City Building Permits

Omak, WA Building Permit Guide

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

Washington Okanogan County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

All properties within the incorporated City of Omak.

Department
Building and Planning Department
Address
2 North Ash Street, Omak, WA 98841
Phone
509-826-1170
Website
https://www.omakcity.com/1402/Building-and-Planning

Online Permit Portal

Open City of Omak Forms

Platform: Manual submission • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Download the Building Permit Application from the City's forms page.
  2. Complete the application. The property owner is the permit holder; if the applicant is not the owner, they act as the owner's agent.
  3. Submit completed application with all required documents to the Building and Planning Department by mail or in person.
  4. Pay required fees at submission (plan review fee collected up front).
  5. Staff reviews for code compliance; projects may be routed to other departments (planning, public works).
  6. Permit issued upon approval; work must begin within 180 days of issuance.
  7. Schedule required inspections through the Building Department.

Typical processing time: Processing time varies; contact Building Department for estimate.

Source: Building and Planning Department

General Requirements

A building permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of any building or structure.

Required Documents

  • Completed building permit application
  • Site plan drawn to scale (showing lot dimensions, setbacks, all structures, utilities)
  • Construction plans/drawings
  • For 5+ unit residential or buildings over 4,000 sq ft: plans prepared by Washington-licensed design professional (architect, engineer, or landscape architect)
  • Plans must address structural integrity, life safety, ADA accessibility, code compliance, scope, and special inspection requirements
Permit validity
Work must start within 180 days of permit issuance. Work abandoned for 180 or more days causes permit to expire. Permits expire after two years from issuance.
Building code
2021 International Building Code (IBC) with Washington amendments, 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fire Code (IFC), Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), and Washington State Energy Code (WSEC).
Owner-builder
Property owner is the official permit holder.
Contractor requirements
Contractor registration with Washington State L&I required. Electrical permits obtained separately through Washington State L&I.

Fees

Permit fee formula
Based on total project valuation as determined by the Building Official using current published averages for various types of construction and uses.
Penalty (no permit)
Investigation fee equal to the permit fee is assessed for unpermitted work, regardless of whether a permit is subsequently issued.
Payment note
Contact City Hall at 509-826-1170 for current fee schedule.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Building and Planning Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

  • 509-826-1170 (phone)
Scheduling deadline
Request inspections with at least 24 hours' advance notice.
Inspection hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Foundation/footings, Framing, Rough-in plumbing, Rough-in mechanical, Electrical rough-in (L&I inspector, separate from city), Insulation, Final inspection.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Building and Planning Department before applying.

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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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