Unincorporated Skamania County

A building permit is required for all new construction, structural remodels, additions, roofing, plumbing, and mechanical work in unincorporated Skamania County. Electrical permits are obtained separately through Washington State L&I; the county does not issue electrical permits or conduct electrical inspections.

• Exempt One-story detached residential accessory structures used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, with floor area not exceeding 200 square feet and no plumbing
• Exempt Fences not over 6 feet in height
• Exempt Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall), not supporting surcharge or adjacent to a public way
• Exempt Platforms, decks, sidewalks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or lower story
• Exempt Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Exempt Minor like-for-like repairs not affecting structural elements

Note: An exemption from a building permit does not exempt work from compliance with building codes, zoning setbacks, or other regulations. Exempt work must still comply with all NSA scenic review requirements where applicable and with critical areas regulations (Title 19). Electrical work requires a separate L&I permit regardless of building permit exemption status.

Building code

2021 International Building Code (IBC) with Washington State amendments (effective March 15, 2024). Also: International Residential Code (IRC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), International Fire Code (IFC), and Washington State Energy Code (WSEC).

Permit validity

Work must begin within 180 days of permit issuance; first inspection must occur within 180 days. No more than 180 days may elapse between any two consecutive inspections. Failure to maintain inspection activity within these windows may result in permit expiration.

Owner-builder

Permit applications may be submitted by the property owner or by a contractor registered with Washington State L&I.

Contractor requirements

All contractors must be registered with Washington State L&I. Contractor registration is separate from local permit requirements. The county maintains a list of licensed Washington State contractors at https://www.skamaniacounty.org/departments-offices/community-development/building-division/contractors-list.

Source: Skamania County Community Development — Building Division ↗

1. 01
   Determine land use requirements first. If the parcel is within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (NSA), an NSA land use review by the Planning Division is typically required before a building permit can issue. NSA review is a separate process from the building permit.
2. 02
   Check critical areas. If the parcel falls within a Landslide Hazard Area, Erosion Hazard Area, wetland buffer, or other critical area, a Geotechnical Assessment Report prepared by a licensed Washington State engineer may be required before permit approval.
3. 03
   Register or log into Cloudpermit at https://us.cloudpermit.com/skamaniacounty/login.
4. 04
   Submit permit application with all required documents (see General Requirements below).
5. 05
   Receive completeness determination within 20 calendar days of submission. County will notify whether application is complete or requires additional information.
6. 06
   Plan review by the Building Division proceeds. For NSA projects, copies are sent to the Columbia River Gorge Commission, U.S. Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Washington Natural Heritage Program.
7. 07
   Pay fees online through Cloudpermit.
8. 08
   Permit issued — post permit card at the job site before beginning work.
9. 09
   Schedule and pass required inspections through Cloudpermit.
10. 10
    Final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy (CO) — issued upon satisfactory completion of the final inspection for applicable occupancies.

Typical processing time: Completeness determination: 20 calendar days. Plan review and approval timelines vary by project complexity and NSA review requirements (NSA standard review: 7–9 months; expedited for qualifying small-scale projects: 3–4 months).

Source: Skamania County Community Development — Building Division ↗

Fees may be paid online through Cloudpermit by credit card. For a project-specific fee estimate, email building@co.skamania.wa.us with project type and square footage. NSA land use fees: separate fees apply for NSA land use review through the Planning Division. Contact Planning Division at (509) 427-3900 for current NSA application fees.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

• Cloudpermit portal (online)
• building@co.skamania.wa.us (email)
• (509) 427-3925 (phone)

Inspection hours

Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM (closed Fridays)

Typical sequence: Typical residential inspection stages: footing/foundation (before concrete placement), framing (before sheathing is installed), rough-in plumbing, rough-in mechanical, insulation, wallboard (if required), energy code compliance, final inspection (all work complete, site accessible). County building staff use Cloudpermit on mobile devices during field inspections; inspection results and correction notices are posted to the permit workspace.

Source: Skamania County Community Development — Building Division ↗