The Hearing Examiners Office will begin accepting walk-in requests for services July 1, 2021.

• 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 passed by the County Council.
• Public hearings are generally held weekly, as needed. Please visit our Virtual Hearing Examiner page for upcoming hearings and related documents.
• A non-exclusive list of land use matters heard by the Hearing Examiner includes:
  • Zoning
  • Shoreline conditional use permits
  • Variances
  • Shoreline substantial development permits
  • Preliminary plats
  • Appeals from county determinations regarding 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