Regional Council through the San Juan County Health and Community Services Department with significant support from the Senior Services Council of San Juan County, Inc., a Washington 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

Judicial & Legal

1. County Clerk

   The County Clerk and the Superior Court Clerk handle court cases, jury duty, passports, and bail bonding information.

2. District Court

   The District Court handles adult probation, civil and criminal cases, protective orders, names changes, and parking tickets.

3. Juvenile Court Services

   Juvenile Court Services (JCS) is most frequently associated with juvenile offender services.

4. Prosecuting Attorney

   The San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney is a small law office with the elected prosecutor, four full-time deputy prosecutors, two people working in the victim services center, and four to five staff positions.

5. County Coroner

   County Coroner

6. Superior Court

   The Superior Court's primary purpose is to decide cases fairly and impartially, based solely on applicable facts and law.

Parks and Public Lands

1. Agriculture Resource Committee

   The Agricultural Resources Committee (ARC) was established by San Juan County (SJC) Barn Fence Council in 2005 with the mission to protect and restore agriculture in SJC.

2. Land Bank

   To preserve in perpetuity areas in the county that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, historic, scenic or low-intensity recreational value and to protect existing and future sources of potable water.

3. Parks, Recreation & Fair

   Come enjoy our islands and visit any of our seventeen parks located on San Juan, Lopez, Orcas and Shaw Island.

4. WSU Extension

   WSU Extension in San Juan County is a partnership between Washington State University and San Juan County government to bring valuable research-based information to the residents of San Juan County.

Public Safety

1. Sheriff

   The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is committed to protect and serve all of the residents and visitors on the beautiful San Juan Islands!

2. Fire Marshal

   It is the mission of the San Juan County Fire Marshal's Office to provide professional life safety protection and reduce the harm associated with fires, explosions and mechanical failure to the citizens of San Juan County through inspection, prevention, and investigation.

3. Emergency Management

   The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) exists to help the islands prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster and large scale emergencies of all kinds.

Public Works

The Public Works Department is responsible for construction and maintenance of facilities and programs that support essential public services related to transportation, storm water and solid waste.

1. Current Projects

   Learn more about local current projects in the Public Works.

2. County Roads

   The county transportation system encompasses all of the San Juan Islands. It brings people and goods into the community and provides the means by which they can move freely within each island from one activity to another.

3. Map Gallery

   San Juan County Maps

4. Permits

   The Public Works department administers both the Right of Way Permit and the Oversize Vehicle Permit. Learn how to obtain one.

5. Standard Plans

   Standard Plans