Town of Northport, WA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Northport is a very small town that does not maintain a dedicated building department. Building permits within town limits are likely processed through Stevens County Land Services Building Division. Confirm authority before submitting.

Department

Town Hall (Building permits may be handled by Stevens County Building Division)

Address

315 Summit Avenue, Northport, WA 99157

Phone

(509) 732-4450

Website

https://www.stevenscountywa.gov/20891/building-division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Contact Northport Town Hall at (509) 732-4450 to confirm whether the town or Stevens County is the building permit authority for your project.
2. If county authority: submit application to Stevens County Land Services Building Division, 260 S. Oak St., Colville, WA 99114.
3. If town authority: obtain application from town hall and follow town requirements.
4. Provide site plan, project description, valuation, and ownership documentation.
5. Pay applicable fees.
6. Post permit at job site and call for required inspections.

Typical processing time: Varies based on authority and plan review complexity. Contact town hall or county building division for estimate.

Source: Town Hall (Building permits may be handled by Stevens County Building Division)

General Requirements

Washington State Building Code (IBC/IRC with WA amendments) applies throughout the state, including Northport. Work requiring permits includes: new construction, structural additions or alterations, plumbing and mechanical modifications, and accessory structures above exemption thresholds.

Required Documents

• Completed permit application
• Site plan
• Construction drawings
• Project description and valuation

Permit validity

Contact the applicable authority for permit validity period.

Building code

2021 International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) with Washington State amendments

Owner-builder

Both property owners and L&I-registered contractors may apply.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must be registered with Washington State L&I under RCW 18.27. General contractors must carry a $30,000 surety bond; specialty contractors must carry $15,000. General liability insurance minimums: $200,000 public liability / $50,000 property damage.

Fees

Plan check fee

Contact town hall or county building division for current amounts.

Permit fee formula

Fees depend on the permitting authority (town or county). If processed through Stevens County, the county fee schedule applies.

Payment note

Contact Northport Town Hall at (509) 732-4450 or Stevens County Building Division at (509) 684-8325.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Accessory structures under 200 sq ft with no plumbing, no habitable space, and not on permanent foundation (generally exempt)

Important: Standard IBC/IRC exemptions apply. Confirm with the applicable authority before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (509) 732-4450 (town) or (509) 684-8325 (county) (phone)

Inspection hours

Monday–Friday; confirm hours with applicable authority

Typical inspection sequence: If processed through Stevens County: schedule at least two working days in advance. Inspections by day, call between 8:30-9:00 a.m. for approximate time window. Electrical inspections conducted by L&I.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) with Washington State amendments
• Verify contractor license: WA L&I Contractor Lookup
• Stevens County SmartGov Portal
• L&I Electrical Permits
• License lookup guide: Washington Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Washington Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Washington hub: Washington Contractor License & Permit Hub

Other cities in Stevens County