Critical Areas
The City finds that critical areas provide a variety of valuable and beneficial biological and physical functions that benefit the City and its residents, and/or may pose a threat to human safety or to public and private property. The beneficial functions and values of critical areas include, but are not limited to, water quality protection and enhancement, fish and wildlife habitat, food chain support, flood storage, conveyance and attenuation of storm runoff, groundwater recharge and discharge, wave attenuation, aesthetic value protection, and recreation. Hazards include landslides and excessive erosion.
Critical area regulations apply if your property is located within a critical area or its buffer. A critical area study prepared by a professional in the field of wetland/stream biology, engineering, or geology, depending on the type of critical area, is required.
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
SEPA is required to mitigate impacts to the surrounding environment of a project meeting specific thresholds. It is a 60-day process involving a public comment period and an appeal period. It is an administrative decision. For help completing the SEPA Checklist refer to WA State Dept of Ecology SEPA checklist guidance.
Shorelines
Building on the Puget Sound or Lake Burien shorelines involves U. S. Corps of Engineers, FEMA, WA State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the City of Burien. If considering a construction project on or near a shoreline first contact a Planner. The Planner will help you navigate the various regulations and processes to get your project to completion.