19.02.008 Duration of permit approval and expiration of permits.
A. Duration of Permit Approval. A land use permit shall expire three years from the date a permit is approved, except as specified in subsection C of this section.
B. When a project includes more than one land use permit, the expiration date of the land use permit with the longest permit approval duration shall govern all land use permits included in a project, except final plats, short plats, map amendments and Type V decisions.
C. The duration of approval, expiration and extension of the following land use permits shall not be governed by this section, except that subsection B of this section shall apply:
1. Shoreline permits shall be governed by the City of Gig Harbor Shoreline Master Program and WAC 173-27-090;
2. Subdivisions, short plats, binding site plans and boundary line adjustments shall be governed by GHMC Title 16 and Chapter 58.17 RCW;
3. Land use permits governed by a development agreement shall be pursuant to the development agreement;
4. Special use permits, land clearing permits, planned residential developments, planned unit development, short-term rental permits, and temporary trailer permits shall be governed by the provisions in the specific zoning code chapter regulating those permits;
5. Zoning district map amendments and height restriction area map amendments.
D. Commencement of Permit Approval Duration. The approval duration for a permit shall commence on the date of the land use permit decision; provided, that in the event the decision is appealed, the effective date shall be the date of decision on appeal. The approval duration for a shoreline permit shall commence on the effective date of the permit as defined in WAC 173-27-090.
E. Expiration.
1. All land use permits become null and void and expire at the end of the permit approval period if, on the date the permit expires, a complete application for subsequent building permit or civil permit has not been submitted.
2. A complete application for subsequent building or civil permit will extend the validity of said land use permit as long as the building or civil permit is active.
3. For land use permits which do not require a building or civil permit, the land use permit does not expire if the use allowed by the project permit has been legally established prior to the expiration date of the project permit.
4. Once a use or development has been legally established, the land use permit will remain valid as long as the use and development is in compliance with the terms of the land use permit.
5. Conditional Use Permits. If a use or activity authorized by a conditional use permit is abandoned or discontinued for a continuous period of two years, the conditional use permit shall expire and the use or activity may not be reestablished unless authorized by a new conditional use permit.
F. Extensions. Upon written request by the property owner, prior to the date of land use permit expiration, the director may grant an extension of time up to but not exceeding one year. Any extensions of time shall be based upon a finding that the land use permit is compliant with all applicable codes at the time of the extension request and there has been no material change of circumstances applicable to the property since project permit approval. The director shall not grant more than one permit extension.
G. For the purposes of this section, “land use permit” is defined as any permit issued under GHMC Title 16, 17 or 18. (Ord. 1507 § 5, 2023; Ord. 1307 § 71, 2014; Ord. 1245 § 42, 2012; Ord. 1197 § 98, 2010).