San Juan County says permitting backlog shrinking; permit issuance now outpacing receipts

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — San Juan County’s Department of Community Development (DCD) reported measurable progress in clearing a multi-year permitting backlog and improving processing times during an Aug. 19 council update. Interim director Mark Tompkins told the council that the department has filled key leadership roles, is recruiting for code-enforcement staff, and is issuing more permits than it receives in most categories. The department has also begun using “stop clocks” — pauses in the processing interval when applications wait on applicant-supplied information — to produce more accurate processing-time metrics. Why it matters: Faster, more predictable permit reviews affect housing production, construction scheduling and property-owner certainty. Council members said they’ve heard fewer complaints recently and credited improved staffing and process changes. Tompkins said first-half 2025 totals included 370 building permits received and 413 issued; by July the department had received about 660 building permits year-to-date and issued 724. For processing times through mid-August, he reported averages of about 160 days for commercial permits, 83 days for miscellaneous permits and 251 days for single-family residential — all improvements over 2024 averages shown in the presentation. Tompkins said older permits were being closed or cancelled when applicants did not provide required follow-up, a process that has reduced the department’s inventory of very old, unresolved cases; he estimated staff had cleared many files dating back to 2020 and earlier. He credited staff for moving files and said the work will continue under the incoming permanent director, who is expected to start Sept. 10. Council members praised the progress. “It’s good to see the line for issued permits exceeding the line for received permits,” Council member Fuller said, calling the trend “a good sign.” Council member Paulson thanked staff and noted the department still must focus on continuing timely turnaround times while completing code updates and docket items. What’s next: Tompkins said the new director, Seb Jones, will start Sept. 10 and the department will continue recruitment for a second code-enforcement officer. Staff will return with updates on docket requests and code projects in October.