Hearing Examiner
Hearing Examiner information and documents
You can learn about the Hearing Examiner role, review the process, and access decisions and rules.
What the Hearing Examiner does
The Hearing Examiner serves as a quasi-judicial officer.
The Hearing Examiner decides land use issues, disputes, and development proposals.
The Hearing Examiner has no legislative function. The Hearing Examiner applies laws and ordinances that the County Council passes.
Public hearings are held as needed and in a hybrid format.
A non-exclusive list of land use matters heard by the Hearing Examiner includes:
- Appeals from county determinations about whether a project requires an environmental impact statement
- Appeals of county administrative determinations involving the various land use regulatory codes and policies of the county, including the Shoreline Management Program
- Preliminary plats
- Shoreline conditional use permits
- Shoreline substantial development permits
- Variances
- Zoning
Contact the Hearing Examiner’s Office
You can contact the Hearing Examiner’s Office during normal business hours.
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm
1700 East College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: 360-416-1151
Email: HEhearings@skagitcountywa.gov or lisachug@skagitcountywa.gov
Join a Hearing Examiner meeting online
You can join a Hearing Examiner meeting online using Zoom.
Use this link to join the Hearing Examiner meeting online: Join the Hearing Examiner Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 812 7077 5954
Passcode: 728120
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,81270775954# US (Tacoma)
+17193594580,,81270775954# US
About the Hearing Examiner
Introduction
Skagit County uses the Hearing Examiner system to hear, evaluate, and decide on land use issues, disputes, and development proposals. This guide outlines that system to foster public understanding and participation.
The Hearing Examiner system started in federal agencies, was first adopted by local government in 1965 (a county in the State of Maryland), was first used in the State of Washington in 1969 and the system has spread to become common nationally and is widely used in Washington and Oregon.
The Hearing Examiner System
Skagit County delegates to the Hearing Examiner the task of taking evidence at hearings on land use matters. The Hearing Examiner makes decisions regarding zoning, shoreline conditional use permits, variances, shoreline substantial development permits, preliminary plats, appeals from county determinations of whether a project requires an environmental impact statement, and appeals of county administrative determinations involving the various land use regulatory codes and policies of the county, including the Shoreline Management Program.
The Hearing Examiner recommends action to the County on major development permits, development agreements, and planned unit developments. The County is the final decision-maker after a recommendation by the Hearing Examiner on these matters.
The Hearing Examiner has no authority in any matter that requires legislative action. Zoning changes and comprehensive planning matters are processed by the Planning Commission.
Hearings are public, and you may attend other hearings in advance of your own. A combination of such advanced attendance and a review of this guide can make your participation at your own hearing more effective.
Office of Land Use Hearings
See current hearings, schedule, agenda, decisions, and recommendations.
