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Regulations & Permits > Permits & certifications > Boatyard general permit

Boatyard General Permit

This National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge permit makes sure that the disposal of wastewater and stormwater from boatyards is in accordance with the federal Clean Water Act and state water pollution control laws.

The current permit went into effect on Sept. 1, 2022, and expires on Aug. 31, 2027.

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What is a boatyard?

A boatyard:

  • Is a service business that builds, repairs, or maintains small vessels
    • At least 85 percent of which are 65 feet or less in length; OR
    • More than 85 percent of the gross receipts come from working on vessels.

Boatyards include mobile and do-it-yourself facilities that may build a limited number of custom boats. For a full list of boatyard services, see S1.A. of the current permit.

Do I need a permit?

Read the information on the two tabs to figure out if your facility needs Boatyard General Permit coverage.

Your facility:

  • Discharges stormwater runoff to a water of the state directly or through a storm sewer system.
    OR
  • Generates wastewater from a pressure washing process.

Your facility:

  • Conducts boatyard activities exclusively indoors. (If so, you must submit a Conditional No Exposure Exemption form.)
    OR
  • Provides only:
    • Use of tidal grids solely for emergency repairs or inspections by marine surveyors.
    • Minor engine repair or maintenance within the engine space without vessel haul-out.
    • Topside cleaning, detailing, and bright work.
    • Electronics service and maintenance.
    • Service and repair of marine sanitation devices that do not require vessel haul-out.
    • Vessel rigging and minor repairs or modifications to the vessel's superstructure (extending to 25 percent or less of the vessel's surface area above the waterline).

Current permit and related documents

​Permit application, forms, and resources


Contacts for more information

For facilities located in the following counties:

Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions, applying for coverage, finding or completing forms, or drafting public notices:

Kevin Dolan
Permit Manager
kevin.dolan@ecy.wa.gov
509-575-2434

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Boatyard General Permit Coordinator
Washington State Department of Ecology
Central Regional Office
1250 West Alder Street
Union Gap, WA 98903-0009

For facilities located in the following counties:

Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions, applying for coverage, finding or completing forms, or drafting public notices:

Jefferson Davis
Permit Manager
jefferson.davis@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3565

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Boatyard General Permit Coordinator
Department of Ecology
Eastern Regional Office
4601 North Monroe Street, Suite 202
Spokane WA 99205-1295

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions:

Pierce County
Honor Carpenter
Permit Manager
honor.carpenter@ecy.wa.gov
360-485-2701

Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties
Adonia McKinzi
Permit Manager
adonia.mckinzi@ecy.wa.gov
360-480-1434

Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties
Morgan Maupin
Permit Manager
morgan.maupin@ecy.wa.gov
360-790-3343

Help applying for coverage, finding or completing forms, or drafting public notices:

Jessica Christensen
Permit Administrator
jessica.christensen@ecy.wa.gov
360-706-4191

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Boatyard General Permit Coordinator
Washington State Department of Ecology
Southwest Regional Office
P.O. Box 47775
Olympia WA 98504-7775

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions:

Island, King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties
Evan Dobrowski
Permit Manager
evan.dobrowski@ecy.wa.gov
425-213-4230

San Juan and Skagit counties
Sylvia Graham
Permit Manager
sylvia.graham@ecy.wa.gov
360-927-4900

Whatcom County
Jen Baptist
Permit Manager
jen.baptist@ecy.wa.gov
564-565-0327

Help applying for coverage, finding or completing forms, or drafting public notices:

Tricia Miller
Northwest Region Permit Coordinator
tricia.miller@ecy.wa.gov
206-594-0167

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Boatyard General Permit Coordinator
Washington State Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
15700 Dayton Avenue North
Shoreline, WA 98133

Related links

Contact information

James Hovis
Boatyard General Permit Writer
james.hovis@ecy.wa.gov
564-999-3244