King County's Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) will close its office on Friday each week, but extend operating hours on the other four days.

Effective the week of December 15, 2008, all staff at DDES will move to a 10 hour-per-day, 4 days-per-week work schedule. The department is located at 900 Oakesdale Ave. SW in Renton.

Four 10-hour days will keep DDES open for business from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., four days per week. Under the new DDES operating hours, free technical assistance will be given to property owners and permit applicants from 7-9:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday.

The change also saves the county money. A Friday closure is one extra day per week that King County will not have to heat or cool the DDES building or use any significant amount of electricity, resulting in annual facility savings.

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