About the Hearing Examiner
The Hearing Examiner has original and/or appellate authority over a wide range of areas including building, development, land use, and business and animal licenses.
The Land Use Division of the Planning and Development Services Department reviews and processes applications for most major land development proposals including subdivisions, rezones, conditional use permits, variances and shoreline permits which require a hearing before the Hearing Examiner.
Proceedings before the Hearing Examiner are governed by a combination of county code provisions and a set of Rules of Procedure. The Rules cover topics such as pre-hearing procedural requirements, exhibit handling, hearing procedures, withdrawal of applications/appeals, etc. Persons unfamiliar with the Hearing Examiner system who will be involved in a case before the Examiner would benefit from reading the Rules.
Important notice to hearing participants