City Building Permits

Town of Creston, WA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Town of Creston, Washington. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Washington Lincoln County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

All properties within the incorporated Town of Creston.

Department
Town Hall (Building services coordinated with Lincoln County Building Division)
Address
SE 100 Creston Ave, P.O. Box 131, Creston, WA 99117
Phone
509-636-3145
Website

Online Permit Portal

Open Lincoln County Building Division (handles inspections for Creston)

Platform: Paper-based / Accela Online Portal • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Contact Creston Town Hall at 509-636-3145 or townofcreston@centurytel.net to confirm current permit procedures and local sign-off requirements.
  2. Obtain the Lincoln County Building Permit Application form from the county website (lincolncountywa.com).
  3. Confirm the correct tax location code with town hall (likely County/2200 for unincorporated or a Creston-specific code).
  4. Prepare all required documents (site plan, construction plans, contractor license copy).
  5. Submit completed application to town hall for local sign-off by a town representative.
  6. Once town sign-off is obtained, submit to Lincoln County Building Division for plan review and permitting.
  7. Pay applicable permit fees.
  8. Receive permit and post at job site before work begins.
  9. Schedule inspections directly with Lincoln County Building Inspector Ryan James at 509-721-0539.

Typical processing time: Processing time varies. Creston is a very small town (approximately 200 residents) with minimal building department documentation. Confirm specific timelines with town hall directly.

Source: Town Hall (Building services coordinated with Lincoln County Building Division)

General Requirements

Washington State Building Code (RCW 19.27) applies as the minimum standard. Permits are required for new construction, additions, alterations, remodels, and demolitions of any residential, commercial, or industrial building.

Required Documents

  • Completed Lincoln County Building Permit Application
  • Site plan showing property boundaries and structure location
  • Construction plans for structural work
  • Contractor Washington State license copy (if using a contractor)
Permit validity
Must commence construction within 180 days of permit issuance or permit becomes void. Permit valid for 18 months from issuance; renewable for 6 months if substantial progress is demonstrated.
Building code
2021 International Building Code (IBC) and 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) with Washington State amendments, effective March 15, 2024
Contractor requirements
All contractors must hold a current Washington State contractor registration. Bond requirements: $30,000 (general contractors) or $15,000 (specialty contractors) as of July 2024.

Fees

Permit fee formula
Follows Washington State Building Code fee table structure (RCW 19.27.085) plus state surcharge of $6.50 per permit plus $2.00 per $1,000 of construction valuation
Payment note
No published fee schedule found. Fees are likely set by town council resolution or follow the Lincoln County Building Division schedule. Contact town hall at 509-636-3145 for current fees.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • One-story detached accessory structures with roof projection not exceeding 120 sq ft
  • Retaining walls 4 feet or less in height (measured from footing bottom to top of wall)
  • Normal maintenance and repairs (painting, wallpapering, adding insulation without structural change)
  • Temporary horticultural growing structures used solely for commercial production

Important: Exemption from building permit does not mean exemption from code compliance. Electrical work is never exempt and requires L&I permitting. Confirm any local exemptions with town hall.

Inspections

How to Schedule

  • Lincoln County Building Inspector Ryan James: 509-721-0539 (phone)
  • Lincoln County Building Division: building@co.lincoln.wa.us (email)
  • Creston Town Hall: 509-636-3145 (phone)
Scheduling deadline
Provide at least 2 business days advance notice for inspection requests.
Inspection hours
Town Hall: Monday-Thursday, 6:00 AM-4:00 PM (subject to change; verify before visiting)

Typical inspection sequence: Inspection stages likely follow Lincoln County standards: footings, foundation, framing, insulation, final. Contact the Building Inspector or town hall to confirm specific inspection sequence for your project.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Town Hall (Building services coordinated with Lincoln County Building Division) before applying.

Need help with your project?

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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