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§ WA Kittitas County
County building permits

Unincorporated Kittitas County

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kittitas County, Washington. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Min. permit fee
$150 (permit issuance fee)
Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Community Development Services (CDS), Building Division

Street address
411 N. Ruby Street, Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Phone
(509) 962-7506
Email
cds@co.kittitas.wa.us
Coverage
All unincorporated areas of Kittitas County, including the Kittitas Valley and higher elevation areas. CDS also provides building inspection and permit services to the cities of Cle Elum, Kittitas, Roslyn, and South Cle Elum under interlocal agreements.
Online portal
Kittitas County CDS Forms and Applications
SMARTGOV
Website
Department website
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Kittitas County

Any property owner or authorized representative planning construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, relocation, demolition, or occupancy changes must submit a complete application. CDS issues 17+ permit categories including building, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, demolition, swimming pools, fencing over 7 feet, fire sprinkler systems, and signage.

Residential accessory structures up to 200 sq ft with no plumbing or mechanical systems, located at least 10 feet from other structures, meeting all setback requirements
Non-residential storage buildings up to 120 sq ft
Fences under 7 feet tall
Retaining walls under 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing)
Cosmetic work: painting, wallpaper, flooring, non-structural cabinetry
Prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep
Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade
Playground equipment for single/two-family homes
  • Exempt Residential accessory structures up to 200 sq ft with no plumbing or mechanical systems, located at least 10 feet from other structures, meeting all setback requirements
  • Exempt Non-residential storage buildings up to 120 sq ft
  • Exempt Fences under 7 feet tall
  • Exempt Retaining walls under 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing)
  • Exempt Cosmetic work: painting, wallpaper, flooring, non-structural cabinetry
  • Exempt Prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep
  • Exempt Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade
  • Exempt Playground equipment for single/two-family homes

Note: Exemption from permit requirements does not authorize work in violation of any building code provision. Even exempt structures must comply with zoning setbacks, critical area buffers, and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) requirements. Exempt structures in WUI zones may still require fire-resistant materials.

Required documents
  • Completed General Building Application or Foundation-Only Application
  • Vicinity map
  • Site plan showing lot lines with dimensions, setbacks from proposed construction, all new and existing buildings with dimensions, surface water/wetlands/irrigation features, north arrow, site address, access driveways and road name, septic system and well locations with setbacks
  • Floor plans
  • Foundation plans
  • Roof framing plans
  • Elevations
  • Cross sections and construction details
  • Plans drawn to minimum 1/4-inch scale on minimum 11" x 17" sheets; two sets required at submittal
  • Truss engineering and layout (if applicable)
  • Energy code compliance information
  • Environmental checklist (SEPA) if required
  • Supplemental information required by County Engineer or Public Works
Building code
2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2021 Washington State Energy Code, International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) as adopted and amended by Kittitas County (effective March 15, 2024)
Permit validity
Not specified; contact Kittitas County CDS for details.
Contractor requirements
Washington State contractor registration required. Verify at https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/

Source: Community Development Services (CDS), Building Division ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: 2 weeks for Foundation-Only, Fast Track, or Full Review (as of February 2026)

  1. 01
    Complete Water Availability and Preliminary Site Analysis (required before permit application).
  2. 02
    Download application forms from Kittitas County CDS at co.kittitas.wa.us/cds/forms.aspx (General Building Application, Foundation-Only Application, or Permit Extension Form).
  3. 03
    Prepare construction documents: site plan, floor plans, foundation plans, roof framing plans, elevations, cross sections. Plans must be minimum 1/4-inch scale on 11" x 17" sheets; two sets required.
  4. 04
    Submit application electronically via county document upload portal or in-person at 411 N. Ruby St., Suite 2, Ellensburg.
  5. 05
    Plan review conducted (2-week target for all review tracks as of February 2026).
  6. 06
    Pay fees and receive permit.
  7. 07
    Schedule required inspections through CDS inspection request line or online.

Typical processing time: 2 weeks for Foundation-Only, Fast Track, or Full Review (as of February 2026)

Source: Community Development Services (CDS), Building Division ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective Current schedule on Kittitas County CDS site

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$150 (permit issuance fee)
02
Permit fee formula
Hourly rate ($140/hour) or by square-foot valuation or bid amount as determined by CDS

Base fees: permit issuance $150, application/permit extension $70. Use permit fee estimator at co.kittitas.wa.us/cds/building/permit-fee-estimator.aspx for project-specific cost calculation.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective Current schedule on Kittitas County CDS site) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
Scheduling deadline
Requests submitted by 2:00 PM typically performed the next business day.
Inspection hours
Inspections 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Typical sequence: Required inspection stages (residential new construction): form/rebar (before concrete pour), hole (pole buildings before backfill), under-floor (after framing, before subfloor), exterior shear wall nailing (post-framing before siding), plumbing rough-in, mechanical rough-in, fire sprinkler (if applicable), framing, insulation, final (before occupancy).

Winter access note: Inspections in higher elevation areas will not proceed if road conditions are unsafe due to snow and ice. Property owners must ensure driveways and access roads are plowed and passable.

Source: Community Development Services (CDS), Building Division ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Kittitas County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA? ▸
Any property owner or authorized representative planning construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, relocation, demolition, or occupancy changes must submit a complete application. CDS issues 17+ permit categories including building, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, demolition, swimming pools, fencing over 7 feet, fire sprinkler systems, and signage.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $150 (permit issuance fee). Fees are calculated as: Hourly rate ($140/hour) or by square-foot valuation or bid amount as determined by CDS.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA, follow these steps: 1. Complete Water Availability and Preliminary Site Analysis (required before permit application). 2. Download application forms from Kittitas County CDS at co.kittitas.wa.us/cds/forms.aspx (General Building Application, Foundation-Only Application, or Permit Extension Form). 3. Prepare construction documents: site plan, floor plans, foundation plans, roof framing plans, elevations, cross sections. Plans must be minimum 1/4-inch scale on 11" x 17" sheets; two sets required. 4. Submit application electronically via county document upload portal or in-person at 411 N. Ruby St., Suite 2, Ellensburg. 5. Plan review conducted (2-week target for all review tracks as of February 2026). 6. Pay fees and receive permit. 7. Schedule required inspections through CDS inspection request line or online.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA typically run 2 weeks for Foundation-Only, Fast Track, or Full Review (as of February 2026). Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA. The following work is generally exempt: Residential accessory structures up to 200 sq ft with no plumbing or mechanical systems, located at least 10 feet from other structures, meeting all setback requirements; Non-residential storage buildings up to 120 sq ft; Fences under 7 feet tall; Retaining walls under 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing); Cosmetic work: painting, wallpaper, flooring, non-structural cabinetry; Prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep; Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade; Playground equipment for single/two-family homes. Note: Exemption from permit requirements does not authorize work in violation of any building code provision. Even exempt structures must comply with zoning setbacks, critical area buffers, and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) requirements. Exempt structures in WUI zones may still require fire-resistant materials. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Kittitas County, WA via: (509) 962-7694 — Inspection Request Line, cds@co.kittitas.wa.us, Inspection request form. Requests submitted by 2:00 PM typically performed the next business day..
last verified April 2026 source Community Development Services (CDS), Building Division ↗ entry id permits/washington/kittitas/unincorporated
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Community Development Services (CDS), Building Division before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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