County Building Permits
Washington County, NY - Unincorporated Area Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Washington County, New York. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated areas of Washington County. Applicants must obtain local signoff from the applicable town compliance officer on LRCC #1 before filing with the county.
- Department
- Washington County Department of Code Enforcement
- Address
- 1153 Burgoyne Ave, Fort Edward, NY 12828
- Phone
- (518) 746-2150
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Paper-based with local town review • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Complete the Washington County building permit application packet.
- Take the packet to the local town compliance officer for LRCC #1 review and signature before filing with the county.
- Submit the completed county application, fee, two sets of plans, insurance documentation or CE-200 exemption, and any septic/sewer materials required for the project.
- Wait for county review and permit issuance; the county allows two to four weeks for processing and review.
- At project completion, obtain LRCC #2 local signoff before the county will issue a certificate of occupancy or compliance.
Typical processing time: 2-4 weeks for initial review
General Requirements
A building permit is required for most construction in unincorporated Washington County.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Two copies of plans
- Workers compensation and disability documentation or CE-200 waiver
- Septic/sewer approvals where applicable
- Insurance documentation
- Permit validity
- Permits expire if no inspection is passed within applicable timeframe.
- Building code
- New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders must provide workers compensation documentation or CE-200 exemption.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must provide workers compensation and disability documentation.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $100
- Permit fee formula
- Residential new one- and two-family dwellings: $0.30/sf with $250 minimum; Additions: $0.30/sf with $150 minimum; Repairs and alterations: $0.25/sf with $100 minimum; Garages and accessory structures: $0.25/sf with $100 minimum
- Penalty (no permit)
- Two times the application fee or $200, whichever is greater
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Residential storage buildings of 144 square feet or less (subject to local setbacks and zoning)
Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the county before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (518) 746-2150 (phone)
Typical inspection sequence: Contact county for inspection sequence and scheduling.
Additional Resources
- Building code: New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code
- License lookup guide: New York Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: New York Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- New York hub: New York Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Washington County Department of Code Enforcement before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Washington County, NY?
- A building permit is required for most construction in unincorporated Washington County.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Washington County, NY?
- The minimum permit fee is $100. Fees are calculated as: Residential new one- and two-family dwellings: $0.30/sf with $250 minimum; Additions: $0.30/sf with $150 minimum; Repairs and alterations: $0.25/sf with $100 minimum; Garages and accessory structures: $0.25/sf with $100 minimum.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Washington County, NY?
- 1. Complete the Washington County building permit application packet. 2. Take the packet to the local town compliance officer for LRCC #1 review and signature before filing with the county. 3. Submit the completed county application, fee, two sets of plans, insurance documentation or CE-200 exemption, and any septic/sewer materials required for the project. 4. Wait for county review and permit issuance; the county allows two to four weeks for processing and review. 5. At project completion, obtain LRCC #2 local signoff before the county will issue a certificate of occupancy or compliance.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Washington County, NY?
- Typical processing time is 2-4 weeks for initial review.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Washington County, NY?
- The following work is generally exempt: Residential storage buildings of 144 square feet or less (subject to local setbacks and zoning). Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the county before proceeding.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Washington County, NY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: (518) 746-2150.
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