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Permit comparison

ADU permits on the Kitsap Peninsula, office by office

Same project, different office. Each row is what that office's own page says, with the rule quoted on its guide.

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Side by side

What each office says

ADU permits by authority. Each rule is quoted on that authority's guide, with the date we read its page.
AuthorityWhat its page says
City of PoulsboPermit required

In Poulsbo an ADU is permitted through a Building Permit with the Building Department and reviewed by the Planning Department.

Read the quoted ruleRead

City of Bainbridge IslandPermit required

The City of Bainbridge Island's pre-approved ADU flyer says "The owner or applicant must apply for an ADU building permit with the City of Bainbridge Island Planning & Community Development (PCD)." The plans are free to use, but the City says "additional…

Read the quoted ruleRead

City of BremertonPermit required

The City of Bremerton says "Permit applications must be submitted through the City’s online Permit Portal.

Read the quoted ruleRead

City of Port OrchardPermit required

In Port Orchard you apply for an ADU building permit online through the City's Permit Center, and the permit is issued after site plan review.

Read the quoted ruleRead

Kitsap County Department of Community DevelopmentPermit required

Kitsap County DCD treats an ADU as a permitted project.

Read the quoted ruleRead

The offices publish their own lists, and the wording and thresholds are not the same. Read the quoted rule on the guide for your office, and do not carry a number from one office to another.

Sources

Where this comes from

City of Poulsbo

  1. City of Poulsbo: Accessory Dwelling Unitspoulsbo.gov · read
  2. City of Poulsbo: Accessory Dwelling Units (handout)poulsbo.gov · read
  3. City of Poulsbo: Permit Ready ADU Programpoulsbo.gov · read
  4. City of Poulsbo: Building Departmentpoulsbo.gov · read

City of Bainbridge Island

  1. City of Bainbridge Island: Pre-Approved ADU Plans (flyer)bainbridgewa.gov · read
  2. City of Bainbridge Island: Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit Programbainbridgewa.gov · read
  3. City of Bainbridge Island: Permittingbainbridgewa.gov · read
  4. City of Bainbridge Island: City Adopts Interim Development Regulations (News Flash)bainbridgewa.gov · read

City of Bremerton

  1. City of Bremerton: Accessory Dwelling Unitsbremertonwa.gov · read
  2. City of Bremerton: Online Permitting & Inspectionbremertonwa.gov · read
  3. City of Bremerton: Permit Guidebremertonwa.gov · read

City of Port Orchard

  1. City of Port Orchard: Preapproved ADUsportorchardwa.gov · read
  2. City of Port Orchard: ADU Residential Zoning Requirements (PDF)portorchardwa.gov · read
  3. City of Port Orchard: How to Use and Construct a Preapproved ADU (PDF)portorchardwa.gov · read
  4. City of Port Orchard: ADU Building Permit Fee Estimate, July 28, 2025 (PDF)storage.googleapis.com · read
  5. City of Port Orchard: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit Applicationportorchardwa.gov · read

Kitsap County Department of Community Development

  1. Kitsap County DCD: Pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)kitsap.gov · read
  2. Kitsap County DCD: Permit Serviceskitsap.gov · read
  3. Kitsap County DCD: Permit Pathwayskitsap.gov · read

Compiled from the published rules of the offices above; oldest source checked

Next steps

Plan the project, then the permit

JKM pulls the permit as part of the job

Call Ian Laughlin at (206) 226-1988, or send the address and the scope. We find the right office and take it from there.

Discuss your projectCall (206) 226-1988