Washington City, Utah Building Permit Guide

Inside Washington City, building permits are issued by the City’s Building Department at 111 North 100 East (435-656-6326), and applications, packet reviews and inspection requests all run through City Inspect. The permit fee is read from the City’s valuation table, a house is valued at $90.35 per sq ft for type VB construction, and plan review adds 45% of the permit fee.

What needs a building permit in Washington City?

The Building Department publishes separate submittal instructions for each kind of permit it issues:

An accessory dwelling unit must first qualify under City Ordinance 2019-25; the City asks owners to call Planning and Zoning before drawing plans.

Who issues building permits in Washington City?

The Washington City Building Department reviews plans, issues permits and inspects construction inside the city. Washington City is a separate jurisdiction from both St. George and Washington County; unincorporated land nearby is permitted by Washington County.

Applying through City Inspect

Every user needs a Washington City account on City Inspect, even one already registered with another city, and should use the same credentials to reach all participating cities with one login. Each application lists the engineer, builder and every subcontractor with their Utah contractor licence and business licence numbers. An owner acting as builder enters their own details instead and uploads the notarized Owner Builder Certification form.

Packet review. New single-family and new commercial permits are reviewed as a packet: every department reviews and either approves or returns the application. While it is in review, comments can be read in the portal but documents cannot be changed; once all reviewers finish, the applicant is emailed the corrections, updates the files and sends it back. When every tab is green, the application moves to PEND status and the fees can be paid.

Solar. Since May 15, 2023 only installers approved by the Washington City Power Department can apply, and since July 1, 2023 plans must be pre-approved by an approved third-party reviewer. In the City Power area a notarized Renewable Resource Agreement is required; in the Dixie Power area, the Dixie Power net meter agreement.

Washington City building permit fees

Fees come from the City’s Master Fee Schedule, adopted with Resolution R2026-01 on January 14, 2026 (effective immediately) and linked from the Building Department page. A project is valued from Table B (square-foot costs by occupancy and construction type), and the permit fee is read from Table A.

Table B values a one- or two-family house (R-3) at $90.35 per sq ft for type VB construction, a private garage at the utility rate of $31.46 per sq ft (type VB), and an unfinished basement at $15 per sq ft. At the type VB rate, 2,000 sq ft of house is valued at $180,700. The permit fee is $738.93 plus 81 × $4.03, or $1,065.36, and plan review adds $479.41, for $1,544.77 before impact and utility fees.

The Washington County Water Conservancy District fee is separate: its form or receipt is uploaded with the application. Storm water impact fees of $4,745 per acre are paid at final plat, not with the building permit.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work

Stand-alone trade jobs use the City’s simple permit: choose Electrical, Gas Line or Plumbing as the permit type, give a builder valuation, and upload a one-page site plan, the equipment specifications and installation instructions, and photos of the existing equipment. This covers generators, water heater replacements, HVAC equipment upgrades, electrical meter upgrades and gas line additions. Gas work on new buildings uses the City’s Gas Sizing and Installation Form.

Power comes from the Washington City Power Department or, in its service area, Dixie Power, which has its own setback and easement checklist. The City’s fire fee schedule says most commercial sprinkler plans need a review by one of its approved third-party reviewers, and deferred sprinkler and alarm submittals always do.

Documents for a new home and for commercial work

All uploads must be PDFs. Deferred commercial submittals need the Building Official’s prior approval.

How to get a Washington City building permit

Washington City inspections

The City offers next-business-day inspections. Requests made in City Inspect by 5 p.m. on a business day are typically inspected the following business day. The City does not give timed appointments, but your assigned inspector can tell you an approximate time. If you cannot log in, email the Building Department.

On commercial projects, the Soils Compliance Letter and the insulation, stucco and termite certifications must be uploaded before the certificate of occupancy is released, and the Building, Planning, Fire, Public Works, Power and Parks departments and St. George wastewater treatment must all give final approval.

Local Washington City rules

Construction hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Sunday. From April to October, concrete pours may start at 3 a.m.

Water conservation: new homes file the Landscaping and Water Conservation Form and the Acknowledgement of Water Supply under Ordinance 2022-22.

Stormwater: questions on SWPPPs and state Notices of Intent go to the Public Works Stormwater Department, not the Building Department.

Business licences: builders and subcontractors list a Washington City business licence number, or the licence of the city that issued it, on the application.

Utah building code

Utah adopts one construction code for the whole state; cities and counties enforce it, and any local amendments are set by the Legislature. Utah rules

Official Washington City permitting resources

• Washington City Building Department
• Washington City Inspect permit portal
• Washington City Building Department fee schedule
• Washington City Master Fee Schedule (spreadsheet)
• Washington City approved resolutions, 2026 (R2026-01 amending the Master Fee Schedule)
• Washington City single-family permit requirements
• Washington City commercial new build and additions requirements
• Washington City simple permit requirements
• Washington City accessory dwelling unit permit requirements
• Washington City solar permit requirements
• Washington City Council agenda, October 14, 2026

Washington City building permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Washington City?

The Washington City Building Department, 111 North 100 East, 435-656-6326. St. George and Washington County are separate jurisdictions.

How much is a building permit for a new house?

At the City’s type VB rate of $90.35 per sq ft, a 2,000 sq ft house has a $1,065.36 permit fee plus $479.41 plan review, before impact fees.

How long until my inspection?

Requests made by 5 p.m. on a business day are typically inspected the next business day, without a set time.

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater or furnace?

Yes. Water heater replacements, HVAC upgrades, generators, meter upgrades and gas line additions use the City’s simple permit.

Can a homeowner pull the permit?

Yes. The owner enters their own details as builder and uploads a notarized Owner Builder Certification form; contractor and business licences are then not required.

Who can install solar?

Only installers approved by the Washington City Power Department, with plans pre-approved by an approved third-party reviewer.

Simplify Washington City permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Utah. 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Washington City permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.