Washington, MO — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Washington Building & Engineering Department. 【0†source】citeturn6view0

Street address

405 Jefferson St, Washington, MO 63090. 【0†source】citeturn6view0

Phone

(636) 390-1000 (City Hall). 【0†source】citeturn6view0

permitting@washmo.gov for permit inquiries. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Coverage

The Building & Engineering Department manages permits, inspections, and code enforcement for the city, overseeing infrastructure planning and public-works coordination. 【0†source】citeturn6view0

Online portal

https://ci-washington-mo.smartgovcommunity.com/Public/Home. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

SmartGov (Granicus). 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Washington

Projects that fall under the International Building Code and NEC (new construction, expansions, significant alterations) must be submitted through SmartGov before work begins. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Scope of work

Permit?

No public exempt-work list is published on the portal; applicants should verify with the Building & Engineering Department. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Exempt

Exempt No public exempt-work list is published on the portal; applicants should verify with the Building & Engineering Department. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Required documents

When a permit is required: Projects that fall under the International Building Code and NEC (new construction, expansions, significant alterations) must be submitted through SmartGov before work begins. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
Required documents: Fully completed SmartGov application and attached code-compliant plans (2021 IBC and 2020 NEC); the portal emphasizes complete submissions to avoid delays. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
Permit validity/expiration: Not published; contact permitting staff through SmartGov. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
Owner-builder rules if available: Not published. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
Contractor license requirements: The portal refers to licensing@washmo.gov for licensing questions, implying contractors must hold the required city business licenses. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
Building code adopted: 2021 International Building Code, 2020 National Electric Code (per portal). 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Building code: 2021 International Building Code, 2020 National Electric Code (per portal). 【0†source】citeturn5view0
Permit validity: Not published; contact permitting staff through SmartGov. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
Owner-builder: Not published. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
Contractor requirements: The portal refers to licensing@washmo.gov for licensing questions, implying contractors must hold the required city business licenses. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Plan review is estimated at 2-3 weeks (longer when information is missing). 【0†source】citeturn5view0

01

Create/log in to SmartGov, complete the permit application, and attach required plans that comply with the 2021 International Building Code and 2020 National Electric Code. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
02

The city reviews the submitted package; plan review typically takes 2-3 weeks, longer if additional information is requested. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
03

Once approved, pay the invoice link sent from SmartGov, which unlocks the permit for download and site posting. 【0†source】citeturn5view0
04

Schedule inspections by phone (636-390-1010 for building, 636-390-1030 for water/sewer) at least by 3 PM the business day before the desired date; no inspections occur until the invoice is paid. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Typical processing time: Plan review is estimated at 2-3 weeks (longer when information is missing). 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Source: City of Washington Building & Engineering Department. 【0†source】citeturn6view0 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Washington building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Not specified on the portal; refer to the ordinance. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Plan check fee

Not separately listed. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Permit fee formula

Not specified; ordinance dictates valuation-based rates. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Reinspection fee

Not listed on the portal; consult ordinance. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

SmartGov sends a permit invoice by email; fees must be paid there before inspections can be scheduled. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Call 636-390-1010 (building) or 636-390-1030 (water/sewer), and request your inspection by 3 PM the business day before it is needed. 【0†source】citeturn5view0 ()

Inspection hours: Inspectors do not work on City Hall-observed holidays listed on the portal. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

Typical sequence: Not listed; follow the sequence the plan reviewer outlines and confirm via the portal. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Washington permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Washington, MO? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Washington, MO? ▸

Building permit fees in Washington, MO are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Not specified on the portal; refer to the ordinance. 【0†source】citeturn5view0. Fees are calculated as: Not specified; ordinance dictates valuation-based rates. 【0†source】citeturn5view0. Plan check fee: Not separately listed. 【0†source】citeturn5view0.

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Washington, MO? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Washington, MO, follow these steps: 1. Create/log in to SmartGov, complete the permit application, and attach required plans that comply with the 2021 International Building Code and 2020 National Electric Code. 【0†source】citeturn5view0 2. The city reviews the submitted package; plan review typically takes 2-3 weeks, longer if additional information is requested. 【0†source】citeturn5view0 3. Once approved, pay the invoice link sent from SmartGov, which unlocks the permit for download and site posting. 【0†source】citeturn5view0 4. Schedule inspections by phone (636-390-1010 for building, 636-390-1030 for water/sewer) at least by 3 PM the business day before the desired date; no inspections occur until the invoice is paid. 【0†source】citeturn5view0

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Washington, MO? ▸

Building permit processing times in Washington, MO typically run Plan review is estimated at 2-3 weeks (longer when information is missing). 【0†source】citeturn5view0. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Washington, MO? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Washington, MO. The following work is generally exempt: No public exempt-work list is published on the portal; applicants should verify with the Building & Engineering Department. 【0†source】citeturn5view0. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Washington, MO? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Washington, MO via: Call 636-390-1010 (building) or 636-390-1030 (water/sewer), and request your inspection by 3 PM the business day before it is needed. 【0†source】citeturn5view0.

last verified April 2026 source City of Washington Building & Engineering Department. 【0†source】citeturn6view0 ↗ entry id permits/missouri/franklin/city-of-washington

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Washington Building & Engineering Department. 【0†source】citeturn6view0 before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Washington

Other jurisdictions in Franklin County.