While this is not a step-by-step guide, we hope that it will provide enough information to help you know what might be needed for your projects and who to contact at different points in your project timeline. DEQ program connected to this program are listed to the left. You can go directly to each section to find the information you need.
Getting started
- Identify the permits or certifications that you'll need for your project
- All permit or certification applications or sewer system plan reviews require a Land Use Compatibility Statement
- Although a site cleanup does not require a permit or a LUCS, any further development on a clean-up site may require permitting
- Permitting can take between 1 and 12 months, depending on the permit type and complexity of your site
- The more complete your application is, the faster you can move through the permitting process
Common DEQ permits or certifications
If you have or think you might have...
- Asbestos or lead based paint, you will need to work through Hazardous Building Materials Certification.
- Impacts to wetlands and waterways, you may need to obtain a 401 Certification from DEQ.
- Construction and/or ground-disturbing activity, you will need a 1200-C permit
- Hazardous substances that require remediation, you will need to work with the Hazardous Waste, Cleanup and Tanks programs
- Need for a community or individual sewage system, you will need an Onsite Permit
- Need to site or expand a sewer collection system, you will need to have your engineering plans reviewed
Does your site need cleanup or remediation?
If you are planning to build on a site that will need clean-up or remediation of hazardous materials, contact DEQ early. In some cases, you can incorporate cleanup actions within your site development plans. You may want to obtain a No Further Action determination from DEQ—this will make seeking funding, developing or selling the property easier in the future. Some types of cleanups require a licensed contractor to do the work, while other types can be completed by a landowner. See DEQ's Cleanup Fact Sheet in this packet for more information.
If you are reusing an existing building that was built before 1978, you may need to ensure that your contractors are licensed for handling materials that contain lead. See DEQ's lead based paint handling and disposal fact sheet.
If you plan on refurbishing a building, DEQ requires a licensed contractor to conduct a survey and abate friable asbestos.
Every housing project that will need permits, certificates or plan reviews from DEQ needs to have a Land Use Compatibility Statement that is completed by the appropriate city or county planning office. DEQ will need an affirmative LUCS that indicates that the DEQ's permit, approval or certification and the housing project are compatible with land use regulations. If a city or county indicates that the project does not comply, DEQ's permitting, approval or certification processes will not advance. DEQ recommends that the developer work with the city or county to comply with local land use regulations before asking the city or county to complete the LUCS form.
A sample LUCS form follows this introduction.
As the applicant, you complete Section 1 of the form, then provide the LUCS to the local land use jurisdiction, such as the City or County planning department.
The City or County planning department will complete Section 2 of the form, indicating whether your project is consistent with the appropriate plan and land use regulations, and include written findings to support their decision.
The City or County returns the signed, dated LUCS to you, the applicant.
You provide the completed LUCS, supporting documentation with the DEQ permit application or approval request.
You can download fillable versions of the LUCS on DEQ's permits page. There are separate forms for a general LUCS and an Onsite LUCS for septic systems.
In the last few years, DEQ has worked to improve the ways we receive, process and share information. This is an important upgrade to the way we do business both internally as well as with partners and community members. Many of DEQ's regulatory programs now use Your DEQ Online to:
Provide more accessible services for the regulated community and the public
Save applicants time and resources on application submissions
Streamline DEQ processes and reduce the ongoing costs of collecting and maintaining submission data
Meet federal electronic reporting standards
Improve transparency and management of publicly available environmental data
Using Your DEQ Online, you can:
Submit or renew applications, permits, certifications, licenses, complaints and more
Pay invoices, fees, penalties and other payments using an e-check or credit card
Check the Dashboard for status updates on submitted applications, upcoming reporting obligations, and permit, license and certificate renewal dates
Schedule inspections
Access records including permits, licenses and other public information
Before using YDO, you need to create an account. Once you have an account, you can log into the public portal to access modules for submitting, processing, and tracking applications for permits, licenses or certifications.
If a program participates in YDO and you need to apply for a permit, license, or certificate from that program, you must apply through YDO. Currently, the programs that have a housing production nexus AND participate in YDO include:
Please visit the YDO web page for more information, access to registration, the public portal, the Help Desk, and other resources.
Housing developers often need permits or certificates from the state, and the process can go more smoothly when they hire an experienced consultant. A skilled consultant understands what the agency expects, prepares clear plans, and reduces the amount of review time needed. This helps avoid delays, extra revisions, and higher costs that can happen when someone without the right experience leads the project. While certain parts of a project, such as asbestos or hazardous material work, must be done by licensed contractors, an experienced consultant can still simplify the broader permitting and certification steps. Developers should compare consultants, check references, and request written proposals before making a choice.
There are several funding sources that may be able to help cover the costs for certain parts of your work or business. They include grants through DEQ's Built Environment program; low-interest loans from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund; grants through DEQ's Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action program; and other state and federal funding sources. It is important to explore these opportunities early in the process to understand what sources are available, what they can and can't pay for, and whether you are eligible for grants or loans.
Additional considerations
These web pages cover only the programs that DEQ administers. You may need other permits, certificates, evaluations or approvals from other local, state, and federal jurisdictions for the following situations: