Des Moines building permits

Requirements

• DMMC 14.01.050 adopts “Chapter 51-51 WAC – International Residential Code (IRC)”. NO EDITION YEAR AND NO EDITION PHRASE APPEAR — the city adopts the WAC chapter itself, and the model code is named after a dash as a gloss on it.
• The rolling clause sits in the opening sentence and covers every item in the list: the codes are adopted “pursuant to chapter 19.27 RCW and RCW 35.21.180 as presently constituted or as may be subsequently amended, added to, or excepted as though fully set forth in this Title”.
• TWO EXPIRY TRIGGERS AND NO ABSOLUTE CAP, WHICH IS UNUSUAL IN THIS SET. DMMC 14.05.110(1): “Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.” “ONE OR MORE EXTENSIONS” IS THE PHRASE TO NOTICE. Puyallup, Wenatchee and Walla Walla all add a two-year absolute limit that runs regardless of progress, and SeaTac allows a single extension only. Des Moines publishes neither an absolute cap nor a limit on the number of extensions.
• THE APPLICATION HAS ITS OWN 180-DAY CLOCK, AND MISSING IT CAN COST YOU THE DRAWINGS. DMMC 14.05.110(2): “Applications for which no permit is issued within 180 days following the date of application filing shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official.” One extension of up to 180 days is available on request with cause shown.
• A BOND OR CASH IS REQUIRED BEFORE ANY BUILDING PERMIT ISSUES, AND THE CODE PUBLISHES NO AMOUNT. DMMC 14.05.080: “Before issuing any building permit, the City shall require the applicant to execute and file with the City a bond or cash. The bond shall be in a form approved by the City Manager or the City Manager's designee in such reasonable sum and with such securities as the Building Official may specify. In the event of a failure by the applicant to satisfactorily complete the work included in the building permit, the bond or cash may be claimed by the City”. THIS IS SECURITY, NOT A FEE — it is returned if the work is completed satisfactorily. It applies to EVERY building permit, not to a class of work, and because the sum is set case by case there is no figure to budget from until the Building Official specifies one.
• CONSTRUCTION HOURS PUT SATURDAY WITH SUNDAY, NOT WITH THE WORKING WEEK. DMMC 14.01.100: activities “shall be limited to the following hours: (1) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (2) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.” THREE CITIES IN THIS SET, THREE DIFFERENT PLACES FOR SATURDAY: Issaquah permits no nonemergency construction on weekends or legal holidays at all without an expanded work hours permit; University Place runs Monday THROUGH SATURDAY 7:00 to 7:00 with Sunday and legal holidays at 8:00 to 5:00; Des Moines gives Saturday the short day.
• DES MOINES RESOLVES CODE CONFLICTS BY A DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE FROM ITS NEIGHBOURS, AND CARRYING THEIRS HERE WOULD GIVE THE WRONG ANSWER. DMMC 14.05.040: “Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern except that the hierarchy of the codes established in RCW 19.27.031 shall govern.” >>> SO THE DEFAULT IS MOST-RESTRICTIVE AND THE OVERRIDE IS A STATE STATUTE, NOT A LOCAL LIST. Pullman and Walla Walla both publish their own ordering and make the FIRST LISTED code govern — and they disagree with each other about where plumbing sits. Des Moines publishes no ordering of its own at all. RCW 19.27.031 was not read for this entry, so what that hierarchy contains is NOT asserted here.
• THERE IS A PUBLISHED ROUTE TO VEST BEFORE YOU FILE FOR THE BUILDING PERMIT. DMMC 14.05.070 “Optional method of obtaining prior approvals – Agreement regarding vested rights” lets an applicant seek design review approval, a shoreline substantial development permit, environmental review under SEPA and/or a land clearing, grading or filling permit BEFORE filing a building permit application, on terms the section sets out. The full terms run past the extract read for this entry and the vesting effect is NOT asserted here — the section title says an agreement regarding vested rights is involved, and the agreement itself was not read.
• DMMC 14.01.050 closes with a filing duty that is useful to a reader: “Not less than one copy of each such code, standards, rules, and regulations, in the form in which it was adopted, and suitably marked to indicate amendments, additions, deletions and exceptions as provided in this Title, shall be filed in the Building Official's office and be available for use and examination by the public.” Because the city adopts by WAC chapter with no edition year, that marked-up filed copy is the concrete way to see which text is actually in force.
• DMMC 14.01.110: the Title “shall not be construed to relieve or lessen the responsibility of a person owning, building, altering, constructing, or moving a building or structure”, nor shall the City “be held as assuming such liability by reason of inspection authorized in this Title or a certificate of inspection issued by the City”. An inspection is not a warranty.
• DMMC 14.01.140: appeals go to the Hearing Examiner under DMMC 18.20.150, 18.20.160 and chapter 18.240 DMMC, and “All references to ‘board of appeals’ in any codes, standards, rules, and regulations adopted in this Title shall hereafter mean the Hearing Examiner.” THE EXAMINER'S POWER IS BOUNDED: “The Hearing Examiner shall have no authority to waive requirements of this Title.” Chapter 18.240 DMMC was not opened, so no deadline is asserted.

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding permit applicationFiled under DMMC Chapter 14.05. DMMC 14.05.060 is headed “Applications for building permit – Other filings required.” and was not opened for this entry, so the submittal list is not reproduced here. Note the 180-day application clock at DMMC 14.05.110(2): if no permit issues in that time the application expires and submitted plans may be returned or destroyed.
• RequiredAssurance device — bond or cash filed with the CityDMMC 14.05.080 requires the applicant to execute and file a bond or cash BEFORE any building permit issues, in a form approved by the City Manager or designee and in a sum the Building Official specifies. It is claimable by the City if the permitted work is not satisfactorily completed. This is refundable security, not a charge by the city, and the code publishes no amount.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• DMMC 14.01.050 adopts “Chapter 51-50 WAC – International Building Code (IBC)”, again with no edition year and no edition phrase, under the same rolling opening sentence.
• The same section adopts Chapter 51-11C WAC (IECC Commercial), Chapter 51-11R WAC (IECC Residential), Chapter 51-52 WAC (International Mechanical Code), Chapter 51-54A WAC (International Fire Code, “including the Appendices B, C, E, F and I”), Chapter 51-56 WAC (Uniform Plumbing Code) and the Washington Cities Electrical Code.
• A LOCAL FIRE-FLOW CONCESSION FOR SPRINKLERED BUILDINGS. IFC Appendix B Section B105.2 is replaced so that, for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings, “A reduction in required fire flow of up to 50 percent, as approved, is allowed when the building is protected throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R. The resulting fire flow shall not be less than 1,500 gallons per minute (5,678 L/min) for the prescribed duration as specified in Table B105.1(2).” Table B105.2 is deleted.
• >>> DES MOINES ONCE HAD A FIVE-STOREY WOOD FRAME REGIME AND REPEALED THE WHOLE OF IT. DMMC 14.05.130 through 14.05.220 — ten sections covering purpose, construction, occupancy, stair enclosures, fire detection and protection, height, basic allowable floor area, Fire Department access and construction inspection — every one now reads “Repealed by Ord. 1800.” MEASURED: exactly ten occurrences of that phrase in the chapter, all citing the same ordinance. THE SECTION INDEX STILL SHOWS THE FULL DESCRIPTIVE NAMES, so the contents list reads like a live regime. Ordinance 1800 was not read and WHY the city repealed it is not asserted. Compare SeaTac, which grants a five-storey Type VA allowance on seven conditions.
• A SECOND, NARROWER CONFLICT RULE APPLIES TO ONE CLASS OF FACILITY AND INVERTS THE USUAL SHAPE. DMMC 14.01.050(9): “The design of HCT stations and associated facilities, including elevated structures, shall conform to the most current versions of all applicable sections of the building code, fire code, and National Fire Protection Standard No. 130 (NFPA 130). Conflicts among these codes shall be resolved in favor of the NFPA 130 or as otherwise approved by the Fire Marshal and Building Official.” A single named standard wins for high-capacity transit work, rather than a list position or a most-restrictive test.
• DES MOINES RESOLVES CODE CONFLICTS BY A DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE FROM ITS NEIGHBOURS, AND CARRYING THEIRS HERE WOULD GIVE THE WRONG ANSWER. DMMC 14.05.040: “Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern except that the hierarchy of the codes established in RCW 19.27.031 shall govern.” >>> SO THE DEFAULT IS MOST-RESTRICTIVE AND THE OVERRIDE IS A STATE STATUTE, NOT A LOCAL LIST. Pullman and Walla Walla both publish their own ordering and make the FIRST LISTED code govern — and they disagree with each other about where plumbing sits. Des Moines publishes no ordering of its own at all. RCW 19.27.031 was not read for this entry, so what that hierarchy contains is NOT asserted here.
• TWO EXPIRY TRIGGERS AND NO ABSOLUTE CAP, WHICH IS UNUSUAL IN THIS SET. DMMC 14.05.110(1): “Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.” “ONE OR MORE EXTENSIONS” IS THE PHRASE TO NOTICE. Puyallup, Wenatchee and Walla Walla all add a two-year absolute limit that runs regardless of progress, and SeaTac allows a single extension only. Des Moines publishes neither an absolute cap nor a limit on the number of extensions.
• THE APPLICATION HAS ITS OWN 180-DAY CLOCK, AND MISSING IT CAN COST YOU THE DRAWINGS. DMMC 14.05.110(2): “Applications for which no permit is issued within 180 days following the date of application filing shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official.” One extension of up to 180 days is available on request with cause shown.
• A BOND OR CASH IS REQUIRED BEFORE ANY BUILDING PERMIT ISSUES, AND THE CODE PUBLISHES NO AMOUNT. DMMC 14.05.080: “Before issuing any building permit, the City shall require the applicant to execute and file with the City a bond or cash. The bond shall be in a form approved by the City Manager or the City Manager's designee in such reasonable sum and with such securities as the Building Official may specify. In the event of a failure by the applicant to satisfactorily complete the work included in the building permit, the bond or cash may be claimed by the City”. THIS IS SECURITY, NOT A FEE — it is returned if the work is completed satisfactorily. It applies to EVERY building permit, not to a class of work, and because the sum is set case by case there is no figure to budget from until the Building Official specifies one.
• CONSTRUCTION HOURS PUT SATURDAY WITH SUNDAY, NOT WITH THE WORKING WEEK. DMMC 14.01.100: activities “shall be limited to the following hours: (1) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (2) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.” THREE CITIES IN THIS SET, THREE DIFFERENT PLACES FOR SATURDAY: Issaquah permits no nonemergency construction on weekends or legal holidays at all without an expanded work hours permit; University Place runs Monday THROUGH SATURDAY 7:00 to 7:00 with Sunday and legal holidays at 8:00 to 5:00; Des Moines gives Saturday the short day.
• THERE IS A PUBLISHED ROUTE TO VEST BEFORE YOU FILE FOR THE BUILDING PERMIT. DMMC 14.05.070 “Optional method of obtaining prior approvals – Agreement regarding vested rights” lets an applicant seek design review approval, a shoreline substantial development permit, environmental review under SEPA and/or a land clearing, grading or filling permit BEFORE filing a building permit application, on terms the section sets out. The full terms run past the extract read for this entry and the vesting effect is NOT asserted here — the section title says an agreement regarding vested rights is involved, and the agreement itself was not read.
• DMMC 14.01.050 closes with a filing duty that is useful to a reader: “Not less than one copy of each such code, standards, rules, and regulations, in the form in which it was adopted, and suitably marked to indicate amendments, additions, deletions and exceptions as provided in this Title, shall be filed in the Building Official's office and be available for use and examination by the public.” Because the city adopts by WAC chapter with no edition year, that marked-up filed copy is the concrete way to see which text is actually in force.
• DMMC 14.01.140: appeals go to the Hearing Examiner under DMMC 18.20.150, 18.20.160 and chapter 18.240 DMMC, and “All references to ‘board of appeals’ in any codes, standards, rules, and regulations adopted in this Title shall hereafter mean the Hearing Examiner.” THE EXAMINER'S POWER IS BOUNDED: “The Hearing Examiner shall have no authority to waive requirements of this Title.” Chapter 18.240 DMMC was not opened, so no deadline is asserted.

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding permit applicationFiled under DMMC Chapter 14.05. DMMC 14.05.060 is headed “Applications for building permit – Other filings required.” and was not opened for this entry, so the submittal list is not reproduced here. Note the 180-day application clock at DMMC 14.05.110(2): if no permit issues in that time the application expires and submitted plans may be returned or destroyed.
• RequiredAssurance device — bond or cash filed with the CityDMMC 14.05.080 requires the applicant to execute and file a bond or cash BEFORE any building permit issues, in a form approved by the City Manager or designee and in a sum the Building Official specifies. It is claimable by the City if the permitted work is not satisfactorily completed. This is refundable security, not a charge by the city, and the code publishes no amount.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• DMMC 14.01.050(5) adopts “Chapter 51-52 WAC – International Mechanical Code”, with no edition year and no edition phrase, under the chapter's general rolling clause.
• NO NFPA STANDARD IS NAMED FOR FUEL GAS OR LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS IN THE ADOPTION LIST. The list at DMMC 14.01.050 names NFPA only twice — NFPA 13 and 13R in the fire flow amendment, and NFPA 130 for high-capacity transit stations. Whether a fuel gas standard reaches mechanical work through the state chapter is not asserted here.
• TWO EXPIRY TRIGGERS AND NO ABSOLUTE CAP, WHICH IS UNUSUAL IN THIS SET. DMMC 14.05.110(1): “Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.” “ONE OR MORE EXTENSIONS” IS THE PHRASE TO NOTICE. Puyallup, Wenatchee and Walla Walla all add a two-year absolute limit that runs regardless of progress, and SeaTac allows a single extension only. Des Moines publishes neither an absolute cap nor a limit on the number of extensions.
• THE APPLICATION HAS ITS OWN 180-DAY CLOCK, AND MISSING IT CAN COST YOU THE DRAWINGS. DMMC 14.05.110(2): “Applications for which no permit is issued within 180 days following the date of application filing shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official.” One extension of up to 180 days is available on request with cause shown.
• CONSTRUCTION HOURS PUT SATURDAY WITH SUNDAY, NOT WITH THE WORKING WEEK. DMMC 14.01.100: activities “shall be limited to the following hours: (1) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (2) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.” THREE CITIES IN THIS SET, THREE DIFFERENT PLACES FOR SATURDAY: Issaquah permits no nonemergency construction on weekends or legal holidays at all without an expanded work hours permit; University Place runs Monday THROUGH SATURDAY 7:00 to 7:00 with Sunday and legal holidays at 8:00 to 5:00; Des Moines gives Saturday the short day.
• DES MOINES RESOLVES CODE CONFLICTS BY A DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE FROM ITS NEIGHBOURS, AND CARRYING THEIRS HERE WOULD GIVE THE WRONG ANSWER. DMMC 14.05.040: “Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern except that the hierarchy of the codes established in RCW 19.27.031 shall govern.” >>> SO THE DEFAULT IS MOST-RESTRICTIVE AND THE OVERRIDE IS A STATE STATUTE, NOT A LOCAL LIST. Pullman and Walla Walla both publish their own ordering and make the FIRST LISTED code govern — and they disagree with each other about where plumbing sits. Des Moines publishes no ordering of its own at all. RCW 19.27.031 was not read for this entry, so what that hierarchy contains is NOT asserted here.
• DMMC 14.01.050 closes with a filing duty that is useful to a reader: “Not less than one copy of each such code, standards, rules, and regulations, in the form in which it was adopted, and suitably marked to indicate amendments, additions, deletions and exceptions as provided in this Title, shall be filed in the Building Official's office and be available for use and examination by the public.” Because the city adopts by WAC chapter with no edition year, that marked-up filed copy is the concrete way to see which text is actually in force.
• DMMC 14.01.140: appeals go to the Hearing Examiner under DMMC 18.20.150, 18.20.160 and chapter 18.240 DMMC, and “All references to ‘board of appeals’ in any codes, standards, rules, and regulations adopted in this Title shall hereafter mean the Hearing Examiner.” THE EXAMINER'S POWER IS BOUNDED: “The Hearing Examiner shall have no authority to waive requirements of this Title.” Chapter 18.240 DMMC was not opened, so no deadline is asserted.

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding permit applicationFiled under DMMC Chapter 14.05. DMMC 14.05.060 is headed “Applications for building permit – Other filings required.” and was not opened for this entry, so the submittal list is not reproduced here. Note the 180-day application clock at DMMC 14.05.110(2): if no permit issues in that time the application expires and submitted plans may be returned or destroyed.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• DMMC 14.01.050(7) adopts “Chapter 51-56 WAC – Uniform Plumbing Code”, with no edition year and no edition phrase, under the chapter's general rolling clause.
• NO APPLICANT-ELECTED INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE ALTERNATE APPEARS in the adoption list at DMMC 14.01.050. SeaTac and Longview both publish one; DMMC 14.01.050 does not.
• A SEPARATE CHAPTER GOVERNS SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS — DMMC Chapter 14.25 SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS CODE — which was NOT opened for this entry. On-site sewage questions are likely to sit there rather than in the plumbing adoption.
• TWO EXPIRY TRIGGERS AND NO ABSOLUTE CAP, WHICH IS UNUSUAL IN THIS SET. DMMC 14.05.110(1): “Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.” “ONE OR MORE EXTENSIONS” IS THE PHRASE TO NOTICE. Puyallup, Wenatchee and Walla Walla all add a two-year absolute limit that runs regardless of progress, and SeaTac allows a single extension only. Des Moines publishes neither an absolute cap nor a limit on the number of extensions.
• THE APPLICATION HAS ITS OWN 180-DAY CLOCK, AND MISSING IT CAN COST YOU THE DRAWINGS. DMMC 14.05.110(2): “Applications for which no permit is issued within 180 days following the date of application filing shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official.” One extension of up to 180 days is available on request with cause shown.
• CONSTRUCTION HOURS PUT SATURDAY WITH SUNDAY, NOT WITH THE WORKING WEEK. DMMC 14.01.100: activities “shall be limited to the following hours: (1) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (2) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.” THREE CITIES IN THIS SET, THREE DIFFERENT PLACES FOR SATURDAY: Issaquah permits no nonemergency construction on weekends or legal holidays at all without an expanded work hours permit; University Place runs Monday THROUGH SATURDAY 7:00 to 7:00 with Sunday and legal holidays at 8:00 to 5:00; Des Moines gives Saturday the short day.
• DES MOINES RESOLVES CODE CONFLICTS BY A DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE FROM ITS NEIGHBOURS, AND CARRYING THEIRS HERE WOULD GIVE THE WRONG ANSWER. DMMC 14.05.040: “Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern except that the hierarchy of the codes established in RCW 19.27.031 shall govern.” >>> SO THE DEFAULT IS MOST-RESTRICTIVE AND THE OVERRIDE IS A STATE STATUTE, NOT A LOCAL LIST. Pullman and Walla Walla both publish their own ordering and make the FIRST LISTED code govern — and they disagree with each other about where plumbing sits. Des Moines publishes no ordering of its own at all. RCW 19.27.031 was not read for this entry, so what that hierarchy contains is NOT asserted here.
• DMMC 14.01.050 closes with a filing duty that is useful to a reader: “Not less than one copy of each such code, standards, rules, and regulations, in the form in which it was adopted, and suitably marked to indicate amendments, additions, deletions and exceptions as provided in this Title, shall be filed in the Building Official's office and be available for use and examination by the public.” Because the city adopts by WAC chapter with no edition year, that marked-up filed copy is the concrete way to see which text is actually in force.
• DMMC 14.01.140: appeals go to the Hearing Examiner under DMMC 18.20.150, 18.20.160 and chapter 18.240 DMMC, and “All references to ‘board of appeals’ in any codes, standards, rules, and regulations adopted in this Title shall hereafter mean the Hearing Examiner.” THE EXAMINER'S POWER IS BOUNDED: “The Hearing Examiner shall have no authority to waive requirements of this Title.” Chapter 18.240 DMMC was not opened, so no deadline is asserted.

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding permit applicationFiled under DMMC Chapter 14.05. DMMC 14.05.060 is headed “Applications for building permit – Other filings required.” and was not opened for this entry, so the submittal list is not reproduced here. Note the 180-day application clock at DMMC 14.05.110(2): if no permit issues in that time the application expires and submitted plans may be returned or destroyed.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• DMMC 14.01.050(8) adopts “The Washington Cities Electrical Code as published and printed by the Washington Association of Building Officials”. NO EDITION YEAR IS NAMED.
• THE CITY CHARGES ITS OWN ELECTRICAL PERMIT FEES, WHICH TELLS YOU IT ISSUES THE PERMITS. DMMC 14.15.040 amends WCEC Section 85.13(N): “Payment of fees. A permit shall not be valid until the fees prescribed by law have been paid. Nor shall an amendment to a permit be released until the additional fee, if any, has been paid”, with a schedule of permit fees established as the section provides.
• >>> THE WASHINGTON CITIES ELECTRICAL CODE NOW APPEARS IN TWO CITIES IN THIS SET AND THE ATTRIBUTIONS DIFFER. SeaTac adopts it at SMC 13.180.030 without naming a publisher; Des Moines names one — the Washington Association of Building Officials. TWO CITIES IS A SAMPLE OF TWO and nothing is claimed here about how widely the WCEC is used in Washington.
• ELECTRICAL ARRANGEMENTS DIFFER SHARPLY ACROSS THIS SET AND NONE OF THEM TRANSFERS: Des Moines adopts the WCEC and charges its own fees; SeaTac adopts the NEC and the WCEC and relinquishes jurisdiction to the Port of Seattle for airport uses; Pullman adopts the NEC plus state rules codified in Chapter 296-45B WAC, a Labor and Industries title; Walla Walla publishes Chapter 15.08 as “ELECTRICAL CODE (RESERVED)” with no sections at all; and Wenatchee's electrical chapter was repealed while its permit requirement survived.
• TWO EXPIRY TRIGGERS AND NO ABSOLUTE CAP, WHICH IS UNUSUAL IN THIS SET. DMMC 14.05.110(1): “Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.” “ONE OR MORE EXTENSIONS” IS THE PHRASE TO NOTICE. Puyallup, Wenatchee and Walla Walla all add a two-year absolute limit that runs regardless of progress, and SeaTac allows a single extension only. Des Moines publishes neither an absolute cap nor a limit on the number of extensions.
• CONSTRUCTION HOURS PUT SATURDAY WITH SUNDAY, NOT WITH THE WORKING WEEK. DMMC 14.01.100: activities “shall be limited to the following hours: (1) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (2) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.” THREE CITIES IN THIS SET, THREE DIFFERENT PLACES FOR SATURDAY: Issaquah permits no nonemergency construction on weekends or legal holidays at all without an expanded work hours permit; University Place runs Monday THROUGH SATURDAY 7:00 to 7:00 with Sunday and legal holidays at 8:00 to 5:00; Des Moines gives Saturday the short day.
• DMMC 14.01.050 closes with a filing duty that is useful to a reader: “Not less than one copy of each such code, standards, rules, and regulations, in the form in which it was adopted, and suitably marked to indicate amendments, additions, deletions and exceptions as provided in this Title, shall be filed in the Building Official's office and be available for use and examination by the public.” Because the city adopts by WAC chapter with no edition year, that marked-up filed copy is the concrete way to see which text is actually in force.
• DMMC 14.01.140: appeals go to the Hearing Examiner under DMMC 18.20.150, 18.20.160 and chapter 18.240 DMMC, and “All references to ‘board of appeals’ in any codes, standards, rules, and regulations adopted in this Title shall hereafter mean the Hearing Examiner.” THE EXAMINER'S POWER IS BOUNDED: “The Hearing Examiner shall have no authority to waive requirements of this Title.” Chapter 18.240 DMMC was not opened, so no deadline is asserted.

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding permit applicationFiled under DMMC Chapter 14.05. DMMC 14.05.060 is headed “Applications for building permit – Other filings required.” and was not opened for this entry, so the submittal list is not reproduced here. Note the 180-day application clock at DMMC 14.05.110(2): if no permit issues in that time the application expires and submitted plans may be returned or destroyed.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• DMMC Chapter 14.20 LAND FILLING, CLEARING AND GRADING CODE is a full permit regime of its own. Its section list includes Permit – Application (14.20.070), Permit – Plans and specifications (14.20.080), Permit – Review (14.20.090), Decision of code official (14.20.100), Permit – Expiration – Extension (14.20.110), Permit notice to be posted (14.20.120), Project inspection (14.20.130), Suspension or revocation of permits (14.20.140) and Operating conditions and standards of performance (14.20.150).
• >>> THE CHAPTER ITSELF WAS NOT OPENED FOR THIS ENTRY. The section titles above were read from the Title 14 contents and the cross-reference index only. NO THRESHOLD, EXPIRY PERIOD, REVIEW PERIOD OR SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENT FROM CHAPTER 14.20 IS ASSERTED HERE — including the review period, which section 14.20.090 is titled for and which may well be published there.
• A clearing, grading or filling permit is one of the approvals that can be sought BEFORE a building permit application under the optional prior-approvals route at DMMC 14.05.070.
• CONSTRUCTION HOURS PUT SATURDAY WITH SUNDAY, NOT WITH THE WORKING WEEK. DMMC 14.01.100: activities “shall be limited to the following hours: (1) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (2) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.” THREE CITIES IN THIS SET, THREE DIFFERENT PLACES FOR SATURDAY: Issaquah permits no nonemergency construction on weekends or legal holidays at all without an expanded work hours permit; University Place runs Monday THROUGH SATURDAY 7:00 to 7:00 with Sunday and legal holidays at 8:00 to 5:00; Des Moines gives Saturday the short day.
• DES MOINES RESOLVES CODE CONFLICTS BY A DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE FROM ITS NEIGHBOURS, AND CARRYING THEIRS HERE WOULD GIVE THE WRONG ANSWER. DMMC 14.05.040: “Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern except that the hierarchy of the codes established in RCW 19.27.031 shall govern.” >>> SO THE DEFAULT IS MOST-RESTRICTIVE AND THE OVERRIDE IS A STATE STATUTE, NOT A LOCAL LIST. Pullman and Walla Walla both publish their own ordering and make the FIRST LISTED code govern — and they disagree with each other about where plumbing sits. Des Moines publishes no ordering of its own at all. RCW 19.27.031 was not read for this entry, so what that hierarchy contains is NOT asserted here.
• DMMC 14.01.140: appeals go to the Hearing Examiner under DMMC 18.20.150, 18.20.160 and chapter 18.240 DMMC, and “All references to ‘board of appeals’ in any codes, standards, rules, and regulations adopted in this Title shall hereafter mean the Hearing Examiner.” THE EXAMINER'S POWER IS BOUNDED: “The Hearing Examiner shall have no authority to waive requirements of this Title.” Chapter 18.240 DMMC was not opened, so no deadline is asserted.

Required documents

• RequiredClearing and grading permit applicationDMMC 14.20.070 is headed “Permit – Application.” and 14.20.080 “Permit – Plans and specifications.” Neither section was opened for this entry, so the submittal list is not reproduced.

Fee schedule