Where do I start?
Research first! Obtain information about a particular piece of property and any special requirements by providing a tax parcel (geographic ID) number to the Planners at our front counter or by reviewing the information and Whatcom County Code requirements from our website. Please contact us if you have any questions.
What is the tax parcel number and why do I need it?
The tax parcel (geographic ID) number contains the map coordinates for each piece of property in Whatcom County. Staff uses this number to find associated plats, surveys and other preliminary information about your property. The 16-digit tax parcel number is on your tax statement or can be obtained by using the Search Real Property tool.
How do I apply for a permit?
Whatcom County uses an appointment based system for building permit applications. All of the applicable information and appropriate forms within the building permit application packet must be completed prior to your specified appointment time.
How do I make an appointment?
Residential appointments are available Tuesday and Thursday. Commercial appointments are available Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These appointments can be scheduled in person at our office, by calling 360-676-6907 or by email. Please have your tax parcel (geographic ID) number ready for when you schedule your appointment.
- Residential appointments typically take forty (40) minutes to review.
- Commercial appointments are dependent on the application but can take as long as an hour and a half to review,
What do I need to bring to apply for a building permit?
You can obtain our residential information and applications packet online or at our office. Inside the residential building permit application packet you will find instructions, examples, code requirements, and forms needed to apply for a residential building permit. You will also find a checklist summary on page 2 of the application packet. This checklist details exactly what is required at the time you submit your permit application.
Please review the Commercial Permit Process for commercial projects. How long will my permit take to review?
"Quick Permits" can take as little as that day to complete. For larger projects, our goal is to have your permit ready in two to six weeks. However, current workloads and other factors can cause the process to take longer. The best thing you can do is to provide detailed, legible information when you first apply. Incomplete plans will cause delays. We will call you as soon as your permit is ready to be issued,
Will I need other permits, too?
Yes, if your project involves electrical work, access through a county right-of-way, or sewer/water improvements. The following is some helpful information that may be applicable to your project:
- Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State for electrical permits, mobile/manufacture home alterations and licensed contractor information. The local Washington State Labor & Industries office is located at 1720 Ellis Street in Bellingham, WA or at 360-647-7300.
- Encroachment permit applications are required for any work in a county road right-of-way and can be obtained from the Public Works Engineering Division. An encroachment permit application is required to be submitted at the time of your permit application appointment.
- Water and septic approvals are obtained from the Environmental Health Department at 360-676-6724. A complete septic permit, if applicable, is required at the time you submit your building permit application. An approved water verification form, if applicable, must be submitted prior to the approval of your building permit.
- Demolition Permit applications are required if you are removing an existing structure. You must contact the Northwest Clean Air Agency at 360-428-1617 or 1-800-622-4627 prior to the submittal of your demolition application.
- Call before you dig prior to any ground disturbance work. Staff may require that you contact the call (800-424-5555) before you dig service prior to the submittal of your permit application if your property is located within 500 of a oil transmission pipeline.
Is an architect or engineer required?
Not necessarily, but if buildings are on steep sites or of unusual size, shape, materials, or other features, they may require an analysis of the structural design by a licensed engineer and/or architect. More information is available in the application packet on the "Building Plans" page.
How long before my permit expires?
Permits expire if more than 180 days (approx. 6 months) have passed since the last inspection. When you have an inspection, the expiration date is automatically extended 180 days from the date of the inspection. A permit can be extended for 180 days if you send a written request to the Building Services Division. The written request should include the permit number, the site address, your name, address and phone number, and the reason for the request. The request should be on the Building Permit Extension Request form, but you can write your request on regular paper if you wish.
Is there a deposit and how much will my permit cost?
A deposit fee is required at the time you submit your building permit application. This fee will be deducted from your final permit cost when you pick up your permit. All building permit fees are dependent on the project’s valuation (the cost of labor and materials to construct the project) and the required land use and health reviews. Please see our Fee page for the required deposit amounts and example building permit fees.
What inspections will be needed?
Each project requires a different set of inspections, especially if you are in a regulated watershed. More information is available in the application packet on the "Inspection Requirements" page.
How do I get a building inspection?
Call the 24-hour inspection request hotline at 360-738-2520. Be prepared to give your complete permit number, the job site address, the type of inspection you are requesting, the name and phone number of a daytime contact person, and the day you want the inspection to take place. An inspection cannot be performed without this information.
All the requests are taken off the voicemail at 4:30 in the afternoon. These inspections will automatically be done the next day unless you specify otherwise. Requests left after 4:30 pm will not be done until the day after next.
Inspections in Point Roberts are done on Tuesday only. Inspections in Glacier are done on Monday and Wednesday. Inspections on Lummi Island are done on Wednesday only.
What if I have a building code question?
A plans examiner is usually on duty Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and is able to answer your questions. You can also call between 8:30 and 9:30 am to talk to one of the building inspectors before they leave for their inspections for the day. |
