A resource for shoreline property owners
How can I maintain my view?
County Requirements: paraphrased from
18.50.060 Clearing
& Grading, 18.50.140 and 18.50.330.(B)8
- All work within 200 feet of the shoreline requires a permit from the
County.
- Clearing and grading is only allowed landward of the building setback and only associated with an approved shoreline development.
- In providing visual access to the shoreline, the natural vegetation shall not
be excessively removed either by clearing or by topping.
- Non-destructive pruning and trimming for maintenance is allowed without
a permit.
- Land clearing, grading, filling or alteration of wetlands, natural drainage or
topography for residential construction shall be limited to the area necessary
for driveways, buildings and view and solar access corridors.
- All new construction shall indicate any trees to be removed and if more trees
are removed than necessary to construct a residence, then a tree removal plan
shall be approved.
- A Tree Removal Plan identifies the proposed building area, driveways and view
corridors and identifies how natural screening will be retained.
- Trees smaller than three inches
in diameter, as measured four feet above grade, may be removed unless there is
evidence that the shoreline is unstable. Removal of small trees and shrubs may
be restricted in unstable shorelines.
Vegetation protects your shoreline property
- Vegetation is highly effective in stabilizing the shoreline and upland. When left
in its natural state vegetation may reduce erosion rates and protect your home.
- Over-hanging vegetation may shade the tidal area, keeping it cool for salmon & forage fish eggs
that are laid on the beach.
- Studies have shown juvenile salmon diets rely heavily on terrestrial insects and
that greater amounts are found in samples collected along shorelines with intact
native shoreline vegetation.
- Native plants and trees are best suited for shoreline stabilization and they encourage the
overall health of our shoreline ecosystem, plus they require little maintenance.
Resources:
How do I get information about my parcel?
- San Juan County's parcel search
provides basic information and aerial views of your property.
Even more detailed ecological information with updated
GIS data and photographs will come online in September 2009.
- The Washington Department of Ecology's Coastal Atlas offers aerial views of
coastline properties and GIS information about vegetation and habitat, slope stability and a variety of other physical and ecological features.