Frequently Asked Questions About Building Permits

The State of Washington under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 19.27 and Cowlitz County have adopted the International Building, and Residential Codes, International Mechanical Code, Uniform Plumbing Code and the International Fire Code as minimum construction standards for the state and Cowlitz County.  While outlining minimum standards, these codes require permits to be issued, and inspections to be performed in order to verify compliance to the minimum construction standards.

Most new construction, remodeling, and repair work that affect a building or structure will require a permit.  Below is a list of items specifically exempt from permit requirements in Cowlitz County.

1. One story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, play houses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet.
2. Fences not over 6 feet high.
3. Oil derricks.
4. Movable cases, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high.
5. Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids.
6. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2:1.
7. Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below.
8. Painting, papering and similar finish work.
9. Temporary motion picture, television and theatre stage sets and scenery.
10. Window awnings supported by the exterior wall of Group R, Division 3 and Group U occupancies when projecting not more than 54 inches.
11. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches (610mm) deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 925 L) and are installed entirely above ground.
12. Construction as described below when undertaken by a firm or industry that, as determined by the building official, employs both a permanent, full time, on-site, engineering staff with at least one engineer registered in the state of Washington, and a permanent, full time, on-site, maintenance staff that is trained at least to the journeyman level or equivalent for the type of work performed, and the work is performed by that maintenance staff.

• Repairs, maintenance, re-roofing, or minor alterations to existing buildings that do not affect structural supports, egress, fire rated construction, or fire protection.
• Installation of tanks; process equipment; wire mesh fences up to eight feet high; small (less than 50 square feet) slab on grade for equipment bases less than four feet high; and pressure vessels registered with Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, subject to the limitations described below. Process ventilation equipment is also exempt provided it meets the requirements of the Uniform Fire Code. Access stairs, platforms, or walkways that are an integral part of or provide access to equipment are also exempt, provided they meet WISHA standards.
• Conveyors that are nominally at ground or floor level are exempt.
• Tanks, whether site-constructed or prefabricated, will require permits for the foundation and any support not an integral part of the tank design. Fees will be based on the foundation only; however, satisfactory documentation shall be provided to the building official verifying that seismic, wind, dead, live and snow loads are designed per I.B.C. Chapter 16 for this area. Special inspections as required by I.B.C. Chapter 17 shall be performed on these tanks and provided to the building official.
• Process equipment, whether site-constructed or prefabricated, will require permits for the foundation and any support not an integral part of the equipment. Fees will be based on the foundation only. Seismic, wind, dead, and live loads of the process equipment shall be considered in the design. Applicable standards for this geographical area shall be utilized.

Unless otherwise exempted, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted work.

Though most building code requirements apply to historic buildings, the Building Code does allow for some modification to Building Code requirements when applied to historical buildings.  If you have specific questions as to how or what is considered an historic building or how permit requirements may apply to your building, please contact our staff with the particulars for your project.

Though most building code requirements apply to moved buildings, the Building Code does allow for some exceptions to Building Code requirements when applied to moved buildings.  Moved buildings are generally exempt from some structural and energy code requirements.  The new building foundation and any remodeling or new construction will need to conform to current code requirements. 

How long does it take to get a building permit?

Building permits are currently running about 4 weeks after submittal.  Permits for simple structures can take 2-4 weeks, while permits for basic repairs (re-roofing, water heater replacement, new siding, etc.) can generally be issued at the counter when making the application.  Some items that may cause lengthier review times include coordination with other requirements (SEPA, Critical Areas Review, etc.), or the need for more information and plan revisions to ensure minimum code compliance.  The purpose of the plans review is to identify any significant issues with the project or property prior to the start of construction.

Fee schedules for various permit processes are set by the Board of County Commissioners.  Some projects will entail review through various permit processes before approval and/or permits may be granted.  We suggest that you contact the department with specific details for your project.  In this way, staff can help determine what permit processes might apply to your project, and what the associated permit costs might be.

Once you have obtained a permit, you can then proceed with the construction of your project.  At various points during the construction you will need to request inspections to verify construction elements for your project.  These inspections are a good time to ask the inspector any questions you may have about our project.

Do permits ever expire?

Yes, construction permits are valid for 180 days (six months) from the date of issuance.  This time frame is extended with each inspection you have on your project.  If you will not be ready for your next scheduled inspection within the 180 day period, you can request an extension from the Building Official.  Extensions must be submitted in writing prior to your permit expiring and must include a valid reason for the delay of your project. Only one extension may be granted for each permit.  If your permit expires, it will need to be re-activated before construction can resume on your project.

What design criteria do I need to meet?

As of July 1, 2007 the State of Washington mandates enforcement of the 2006 International Building and Residential Codes.  Cowlitz County adopts these codes with the following design criteria:

Basic Wind Speed, V:  85 miles per hour (Fig 1609 IBC, Fig 6-1 ASCE 7-05)
Seismic Design Category:  D-1
Frost Depth:  12 inches
Winter Design Temp.: 22 F degrees 
Mean Annual Temp.: 51.5 F degrees
Ground Snow Load:   Per Table