Washougal, Washington Building Permit Guide

The City of Washougal’s Building Division, part of Community Development, receives building permit applications, reviews plans against the Washington State Building Code, routes them to planning, engineering and fire reviewers and inspects the work. Over-the-counter permits can be emailed to the permitting address, and all others are dropped off at the Washougal Permit Center. Electrical circuits and service are permitted by the state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) through its Vancouver office (360-896-2300). Building fees are set in Washougal Municipal Code (WMC) chapter 3.97, with plan review at 65% of the permit fee.

The Permit Center is at 211 39th Street and takes drop-off applications Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City’s main number is 360-835-8501; the building permit technician is at extension 611, and the Building Division’s pages list extension 698. Washougal had 18,028 residents in the Census estimate for 2025, and Clark County permits the unincorporated land outside the city.

What requires a building permit in Washougal?

WMC 15.04.020 adopts the state codes with local amendments. It cuts the building code’s shed exemption from 200 to 120 sq ft and adds freestanding decks less than 30 inches above grade to the residential code’s exempt list. The City’s “Permits Required & Not Required” handout gives the everyday examples.

Two handout items differ from the adopted code. The 120 sq ft shed limit in WMC 15.04.020 amends the building code; the residential code adopted in the same section is not amended for sheds, so ask the Building Division before building a residential shed between 120 and 200 sq ft. And the handout and the City’s fence regulations exempt fences up to 6 feet, while the adopted codes exempt fences up to 7 feet; under the City’s fence rules, fences may be no taller than 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in the front setback, which on a corner lot includes both street sides.

What the city decides and what the state holds

The City’s codes page says that permits vested after March 15, 2024 fall under the 2021 Washington State Building Code with Washougal’s amendments. WMC 15.04.020 adds the flood-resistant construction, sign and grading appendices of the building code, the pool, patio cover, grading and radon appendices of the residential code, emergency lighting for accessible restrooms and dressing rooms, local design values (25 psf roof snow load, 105 mph wind, seismic category D-1, 12-inch frost depth) and fees set in WMC 3.97. The building official is designated by the director of community development.

Washington has a mandatory statewide building code under chapter 19.27 RCW that every city and county enforces and may make stricter; electrical permits come from the Department of Labor and Industries unless the city runs its own program or Tacoma Power serves the site. Building codes in Washington

Washougal building department: who handles permitting

The Building Division confirms that contractors are properly licensed, keeps construction records, receives applications and reviews plans, and routes them to Planning, Engineering or the Fire Department when the project calls for it; the City tells applicants about those other reviews and permits when they apply.

Permit types

Residential permits

The City’s forms page carries the 2023 residential building permit application and separate forms for plumbing and mechanical work, demolition, irrigation, swimming pools, signs, occupancy, permit transfers and contractor changes, plus a heating requirement affidavit, energy code compliance certificates and a request form to withdraw, extend or reactivate an application that has not been issued. Mechanical and plumbing application lists explain what each trade permit needs, and the Building Division posts a single-family inspection requirements page and a list of ten ways to make the permit process go faster.

Submittals go in as two sets of documents or as pre-approved electronic plan sets, drawn to scale and clear enough to show the location, nature and extent of the work; plans must include structural observation programs and other data where required. Once approved, plans may not be changed without the Building Division’s authorization.

Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles residential permit filing, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.

Commercial permits

Commercial and multifamily projects use their own application and a combined commercial plumbing and mechanical application, and businesses moving into an existing space file an occupancy request. WMC 15.04.100 requires a Washington-licensed design professional for any building with five or more dwelling units and for any building over 4,000 sq ft. The City’s tips page points out that a space that already has a certificate of occupancy for the same use is often quicker to permit, and that backflow assemblies and kitchen exhaust hoods are “big ticket” items to show on the plans from the start.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit expediting through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

What comes before the building permit

Zoning, home occupation, parking, business licensing and right-of-way requirements are checked by Planning and Public Works and are best settled before design. Shoreline areas fall under the City’s Shoreline Master Program, and mapped flood areas bring the building code’s flood-resistant construction rules. Grading of 50 cubic yards or more needs a permit, and new construction connecting to City water and sewer pays connection charges. Stormwater general permits from the state Department of Ecology can apply to construction sites, and the City posts the notice of intent forms. A septic system is permitted by Clark County Public Health.

Washougal permit costs and fees

Building fees are codified in WMC chapter 3.97 (Ordinance 1604, 2008), which the City’s building page links as its permit fee schedule. Residential valuations come from the current Building Safety Journal tables, and other occupancies use the applicant’s valuation, with the final figure set by the building official.

WMC 3.97.050 still lists the “State Building Code Fee – per single-family residence – in accordance with RCW 19.27.085” at $4.50, plus $2.00 for each multifamily unit after the first. RCW 19.27.085 now sets the fee at $6.50 for each residential building permit and $25 for each commercial building permit, so expect the statutory amount.

Worked example. A house valued at $350,000 falls in the $100,001 to $500,000 band: $993.75 plus 250 × $5.60 ($1,400) gives a building permit fee of $2,393.75, and plan review at 65% adds $1,555.94, before the state fee, plumbing and mechanical permits and the L&I electrical permit.

A new single-family home also pays impact and connection charges. The City’s sheet updated January 2, 2025 lists a park impact fee of $6,847.85, a transportation impact fee of $8,274.54 (9.43 trips at $877.47), a fire impact fee of $0.68 per sq ft, a school fee of $6,650 in the Camas School District and $0 in the Washougal School District (plus a 1% administration fee), and water, sewer and stormwater charges of $4,418, $7,145 and $478 for a 3/4-inch meter. An accessory dwelling unit pays 35% of the single-family rate. The fees rest on WMC chapters 15.45 (school), 15.62 (park), 15.64 (transportation) and 15.65 (fire).

Grading permits under WMC 3.97.040 cost $15 for 50 cubic yards or less, $22.50 for 51 to 100 cubic yards and $22.50 plus $10.50 per added 100 cubic yards up to 1,000; grading plan review is free up to 50 cubic yards and $23.50 for 51 to 100. Plumbing plan review, where plans are required, is 65% of the plumbing permit fee.

Trade permits and who may pull them

Plumbing and mechanical permits are City permits; the City’s required list puts water heaters, new hose bibs, irrigation systems, gas piping, furnaces, boilers, exhaust fans and wood stoves under permit. Electrical circuits and service are not: Washougal is not on L&I’s list of cities with their own electrical program, and its handout sends electrical work to L&I. Registration and trade-certificate rules for anyone you hire are statewide; see our Washington licensing section.

How to apply for a Washougal building permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

An application expires if no permit is issued within 180 days of application, and the Building Division may extend it once, for up to 180 days, on a written request showing circumstances beyond the applicant’s control; after that the plans must be resubmitted with a new plan review fee. Incomplete or changed plans are billed for extra review at $47 an hour.

Inspections in Washougal

Inspection requests must be called in or received by 5 p.m. on the working day before the inspection; anything later is scheduled for the following workday. Requests can be phoned to the recorded line, where the caller must leave complete information, or emailed to the building inspection request address. The City no longer takes morning or afternoon requests, except for concrete pours, and a pour that is not ready at the requested time can be charged the $50 trip fee.

A permit becomes void if work does not start within 180 days, or stops for 180 days or more, even if the work is finished. Work stopped for less than a year can be restarted with a new permit at half the fee if the plans have not changed. A refund of up to 80% of the permit fee is possible when no work has been done, on a written request within 180 days of payment.

Washougal permit search and official resources

The Building Division keeps the City’s construction records; permit histories are requested through the City. Washougal joined the National Flood Insurance Program as community 530028; its current FEMA map is dated January 19, 2018, and in mapped flood areas the building code’s flood-resistant construction appendix applies.

• Washougal Building Division
• Building application information and submittal rules
• Forms, permits and applications
• Inspections and technical assistance
• Permits required and not required (PDF)
• Fence regulations (PDF)
• 2021 building codes in Washougal
• WMC chapter 3.97, building fees
• WMC chapter 15.04, building code
• 2025 impact fees and utility connection charges (PDF)
• Clark County Public Health septic system forms
• L&I list of cities with their own electrical permits

Washougal building permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Washougal?

The Building Division of Community Development, through the Permit Center at 211 39th Street (360-835-8501). Electrical permits come from L&I.

Can I apply by email?

Yes for over-the-counter permits, sent to the permitting address; other permits are dropped off at the Permit Center, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Do I need a permit to re-roof my house?

Yes. A residential re-roof costs $40 to $125 depending on the roofing, under WMC 3.97.050.

Do I need a permit for a shed or fence?

The City’s handout exempts sheds up to 120 sq ft and fences up to 6 feet; larger sheds and taller fences need a permit.

What impact fees does a new house pay?

Under the January 2025 sheet: park $6,847.85, transportation $8,274.54, fire $0.68 per sq ft, and a Camas School District fee of $6,650 where it applies.

How do I request an inspection?

Call or email the request by 5 p.m. the day before; morning or afternoon slots cannot be requested except for concrete pours.

Simplify Washougal permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Washington. 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 Washougal permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.