Building Permit Times

Turn Around Time for Building Permit Issuance in Washington State (MRSC Email Survey - October 2001)
City or County	Population (1999 est.)	Minor Permits	Residential Permits	Commercial Permits	Remarks (all times in this table are working days/weeks)
A number of respondents pointed out that times shown for their jurisdiction are for completed applications and do not include time for providing additional information or clarifications or for correction of errors. Also, times shown do not include zone changes, conditional use permits and other land use actions. Several respondents pointed out the statutory 120-day processing requirement of RCW 36.70B and that time required for the applicant to make corrections or supply additional information is not included in the 120 days. See the Comments section of this survey report.
Adams Co.	N/A		2 weeks		If plans are in order & other permits obtained, then 2 days.
Bainbridge Island	19,840		5 weeks
Bremerton	36,270				8 weeks is current average, but want to reduce to 4 weeks with more staff
Brewster	2,065		1-2 weeks		More complex projects: 3-4 weeks
Bridgeport	2,125		1-2 weeks		More complex projects: 3-4 weeks
Burien	29,770		4-6 weeks	8-10 days	Permit application review timelines available as information handout
Clark Co.	N/A	7-14 days	14-21 days	30 days	Comm. tenant impr. 30 days. All times average. See comments for table.
Colville	4,750	1-2 days	1-2 weeks	2 weeks
Cowlitz Co.	N/A		1-2 weeks	3 weeks	See comments.
CTED & Shockey	N/A				See comments.
Duvall	4,435		2-4 weeks		See comments.
East Wenatchee	5,395		2-3 weeks	6-8 weeks	Light comm. is same as Res.
Issaquah	10,130				See comments.
Jefferson Co.	N/A				Average is 34 days. Range is 1-147 days.
Kalama	1,630		2 weeks		Critical area issues could add another 2-3 weeks.
Kenmore	17,168	2-3 weeks	2-3 weeks	2-3 months	After planning permits are obtained. Commercial tenant improve 3-4 weeks.
Lacey	29,020				See comments.
Lynden	8,910		7-10 days	14-21 days
Mercer Island	21,570	30 days	60 days	60 days	See comments.
Mill Creek	11,110		2-3 weeks	3-6 weeks
Mukilteo	17,180		4 weeks	6-8 weeks	See comments for extensive discussion.
Newcastle	8,605				Goal for all permits is 4-6 weeks.
Nooksack	890		1 week	3-4 weeks	See comments.
Okanogan Co.	N/A		2 weeks		Average time, after planning department review.
Pateros	630		1-2 weeks		More complex projects: 3-4 weeks.
Pierce Co.	N/A		14-21 days	60-80 days	Assuming no surface water or ESA reviews.
Pullman	24,540	3 weeks
Quinault Nation	N/A				2 days for most permits, 2-4 weeks for larger projects.
Richland	36,880		12 days	20 days	2nd reviews are 12 days for Comm, 9 days for Res. Tenant Imp. are same as Res.
Seattle	540,500				120 days. See comments.
Shoreline	52,030				See comments.
Skagit Co.	N/A				29 days is median. See comments.
Snohomish	8,250		1 month	8 weeks	Multi-family: 6 weeks.
Snoqualmie	1,980		2 weeks	3-4 weeks
Spokane Co.	N/A	1 day	3 days	34 days
Stevens Co.	N/A		7-10 days		See comments.
Sumas	976		1 week	1 month	See comments.
Sumner	8,495		2 weeks	4 weeks
Tacoma	187,200		2 weeks	8 weeks
Thurston Co.	N/A		10 days		Average time.
Walla Walla Co.	N/A				12-14 days in unincorporated county area.
West Richland	7,625	2-3 days	3-4 days	5-9 days
Whatcom Co.	N/A		1 month		In busy season, may be 6-7 weeks.
Whitman Co.	N/A		1 week	2 weeks
Winthrop	380				30 days, average.
Yakima	65,500	3 weeks			Less time in Winter, more in Summer.