Kitsap County GISWhat is the Shoreline Master Program (SMP)? In 1971, the people of the State of Washington voted for the Shoreline Management Act (SMA). The SMA has three primary purposes: 1) To protect ecological functions; 2) To accommodate appropriate uses; and 3) To maintain public access. The Shoreline Master Program (SMP) implements the policies of the SMA at the local level by regulating use and development along shorelines. The Department of Ecology is responsible for ensuring that the local SMP is consistent with intent of the SMA, and has final approval authority. Kitsap County's SMP Kitsap County has approximately 216 miles of marine shoreline, 54 miles of lake shoreline and 22 miles of river and stream shoreline, for a total of 292 miles of shoreline which fall under SMP jurisdiction for unincorporated Kitsap County. Kitsap County's first SMP was adopted in 1976, and most recently updated in 1999. In 2003, the state issued new guidelines for updating local SMPs that each jurisdiction must follow (WAC 173-26). As such, this update is the first major overhaul of the SMP in nearly 40 years. In that time period, new science and information has become available and shoreline health is better understood. SMP Contents The SMP includes: - Shoreline Environment Designations - General Goals and Policies - Permit Provisions, Review and Enforcement - Shoreline Use and Modification Requirements and Development Standards - Uses: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Recreation, etc. - Modifications: Mooring Structures (piers and docks), Shoreline Stabilization (bulkheads), etc. - Appendices: - Inventory and Characterization Report - Shoreline Environment Designations Map Kitsap County Shoreline Master Program Update Fact Sheet January 2012 - Restoration Plan - Cumulative Impact Analysis / No Net Loss Report. What the SMP Update Means to you If you are a shoreline property owner: - Legally established existing development is recognized as "conforming" and may be repaired and replaced in most cases - New or expanded development may have different permitting requirements - The shoreline environment designation and/or buffer may have changed to better reflect current conditions and changes in the new Guidelines (WAC 173-26) - Restoration Plan provides further opportunities for voluntary restoration actions. If you are a citizen of Kitsap County, or utilize Kitsap County shorelines: - Program must ensure that there is no further degradation to the Shorelines of the State (all of SMP jurisdiction) and their resources. - Promotes public access, including views, where possible through incentives and requirements. - Protects recreational opportunities such as navigation on the water. For more information and to review the Draft SMP Update, please visit www.kitsapshoreline.org Safekeeping Washington's shores Washington has about 28,000 miles of shorelines - more than the distance around the Earth. Our shorelines include both quiet breeding areas for blue-ribbon trout and areas where 30-foot waves build and carry away beaches. This wild, dynamic nature of shorelines draws us to the water's edge. Managing our use and development of shorelines is important. It helps us to preserve what we value and protect life and property. Sharing and caring for shorelines is everyone's responsibility.ArcGIS FeatureLayerhttps://hub.arcgis.com/datasets/1e8bff26de9c4c47a909a2d35dddbb75_0engOpen Data Kitsap County GISPublicShoreline Master Plan Environmental Designations [Washington (State)--Kitsap County]Web servicesWashington (State)--Kitsap CountyWashington (State)Last Modified: 2025-10-09