Residential Building Permits
The International Residential Code adopted by the City requires a permit before doing any:
- Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, or changing the occupancy of any building or structure; and
- Installation, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, conversion, or replacement of any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system.
Residential Permit Applications/Submittal Checklists
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Upload permit plans and documents online.
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If you have never obtained a building permit before, it may be challenging to figure out what City application forms and submittal checklists you need or what regulations apply to your project.
If you don’t already know what permit(s) you need and what submittal checklist must accompany your permit application, we encourage you to consult with our Permit Services staff prior to downloading and completing forms. This can help to avoid confusion and wasted time and effort.
The Permit Services counter is located on the main floor of Tumwater City Hall, located at 555 Israel Road SW, and is open on a first-come, first served basis, Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Contractor requirements
Property owners may perform work on their own property. If a contractor is used, the contractor must have a state contractor's license (and/or appropriate State specialty license) and a City of Tumwater business license. Please keep in mind that work on a project cannot legally begin before a permit is issued. When developing your construction schedule, please consider the time that will be needed to obtain all necessary permits before construction.
Fees
Plan check and permit fees are based on the value of the work, including labor, materials, and sales tax. Below is a link to the City's current fee resolution that can be used to estimate the fees for your project. The building plan check and permit fees are located in Table III of the fee resolution beginning on page seven (7).
Fee Resolution
Single-Family Home Fee Example
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) 2024 Fee Example
Inspections
The Community Development Department inspects building projects to ensure they are built correctly. By regulating and controlling the workmanship, quality of materials, and other requirements of the International Building Codes and other construction codes, the Community Development Department safeguards health, safety and public welfare for its residents and visitors.
Inspections are performed at different stages of completion. The purpose of inspections is to make sure that new development complies with applicable codes.
The issuance of any building, mechanical, or plumbing permit requires FINAL inspection. It is imperative that permit customers request final inspection of their project when it is completed so the City can ensure that the project meets minimum code requirements and the permit record can be closed out.
Online Services
The City offers an online permit inquiry and inspection request service. Use the online Permits & Inspections service to register and inquire about the status of a permit or schedule inspections.
