GIS Data Downloads
The Permit Process
1) Think through your project plan:
o What is your long-term goal for your property? How does this project fit into that goal?
o What is your objective for this project? Is there more than one way to accomplish your objective?
o Is this project a long-lasting solution or a temporary one? Will your project need maintenance?
o What constraints/challenges are there?
o What is the best time of year to do your project?
2) Plan your project well in advance of when you want to begin construction. Complete permit applications generally take 30 days to process. Floodplain permits and projects requiring a Conditional Use Permit can take longer. Sometimes streams reach their summer volumes earlier than expected; in other years the snow melts later than usual. Allow for the unforeseen when developing your project schedule.
3) Contact the River Center or visit our website to determine whether your project needs a permit.
4) Consult River Center staff as you plan your project to learn about regulations that will apply and about how similar situations have been successfully addressed in other areas.
5) Come to the River Center or visit our website to get a permit application.
6) Prepare drawings of your proposed project. These do not need to be engineer-quality drawings, but should include clear labels, accurate dimensions and distances, and relevant natural features such as riverbanks, wetlands and slopes. Graph paper and examples are provided as a part of the Floodplain Permit and Multi-Agency Permit applications. Photos of the project area are helpful.
7) Make sure your application is complete.
8) Submit your permit application to the River Center. River Center staff will review the application to make sure it is complete, and then circulate it to the agencies that have jurisdiction over the project area.
Note: It remains the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required permits have been received before beginning construction.
9) River Center staff may arrange a field visit to get more information about the project.
10) After receiving your permits, be sure to notify the River Center:
o Three days before you plan to begin construction on your project;
o If you have any questions about permit requirements;
o If your project requires modifications that are not covered in your permit;
o If you cannot complete your project by the expiration date of your permit;
o If your project is complete;
o If your completed project requires maintenance (whether or not the project permit has expired).
Permit FAQs
How can I determine if my proposed activity requires a permit?
What projects are generally not allowed?
How do I know which agency(s) have jurisdiction?
What if I need a permit from more than one agency?
How can I find out what my parcel number is?
How do I know if my property is in a mapped floodplain?
How long does it take to get a permit?
What is a Conditional Use Permit (CUP)?
What can I do to make my permit more likely to be approved?
If I use a contractor, whose responsibility is it to apply for permits and make sure the permits are followed?
After I get a permit, how long do I have to complete the work?
If my property is a wetland, can I still do my project?
Do I need to include professional schematics and drawings in my permit application?
How do I know where Ordinary High Water (OHW) or Mean High Water (MHW) is?
How can I determine if my proposed activity requires a permit?
Look over the following "Rules of Thumb." These Rules of Thumb are general guidelines only. For specific information, contact the River Center with a description of your project and its location.
Rules of Thumb:
1. River Center Multi-Agency Permit required for projects within river and/or within 50 feet of Ordinary High Water (OHW) of streams covered by the Kenai Peninsula Borough's Habitat Protection District.
2. City of Soldotna permit required for projects within 100 feet of river if in city limits, tax parcel numbers beginning in 059 or 060.
3. Moose Range Meadows subdivision parcels require Kenai National Wildlife Refuge permit.
4. Except for projects inside the City of Soldotna, projects in regulatory floodplains require Floodplain development permits.
5. Activities below OHW of a navigable body of water require a River Center Multi-Agency Permit application.
6. Activities below OHW of anadromous streams require a River Center Multi-Agency Permit.
7. Activities in wetlands require a River Center Multi-Agency Permit.
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What projects are generally not allowed?
1. Pentachlorophenol or creosote-treated wood products are not allowed below the Ordinary High Water level of anadromous streams. (may use pressure-treated wood instead)
2. Removal of vegetation other than hazard trees
3. Installation of impervious structures
4. Draining or filling of wetlands
5. Armoring of river banks
6. Placement of non-removable structures in rivers
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How do I know which agency(s) have jurisdiction?
When you submit a permit application at the River Center, Center staff ensure that the application is circulated to all staff who have jurisdiction in your project area. Our staff can also advise you as to other agencies you may need to contact. If you have questions about any agency's jurisdiction, you can contact the agency with your project description and location, and agency personnel can tell you whether or not they will need to issue a permit.
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What if I need a permit from more than one agency?
The River Center permit is automatically circulated to all the agencies housed at the River Center who have jurisdiction, as well as to the Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal Zone Management Program, Cities of Soldotna and Kenai, and most other agencies that have jurisdiction. However, there may be some agencies that are not included. Permit applicants should always contact agencies they think may have jurisdiction over the project area. If you are unsure just ask us and we can help you.
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How can I find out what my parcel number is?
Visit the KPB parcel look-up page and enter your name to pull up a list of all properties registered under your name within the Borough.
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How do I know if my property is in a mapped floodplain?
Contact the Floodplain Administrator at 714-2460, or apply for a Floodplain Determination online HERE
How long does it take to get a permit?
Once completed, permit applications generally take 30 days to process. Floodplain permits and Conditional Use Permits may take longer.
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What is a Conditional Use Permit (CUP)?
Conditional Use Permits are permits issued for projects that fall outside the normal permitting guidelines. They may be subject to special requirements, and must be approved by the KPB Planning Commission.
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What can I do to make my permit application more likely to be approved?
Early in the planning phase, contact the River Center and other agencies that have jurisdiction to find out what requirements apply to your project. River Center staff are also available to work with you in the design process. In addition to ensuring that your project will meet regulatory standards, they have a great deal of experience to share.
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If I use a contractor, whose responsibility is it to apply for permits and make sure the permits are followed?
Although contractors certainly should be aware of and follow regulations, and can be authorized to act as an agent for the property owner in order to obtain permits, the landowner is ultimately responsible for complying with legal requirements.
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After I get a permit, how long do I have to complete the work?
All permits have an expiration date. This date should be listed on your permit, and will allow at least one season for construction. If you cannot complete your project by the expiration date on your permit, you may apply for a permit extension.
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If my property contains a wetland, can I still do my project?
It depends on the nature and extent of your project. Before planning your project, contact the US Army Corps of Engineers to get more information about regulations governing wetlands. These agencies can also help you delineate the boundaries of your wetlands.
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Do I need to include professional schematics and drawings in my permit application?
No. Drawings may be required, and the more accurate the drawings are, the more helpful they are in conveying the nature of your project. However, clear, labeled hand drawings with accompanying project descriptions are generally sufficient for permit applications. Photographs of the project area are also helpful.
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How can I know if a stream is anadromous?
Contact the Alaska Department of Fish & Game Habitat Division at the River Center. Some streams are anadromous in some stretches but not in others. Also, streams may not be catalogued as anadromous yet still provide spawning and/or rearing habitat for salmon.
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How do I know where Ordinary High Water (OHW) is?
Ordinary High Water (OHW) is the highest point on the bank where water flows for a sufficient amount of time to leave visible evidence on the landscape. It is often marked by a change in vegetation type from terrestrial to aquatic, or marks the point where vegetation transitions into sand, rock, or gravel. Kenai Peninsula rivers and creeks are generally flowing at OHW in July and August. If you have questions about OHW on your property, River Center staff can help you determine where the OHW line is.
Permit Applications
The River Center handles permit applications for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Office of State Parks, Alaska Department of Fish & Game's Division of Habitat and the Kenai Peninsula Borough's 50-foot Habitat Protection Area, Floodplain Development, and Coastal Zone Management offices. River Center staff also work closely with the City of Soldotna, the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Service and other regulatory authorities.
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- Learn more about the steps in a typical permit process.
- View Project "Rules of Thumb" for KPB Habitat Protection Projects.
Are you wondering which permits you need? The links below can help you determine which permit application or applications are required for your project. If you do not see the permit application you are looking for on this site, or if you are not certain which permit application you need, please call us at (907) 714-2460. Keep in mind that you may need more than one permit application depending on the nature and location of your project.
NOTE: All permits have an expiration date. If work is not complete, permits must be renewed prior to the expiration date. Most permit applications take 30 days to process. Complex projects may take longer. Please plan your projects with this in mind. Once you have filled out your application and added a drawing of your project, please deliver to the River Center via email, mail, or in person.
Minor Vegetation Application New online application!
Or download the PDF application: Minor Vegetation Management Application (fillable PDF)
A Minor Vegetation (MV) permit is required for all pruning, trimming, or removal of shrubs and/or hazard trees within the KPB 50-foot Habitat Protection District, including dead or diseased trees. These over-the-counter tree removal permits are completely free, and can be completedonline, via email, or in person.
Multi-Agency Permit Application
KPB Conditional Use Permit $300
KPB Floodway Development $300
Habitat Tax Credit & Exemption Application
This application is for projects that are COMPLETED. Use this if you are a landowner that has carried out habitat protection and/or restoration projects within 150 feet of waterbodies covered under KPB 21.18 Anadromous Waters Habitat Protection.
ADFG Title 16: Fish Habitat/Special Area Permit
This permit is required for activities below ordinary high water of a fish stream or in a legislatively designated Special Area. Some common activities which require a Title 16 Habitat Permit are stream fords, bank stabilization, water withdrawal, floating dock construction, recreational mining and culvert placement.
Recreational Placer Mining Permit Application
For recreational placer mining involving the operation of a suction dredge with an intake diameter of 6 inches or less and 18 horsepower or less with no additional mechanized equipment. No fee outside State Park areas. For use in areas other than the Sixmile and Resurrection Creek Drainages near Hope, Alaska.
Sixmile and Resurrection Creek Drainages Near Hope, Alaska Recreational Mining Permit Application
For mining using hand tools or a suction dredge with an intake diameter of 6 inches or less and 18 horsepower or less with no additional mechanized equipment. Certain areas and times of year are off-limits to mining. See permit conditions for more information. No fee outside State Park areas.
Recreational Mining Activities in the following areas require a State Parks $100 fee:
Quartz Creek: T5N R3W Sec 25 and 36
T5N R2W Sec 15, 16, 19, 20, 29, 30 and 31
Cooper Creek: T5N R3W Sec 31
Crescent Creek: T5N R2W Sec 29 and 30
Other:
Site Plans - Blank
Department of Natural Resources State Parks Use Permits (Fees may apply)
Department of Natural Resources State Parks Commercial Use Permits