Washington County is the second-most-populous county in Oregon at about six hundred thousand residents, the heart of the Silicon Forest technology corridor west of Portland. Unusually for Oregon, it has very large urban unincorporated communities — Aloha, Cedar Mill, Bethany — so its Building Services division, part of Land Use and Transportation, carries a heavy permitting load alongside the cities.
This guide covers Building Services and how to reach it, the uniform statewide code, the county’s large unincorporated role, and where city-limit work goes instead.
This guide covers unincorporated Washington County. Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and the other cities run their own permitting.
Washington County has some of the largest unincorporated urban communities in Oregon, so its Building Services division is a major permitting authority in its own right. It enforces the state building code, takes plan-review submittals through electronic plan review, and offers online and phone services; in-person counter hours run Monday through Thursday. Confirm whether a parcel is unincorporated or inside a city first.
What requires a building permit in Washington County?
Oregon runs a single, uniform building code statewide — the Oregon Specialty Codes, administered by the Building Codes Division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. The code is the same in every jurisdiction; what varies is who administers it and the local land-use approvals layered on top. So in Washington County, the technical requirements come from the state code, while Building Services handles the permit, the inspections and the zoning and land-use side.
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, additions, alterations and conversions
- Structural and load-bearing work, foundations, decks over the exempt height, and retaining walls above the code threshold
- Finishing basements and attics, garage conversions and any change of use or occupancy
- Electrical work under the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, including services, circuits, solar and EV charging
- Plumbing under the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, and mechanical work under the mechanical code
- Re-roofing above the exempt scope, siding, most window changes, pools, signs and demolition
Typically exempt
- Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and similar finish work
- One-story detached accessory structures below the code floor-area exemption
- Wood, wire-mesh and chain-link fences, exempt by statewide code
- Minor repairs replacing materials in kind, and like-for-like fixture swaps
Because the exemptions are written into the statewide code, they are consistent across Oregon — but an exemption from a building permit is never an exemption from zoning, land use, floodplain rules or an electrical or plumbing permit. Confirm scope with Building Services before work starts rather than after.
Which code applies — OSSC or ORSC
The Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) governs one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses and their accessory structures; the Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) governs commercial buildings, apartments of three or more units and everything outside the residential scope. Alongside them sit the mechanical, plumbing, electrical, energy and fire specialty codes. In Washington County, Building Services administers the state code for the large unincorporated areas, with land use handled alongside; the cities administer their own.
Two design factors reach nearly every Oregon project. Seismic design under the Cascadia Subduction Zone affects foundations, connections and lateral bracing across much of the state, with site-specific values available through the state Design Criteria Hub. And Oregon’s statewide land-use system means a building permit sits downstream of zoning and land-use compatibility — the land-use question is settled first.
Who handles permitting in Washington County?
Building Services, under Land Use and Transportation, handles building permits and inspections for unincorporated Washington County; Hillsboro, Beaverton and the other cities handle their own.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | Washington County Building Services (Land Use and Transportation) |
| Offices | Hillsboro |
| Counter hours | Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Filing | Online portal and electronic plan review (ProjectDox) |
| Serves | Unincorporated Washington County, including Aloha, Cedar Mill, Bethany |
| Code | Oregon Specialty Codes (uniform statewide) |
| Seismic | Cascadia design via the state Design Criteria Hub |
| Contractor credentials | CCB licence required regardless of value |
Building Services enforces the state building code for the unincorporated county, and because the unincorporated urban communities here are large, that is a substantial role. Plan-review submittals go through electronic plan review, inspections can be scheduled online or by phone, and most services are available remotely; the in-person counter runs Monday through Thursday.
The Silicon Forest technology base drives large industrial and clean-room projects, while the urban unincorporated communities drive heavy residential volume. Confirm the jurisdiction from the parcel first.
Permit types
Residential permits
Unincorporated residential work is heavy in the urban communities of Aloha, Cedar Mill and Bethany. Re-roofs, solar and EV chargers need permits, seismic detailing applies broadly, and every contractor must hold a current CCB licence regardless of the size of the job.
How Oregon contractor licensing works
Oregon licensing runs through the Construction Contractors Board (CCB), and its defining feature is that it has no dollar threshold: general contractors, specialty contractors and subcontractors must all hold a current CCB licence to bid or perform construction, regardless of the size or value of the job. This is the opposite of the value-triggered systems in many states.
In Oregon, the licensing question is answered before you look at the project value, not after. Almost any construction for pay requires a CCB licence, so the check is simply whether the contractor holds a current one in the right structure. A narrow exemption lets homeowners do certain work on their own primary residence, but a homeowner who hires out the work is expected to use CCB-licensed contractors.
Commercial permits
Commercial and industrial work runs from technology and clean-room facilities to retail and office, all subject to plan review, land use, and the CCB licence requirement, with electrical and plumbing tied to state-licensed installers.
Credentials: CCB plus state trade licensing
Beyond the CCB licence, the trades are licensed by the state: electricians and electrical contractors under the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, and plumbers under the plumbing code, both administered through the Building Codes Division. So an electrical or plumbing permit is tied to a state-licensed installer, not just a CCB registration. Confirm the CCB licence and the relevant trade licence before filing rather than after the first correction notice.
Washington County permit costs and fees
Budget the county building permit and plan-review fees, the statewide surcharge, separate trade permits, and any land-use review. Fees follow Oregon’s statewide valuation method with the county schedule.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Based on Oregon’s statewide valuation method; the schedule is set locally |
| Plan review | A percentage of the building permit fee, charged at submittal |
| Trade permits | Separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical fees |
| State surcharge | A statewide percentage surcharge added to permit fees |
| Land-use review | Zoning, design or land-use review where the project triggers it |
| Re-inspections and revisions | Additional fees for failed inspections, revisions and expired permits |
Oregon uses statewide valuation methods to calculate building-permit fees, but the schedules and the plan-review percentages are set by each jurisdiction, and a statewide surcharge is added on top. A figure quoted from a neighbouring city or an older packet is not a reliable number, so ask Building Services for the schedule in force on your filing date, and ask separately about plan review, trade permits, the state surcharge and any land-use review fees.
Need a real number for a specific Washington County project? Send us the scope, address and valuation and we will identify the filing path, the reviews it will trigger and the fee categories that will apply.
Trade permits and who may pull them
Trade permits are separate from the building permit and are issued to the state-licensed installer. Because Oregon licenses electricians and plumbers at the state level and requires a CCB licence for the contracting business, the credential check has two parts on almost every project: the CCB licence and the relevant trade licence. Confirm both before filing.
Oregon’s trade licensing is a state system, so it is consistent across jurisdictions. An electrical permit is tied to a state-licensed electrical contractor and a plumbing permit to a state-licensed plumbing contractor, wherever the project is. What varies locally is the counter that issues the permit and the inspection schedule, not the licence itself.
- Electrical work is permitted under the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code and tied to a state-licensed electrical contractor.
- Plumbing work is permitted under the plumbing code and tied to a state-licensed plumbing contractor.
- Mechanical work is permitted under the mechanical code; the CCB licence still applies to the business.
Permit required
- Service installations, panel upgrades, new circuits, solar PV and EV chargers
- New plumbing, repipes, water heater change-outs, fixtures, backflow and gas piping
- HVAC installation and change-out, ductwork, venting and commercial kitchen exhaust
- Sprinkler, standpipe and fire alarm work on commercial and multi-family structures
Typically exempt
- Replacing a fixture, switch, receptacle or light with no alteration to wiring or piping
- Clearing a stoppage without replacing or rearranging concealed piping
- Filter, thermostat and routine component service
- Like-for-like appliance repair that does not alter the connection
How to apply for a Washington County building permit
Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard and Tualatin file with their own counters.
Land use is handled alongside the building permit.
Washington County takes plan sets through ProjectDox.
Oregon requires it regardless of project value.
Trade permits are tied to state-licensed installers.
Most services run remotely; the counter is open Monday to Thursday.
Review, corrections and what actually causes delay
In Oregon, delay tends to come from the land-use and site side rather than the code text, since the code itself is uniform statewide. The common causes are an unresolved zoning or land-use question, a seismic or site-design value that was not pulled from the Design Criteria Hub, a missing CCB or trade licence, or a submittal that did not match what Building Services needs. Settle the land-use question first, then file the building permit.
Approvals do not stay live indefinitely. An Oregon building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections. On phased work or a project waiting on financing, confirm the expiry before it passes — reviving a lapsed permit is more work than keeping one active.
Inspections in Washington County
Standard checkpoints include footing and foundation, under-floor and slab, framing, rough-in electrical, plumbing and mechanical, insulation and energy, fire systems on commercial work, and final, with occupancy approval before use. Technology and clean-room projects add specialised mechanical and electrical verification.
Many Oregon jurisdictions schedule inspections online or by interactive phone system, often through the state ePermitting platform; confirm the method Building Services uses and give the notice it asks for.
Do not cover work before the required inspection has been approved. Keep the issued permit, the approved plans, the seismic and energy documentation, product listings and your correction responses available on site.
Washington County permit search and official resources
Permit records in Oregon sit with the authority that issued them — where Building Services administers the code, it holds the building permit, the inspection history and the certificate of occupancy for work in unincorporated Washington County. Many jurisdictions expose permit search through the state ePermitting portal. If you are buying, refinancing or renovating, confirm that past work was permitted rather than assuming it was.
The code is statewide, but the counter is local. Fees, submittal lists, review turnaround and land-use requirements are set by the administering jurisdiction; the technical code is not. Confirm current requirements, fees and review turnaround for your filing date.
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and portal procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Washington County Building Services
- Oregon Building Codes Division
- Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
- Oregon ePermitting
- Oregon Design Criteria Hub (seismic and site)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get a Washington County building permit?
From Building Services, part of Land Use and Transportation, in Hillsboro; submittals go through electronic plan review and the in-person counter is open Monday to Thursday, 8 to 4.
Does the county handle a lot of permits itself?
Yes. Washington County has very large unincorporated urban communities — Aloha, Cedar Mill, Bethany — so Building Services is a major permitting authority.
Is the building code different from the cities?
No. Oregon runs one uniform code statewide; what differs is the administering office, the fee schedule and the land-use rules.
Do I need a contractor licence for a small county job?
Yes. Oregon requires a current CCB licence for construction regardless of value; a narrow exemption covers homeowners on their own residence.
Can I file remotely?
Yes. Washington County offers online applications, electronic plan review and phone-based inspection scheduling, with most services available remotely.
How do I run a Washington County permit search?
Use the county’s online portal or the state ePermitting system; the permit and inspection history sit with the administering authority.
Simplify Washington County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Washington County pairs a major unincorporated permitting role with a heavy technology-industrial base, all remote-friendly through electronic plan review. Confirming jurisdiction and running the electronic submittal cleanly keeps a Silicon Forest project moving.
Trusted by leading builders, developers, and national contractors — 22 years of filing in the jurisdictions we write about.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Washington County because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- We confirm unincorporated-versus-city jurisdiction from the parcel.
- We prepare and submit through electronic plan review.
- We pull seismic and site values from the Design Criteria Hub.
- We verify every contractor holds a current CCB licence.
- We confirm state electrical and plumbing licences for the trades.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Oregon. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Washington County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Washington County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Oregon permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Washington County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.