Skamania County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

All unincorporated areas of Skamania County. The county's Building Division also provides contracted building services to the City of Stevenson.

Department

Skamania County Community Development — Building Division

Address

Skamania County Courthouse Annex, 170 NW Vancouver Ave, PO Box 1009, Stevenson, WA 98648

Phone

(509) 427-3925

Email

building@co.skamania.wa.us

Website

https://www.skamaniacounty.org/departments-offices/community-development/building-division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. 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. 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. Register or log into Cloudpermit at https://us.cloudpermit.com/skamaniacounty/login.
4. Submit permit application with all required documents (see General Requirements below).
5. Receive completeness determination within 20 calendar days of submission. County will notify whether application is complete or requires additional information.
6. 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. Pay fees online through Cloudpermit.
8. Permit issued — post permit card at the job site before beginning work.
9. Schedule and pass required inspections through Cloudpermit.
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

General Requirements

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.

Required Documents

• Site plan (drawn to scale, showing property lines, setbacks, existing structures, and proposed work)
• Floor plans and elevation drawings
• Structural plans and specifications
• Energy code compliance documentation (WSEC)
• Geotechnical Assessment Report (if in a geologically hazardous area)
• For NSA properties: NSA approval documentation (obtained separately through Planning Division)
• Proof of address and parcel number

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.

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).

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.

Fees

Plan check fee

65% of the permit fee

Permit fee formula

Permit fee base is determined by construction valuation, calculated as either (a) project square footage multiplied by the per-square-foot construction cost from ICC Building Valuation Data (February 2020 ICC Building Valuation Data baseline), or (b) the fair market value of the improvement — whichever is greater. Plan review fee: 65% of the permit fee, charged in addition to the permit fee.

Payment note

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. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• 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
• Fences not over 6 feet in height
• 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
• Platforms, decks, sidewalks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or lower story
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Minor like-for-like repairs not affecting structural elements

Important: 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.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 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 inspection 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.

Additional Resources

• 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).
• Verify contractor license: WA L&I Contractor Lookup
• Skamania County Community Development
• Skamania County FAQs (building)
• Cloudpermit portal
• NSA Planning Division page
• Skamania County ordinances and code
• Licensed contractors list
• Columbia River Gorge Commission (NSA legal authorities)
• Washington DNR Geologic Hazard Maps
• Washington State L&I (electrical permits and contractor registration)
• License lookup guide: Washington Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Washington Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Washington hub: Washington Contractor License & Permit Hub