Kittitas County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

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.

Department

Community Development Services (CDS), Building Division

Address

411 N. Ruby Street, Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA 98926

Phone

(509) 962-7506

Email

cds@co.kittitas.wa.us

Website

https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/cds/building/default.aspx

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

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.

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

Source: Community Development Services (CDS), Building Division

General Requirements

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.

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

Permit validity

Not specified; contact Kittitas County CDS for details.

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)

Contractor requirements

Washington State contractor registration required. Verify at https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$150 (permit issuance fee)

Permit fee formula

Hourly rate ($140/hour) or by square-foot valuation or bid amount as determined by CDS

Payment note

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. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective Current schedule on Kittitas County CDS site).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• 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

Important: 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.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (509) 962-7694 — Inspection Request Line (phone)
• cds@co.kittitas.wa.us (email)
• Inspection request form (online)

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 inspection 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.

Additional Resources

• 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)
• Verify contractor license: WA L&I Contractor Lookup
• When is a Permit Required?
• Is an Inspection Required?
• Kittitas County Code Title 14 (Buildings)
• WUI / Fire Marshal
• Permit Reports
• License lookup guide: Washington Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Washington Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Washington hub: Washington Contractor License & Permit Hub