Planning/Building

Do I Need A Permit?

That's a good question and the technical answer from the Roslyn Municipal Code is "Any owner, contractor, or authorized agent who intends to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure which is regulated by Roslyn Municipal Code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the City of Roslyn prior to the work taking place."...What that means is that yes, almost every project requires a permit of some sort of approval or review, and in most cases even if a permit isn't required the project may still be required to comply with design standards.

For more information, see Roslyn's Building Permit flyer.

Roslyn traces its history to the extraction of rich deposits of coal under the city and surrounding areas. The original establishment of Roslyn by the Northern Pacific Coal Company and the dramatic rise and fall of the coal industry has created a city that retains much of its original fabric. Roslyn is rich in cultural and architectural history, recognized by its National Historic District designation. No single attribute characterizes Roslyn's historic and cultural importance. Rather it is a unique combination of history, development, geography, culture and economics that have created a place unique to Washington State and the nation. The Washington State Growth Management Act requires all local jurisdictions to "Identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and structures that have historical, cultural and archaeological significance." As development pressures increase, steps must be taken to preserve the historic nature of Roslyn. This Historic Preservation Element acknowledges the City's historical significance, small town quality, livability, economic vitality, and unique surroundings. The Historic Preservation Element of Roslyn's Comprehensive Plan summarizes the City's history and its historic preservation needs, while identifying issues affecting historic preservation; it also establishes goals and policies to guide future decisions that may affect historic preservation. This element is critical to maintaining Roslyn's historic integrity.

The City of Roslyn Standards and Guidelines for the Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Restoration of Historic Properties (Standards and Guidelines) shall be used to implement the Roslyn comprehensive plan and further the city of Roslyn National Historic District designation 1890 to 1930 designation by providing design standards and procedures for the review of projects. To view a copy of this documents go to:

Standards & Guidelines for Preservation

This process is in addition to the regular building permit review process and is required prior to the issuance of your building permit.RPHPC meets once monthly at the end of each month.

Complete applications received through the 10th day of each month will be placed on the current month design review agenda unless for any reason the meeting is cancelled at which point they will be moved to the next meeting held by the commission. Applications received and deemed complete after the 10th day of the month will be placed on the following months agenda.

The purposes of design review are:
1. To create an awareness of the existing original homes, buildings and places of business which reflect the city’s historical heritage and origins.
2. To recognize, preserve and enhance the historical significance and unique quality of the architectural vernacular styles exhibited by the structures in Roslyn.
3. To promote orderly community growth, protect and enhance property values, preserve the natural beauty, and provide for the comfort and prosperity of the community.
4. To promote and enhance construction and maintenance practices that will tend to promote architectural, historic integrity and scenic quality throughout Roslyn.
5. To recognize environmental and aesthetic design as an integral part of the planning process.
6. To discourage inharmonious development, discordant surroundings and inappropriate design.