Fall into Learning: Workshops, Walks & More in Kitsap

There’s a lot happening this fall with Kitsap County Community Development, and plenty of ways to learn, connect, and get involved. We’re hitting the ground running with workshops Native Plant Workshop, Shore Friendly Contractor Workshop, and an Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) Training where you can sharpen your invasive species ID skills. September also marks the release of the draft Year of the Rural chapter, with community meetings in all three districts and opportunities to share your feedback.

What do beavers and planning have in common? Community! This October, join our final Read, Roam, Rules walk and book talk with the Greater Peninsula Conservancy and Kitsap Regional Library, to see how beavers build theirs, and help us celebrate Community Planning Month as we reflect on how people build ours.

We’re also improving how we serve you: beginning this month, service hours are changing so reviewers have more time for complex questions while LiveChat remains available for permit application support.

Behind the scenes, we’re building better resources with a new Frequently Asked Questions page to give you quick answers about development, permitting, and environmental programs. We're also asking for your insights through our Doing Business in Kitsap project which will help us improve the tools available for future entrepreneurs in unincorporated Kitsap County.

Together, let’s make the most of this season of learning, connection, and community building.

Service Hours Update: Effective September 2, 2025

Starting September 2, 2025, technical review staff in-person and appointment services will be expanded to Monday through Thursday, 9am to Noon.

To better serve customers with complex questions, technical reviewers will focus on in-person, virtual appointments, and walk-in support, rather than Live Chat. This allows for more thorough, detailed assistance.

Lobby Staff Availability

Year of the Rural: Draft Chapter for Review

After months of outreach and community input, the Draft Rural and Resource Lands Chapter is ready to share. This draft is part of the Year of the Rural initiative and will guide how Kitsap County plans for the future of rural areas and resource lands.

In September, the draft will be presented in all three districts at Community Advisory Council (CAC) meetings:

These presentations will share the draft deliverables and public process, with time for questions and community comment.

Next steps: This is your opportunity to provide feedback and help ensure the chapter reflects community priorities.

Share Your Insight - Help Us Build Better Tools for Businesses in Unincorporated Kitsap

Your experience as a local business owner, or someone starting the journey, matters. We’d like to know: what resources, guidance, or information did you use, need, or wish you had, when starting your business in unincorporated Kitsap?

Your feedback will help us improve the resources we provide so future entrepreneurs have clearer information and stronger support when they begin.

Please send your thoughts to [email protected] by September 12 to be considered in our project update. Thank you for sharing your experience to help others succeed.

Native Plant Workshop

Join us for a FREE, educational workshop focused on the diversity and ecological value of Kitsap's native plant communities. Learn how native plants support healthy ecosystems, help combat invasive species, and contribute to resilient shorelines. This workshop will feature an expert presentation followed by an optional guided plant walk to explore native species in their natural habitat.

Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR)

This is a FREE training that will cover priority invasive plant identification, general invasive species biology, the EDRR process, and surveying and reporting using the EDDMapS and iNaturalist Apps. Following the presentation, we will practice some identification and survey skills around Long Lake Park, as well as answer any questions about the Apps.

Last Read, Roam, Rules of the Year

Join us this October for the final Read, Roam, Rules series of 2025—an evening walk in nature and a lively book discussion that both highlight what it means to build and sustain community.

Evening Beaver Habitat Walk: Jane Jacobs Walk

Beavers are more than nature’s engineers—they’re community builders. On this guided evening walk, we’ll explore Kitsap beaver habitat and reflect on how these remarkable animals shape the environment around them. Registration is required and expected to fill quickly, so be sure to reserve your spot early. Bring a flashlight and comfortable outdoor walking gear. This event is on rain or shine.

Book Club: The Beaver Manifesto

Our fall book selection, The Beaver Manifesto, offers a short but powerful look at how beavers transform landscapes and inspire resilience. Together, we’ll discuss the book’s themes and what they mean for Kitsap’s own communities.

Free copies of the book will be available in our lobby and at the Silverdale Library—pick one up and join the conversation!

How to Join

Let’s wrap up 2025’s Read, Roam, Rules by learning from one of nature’s most dedicated community builders. We hope you’ll join us!

Free Contractor Workshop

Welcome to the Shore Friendly Contractor Workshop at Oxford Suites Silverdale on October 16, 2025, at 8:30 AM (Pacific Time).

The Shore Friendly Kitsap program is hosting a FREE workshop for landscape professionals, arborists, drainage specialists, excavation services, and contractors working on marine shoreline properties. Join us to learn about shore-friendly practices, with a focus on vegetation management and best practices for working on shorelines.

You'll hear presentations from local and regional experts, including guest speaker John Bornsworth of Peninsula Environmental Group, Stephanie Trudel, and Taylor Harriman, archaeologists from the Suquamish Tribe, and Darren Gurnee, planning and permitting supervisor from the Department of Community Development, Kitsap County.

Don't miss this opportunity to expand your skills and make a positive impact on our shorelines!

New Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page is Live

Chances are, if you’ve wondered about the permit process, a development rule, or one of our environmental programs—someone else has too. That’s why we pulled together our most frequently asked questions into one easy-to-browse page.

Kitsap County Department of Community Development
614 Division Street - MS36
Port Orchard, WA 98366

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The mission of the Department of Community Development is to foster the development of quality, affordable, structurally safe and environmentally sound communities.

September 2025