A preapplication conference is a free service that allows applicants to get early feedback and direction from city staff on a development concept. It is structured to help applicants develop a complete formal application and a project design that is consistent with Bellevue’s codes and policies. The conference occurs at the schematic design phase, before submitting a formal application for the proposed project. (DB)
A Preapplication Conference is not intended to be used as a feasibility study and is reserved for projects ready to move forward with an entitlement (Land Use Permit) submittal.
Projects that require a preapplication conference
A preapplication conference is required for (and only available to) projects that need one or more of the following:
- Conditional Use Permit
- Shoreline Conditional Use Permit (WA)
- Preliminary Plat (LL)
- Preliminary Short Plat (LN)
- Planned Unit Development (LK)
- Master Development Plan (LP)
- Design Review (LD)
- Design and Mitigation Permits LUC 20.25M (Light Rail Overlay District)
- Critical Areas Land Use Permit (LO)
Arrange a conference
Contact the land use division to schedule a preapplication conference date and time:
- By phone: Call us at 425-452-4188.
- Email landusereview@bellevuewa.gov
- In-person in the Permit Center at City Hall. Sign in at the Service First desk to speak with a land use representative.
After receiving the conference appointment, apply for a preapplication conference permit online at MyBuildingPermit. Preapplication conference materials must be submitted online at least 21 days before the conference date. If the required plans, documents or studies are not submitted 21 days prior to the preapplication conference, the conference will be canceled.
When entering Application Information, choose the following:
- Application type: Land Use
- Project type: Nonresidential or Multifamily Residential
- Activity type: Preapplication Services
- Scope of work: Preapplication Meeting
Required Materials
- Preliminary Plans
Submit the preliminary plans that apply to the project proposal:
Who attends
Representatives from our Building, Clearing & Grading, Land Use, Transportation, Utilities and Fire review groups may attend.
Applicants and/or your consultant team also attend. The team typically includes an architect, engineer, landscape architect, transportation engineer and/or other specialists involved in your proposal.
Benefits of preapplication conferences
- Help applicants identify regulatory opportunities and constraints before committing a significant amount of time and resources toward a specific course of action.
- Communicate early in the process what permits and approvals are required for the proposal, avoiding unnecessary delays later.
- Find out typical application review and permitting schedules and fees, which will help develop realistic financing and construction schedules.
- Help identify the criteria by which a project will be reviewed, enabling applicants to present the proposal accurately in a formal application.
- Identify other projects or potential code and policy changes that can affect a proposal.
Topics covered in conferences
The following information will be reviewed:
- Required permits, approvals and fees
- Typical project review timelines
- Relevant Comprehensive Plan policies and design criteria
- Guidance on the proposal's design direction (Design Guideline Image Gallery)
- Overview of applicable regulations
- Fatal flaws such as obvious conflicts with codes, policies or city plans
- Recently adopted or anticipated changes to codes and policies
- Known site constraints
- Known impact fees and connection charges
- Known plans that may affect the project, such as road widening and trail construction
- Utility districts, if your project is outside the city’s service boundaries
Limitations of conferences
The depth of feedback from the city relates to the level of detail provided for discussion. Due to the early timing of the conference and the preliminary nature of a design, many relevant project details will not be known and cannot be anticipated at the time of the conference.
Accordingly, the conference cannot provide:
- A detailed plan review. This will occur once a complete formal application is filed.
- Final approval of a proposal
- Training in city codes; applicants are responsible for getting code information from city sources, like publications and code publishing, and permit center staff and for employing specialists and consultants to act on behalf of an applicant.
How will the feedback be documented?
City comments will be documented in a written format and mailed to an applicant within three weeks after the conference.
Conference Location
Preapplication conferences are held on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons virtually.