Coffeetime with the County - Environmental Services Eric Buitenwerf

Hubbard County's Environmental Services Department covers a lot of ground, and on July's Coffeetime, Eric Buitenwerf stopped by to walk through what his office handles day to day. From shoreland permits to septic compliance, Eric covered the questions county residents ask most often.

The Shoreland Management Ordinance (SMO) applies within 1,000 feet of the county's larger lakes and 500 feet of rivers, and it's the broadest set of land use rules the department administers. Eric also oversees the county Subdivision Ordinance, 911 addressing for new properties, the Septic and Buffer Ordinances, and GIS mapping, including the online property viewer many residents already use to research parcels, permits, and survey history.

Septic compliance came up often. A newly installed system is considered compliant for five years; after that, a compliance inspection is valid for three years. Compliance checks are typically triggered by a shoreland land use permit, a variance request, or a property sale, though Hubbard County does not require a compliance inspection at the point of sale the way some counties do. Holding tanks are allowed, most often on seasonal properties, provided the owner has an agreement with a licensed pumper.

Structure permits are required for any building within the SMO area, regardless of whether it sits on a permanent foundation. Residents in one of the county's nine townships with local zoning should check with their township first, since requirements can vary. Rip-rap installation also requires a permit, and the county must first confirm active shoreline erosion is occurring before approving one. New sand beaches are not permitted under the SMO, though legal, existing beaches can be replenished with up to five yards of sand annually.

Eric also flagged a change ahead for the Aquatic Invasive Species program: state funding was cut in half last legislative session, and while local partnerships help fill the gap, the program is expected to scale down starting in 2027.

For questions about permits, septic compliance, or any of the programs covered, residents can reach Environmental Services directly, or visit hubbardcounty.gov for more information.