Building Permit FAQs
Permits are required for many project types, including new or rebuilt fences and repairs/replacement of roofing or siding. Please see our building permit requirement chart for more details. If you still have questions, please contact the Permit Technician at 360-225-7299.
A permit and the inspection after the work is complete help ensure public safety. Work performed without a permit may incur penalties, or it may cause problems or delays when the property is sold.
Most permit types require a master building permit application. Re-roofing and excavation/fill permits also require a supplemental application.
Mechanical and plumbing applications can stand alone or be part of a complete application package. Please be sure to enter the number of fixtures or appliances on the application. Note: Please be sure to indicate the correct horsepower for a ductless heat pump.
Property owners and contractors licensed in the State of Washington can apply for a permit. We also accept permit applications from tenants, architects, and permit services, but the property owner's signature is required on these applications.
Please note: the property owner's signature is always required on an application for a sign permit , even when the applicant is a contractor.
All electrical permitting and inspecting is handled by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Please visit their on-line portal to apply for a permit or request an inspection.
Note: Final electrical sign-off should be obtained prior to your final building inspection.
All fire services in the City of Woodland are contracted through Clark Cowlitz Fire Rescue. This includes permits and inspections for fire alarms, fire sprinklers and fire suppression systems.
Note: We require a fire and life safety review for all multi-residential, commercial and industrial projects. We cannot issue permits for these projects without CCFR approval. Please submit your plans directly to CCFR. The City building plan review and the fire review can be done simultaneously to minimize delay.
The City of Woodland has adopted the 2018 versions of the IBC and other related codes. Please see Section 14.04 of the Woodland Municipal Code for details.
We also offer a convenient summary of our design load information.
It depends on the type of permit. Once all the required documentation is submitted, here is the review timeline you can expect.
Fence or re-roof permit: 2-3 working days
Stand-alone mechanical and/or plumbing permit: 2-4 working days; please allow up to two weeks if a floodplain review is required
Residential new construction or accessory dwelling unit (ADU): 2-3 weeks
Commercial new construction: 4-6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project
Residential addition or remodel: 1-3 weeks, depending on the extent of the work
Commercial addition, remodel or tenant improvement: 3-4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project
Demolition: 2-4 working days after receipt of the SWCAA paperwork, if applicable
Accessory structure (residential): 1-2 weeks
Fill and grade, excavation: 2-4 weeks
Commercial coach or manufactured home placement: 1-2 weeks
Decks / ramps / stairs: 1-2 weeks
Siding / door / window replacement: 2-4 days
Most building permit fees are based on the fair market value (FMV) of the work to be performed under the permit. This would include cost of the entire project, including any work to be done under plumbing and/or mechanical permits. The FMV is subject to adjustment by the plan reviewer. You can expect to pay approximately 3% of the FMV for the combined base permit fee and the plan review fee. A state surcharge is assessed on most types of building permits. Additional fees may apply, such as impact fees for commercial projects. All new construction permits are also subject to water and sewer assessments and fees.
Plumbing and mechanical permits are assessed a base permit fee and a per-unit fee for each fixture or appliance type to be installed. State surcharge does not apply to these permits.
Flat fees apply to permits for fences, re-roofs, signs, and demolition. State surcharge is assessed on these permits. The FMV is required on the application, but it does not affect the cost of the permit.
Flat fees also apply to manufactured home or commercial coach placement permits. State surcharge does not apply to these permits.
The permit technician will contact you by email or by phone to let you know that your permit is ready to be issued. The email will include the fee amount due and detailed payment options (cash, check, debit or credit card).
We accept the following payment types:
- cash
- checks payable to “City of Woodland”
- may be placed in our utility payment drop box at the exit to the parking lot at Second and Davidson or mailed to PO Box 9, Woodland, WA 98674
- please note the permit reference number above on the check stub or memorandum line
- Visa and MasterCard (debit or credit)
- a 2.95% convenience fee applies whether payment is made at City Hall or on-line
- please do not add the convenience fee to your payment; the system will do so automatically
- we cannot accept card payments over the phone
- e-check
- $0.95 fee per transaction
Permit fees cannot be accepted until the application is approved. For new construction and larger projects (fair market value of $50,000 or more), a fee deposit is required prior to plan review. Once the initial application processing is complete, you will be notified of the amount required. The deposit will be applied to the plan review fee at the time the permit fees are assessed.
While we offer on-line payment options and strongly prefer electronic submissions for all permit applications, all permits are issued only in hard copy format.
If you bring payment to City Hall, you may pick up the inspection card and any approved construction documents at that time. Otherwise, once payment has been receipted in our office, we will send you an electronic copy of the approved construction documents along with a scanned copy of your receipt and instructions for calling for inspection. At that point, you may proceed with the job. You may pick up the original inspection card at your convenience. If the original documents are still at City Hall on inspection day (Tuesday or Thursday only) , we will send them to the jobsite with our inspector.
All building permit types are valid for 180 days (about six months) after the date of issue (the date payment was received for the permit). Each successfully passed progress inspection resets the expiration "clock" for another 180 days from the date of that inspection. A permit will remain in effect as long as progress is being made on the project.
If your project is ready for inspection, please arrange for an inspection as soon as possible. Each successfully passed progress inspection resets the expiration "clock" for another 180 days from the date of that inspection.
If your project is not ready for inspection, you may request an extension. We can grant only one extension for each permit. Please submit a written request (email, US mail, hand-delivered) including the following information:
- Permit number
- How long an extension you need (maximum 180 days)
- The reason the extension is needed
We will let you know when the extension request is approved.
If your permit expired recently (within the last 30 days or so), you may request a reinstatement of your permit by paying the permit fees again.
If your permit expired more than a month ago, please submit a new application. If it is a large project, we will accept an adjusted valuation based on the amount of work which has not yet been completed.
A floodplain review is required for living spaces, mechanical permits, and water heater installation or replacement. The areas in Woodland subject to floodplain review are mostly east of I-5. Other neighborhoods are either protected by the dike or outside the 100 year floodplain.
The initial floodplain review is done when the City receives a new elevation certificate for a given property. The full floodplain review is $500.00. Subsequent reviews are done when a permit application is received that requires a floodplain determination before the permit is issued. The minor review will add $150.00 to the cost of the permit. This review is required to prevent invalidation of flood insurance.
A final inspection is required for all building permit types (grading, mechanical, plumbing, re-roof, demolition, etc.). Progress inspections are also required on most larger projects, such as new construction, tenant improvements or remodels. Please contact the permit technician if you need additional information.
Please use our on-line inspection request form or call 360-225-7299 no later than 3:00 the day before inspection. Inspections in the City of Woodland are available Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Our inspector is usually in town from about 9:30 to noon, but his schedule varies depending on his workload for other jurisdictions.
Before you call for final inspection, please make sure any electrical work is signed off. For re-roof inspections, a ladder should be available in case the inspector needs to access the roof.
Inspections are included in the permit fees. There is no additional charge unless you call the inspector out on a day he is not scheduled to be in town (Tuesday or Thursday).
We are unable to post inspection results on our website. You may email the permit technician or call our department if you need to check the status of an inspection.
