Port Orchard building permits
Department contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Port Orchard, Washington.
Last verified 2026-09-15 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 216 Prospect St, Port Orchard, WA 98366
- Phone
- (360) 876-4407
- Office hours
- Not published on the pages read for this entry — confirm before travelling.
- Website
- Official site
Codes adopted
The State Building Code is in effect in every county and city in Washington, and its minimum performance standards may not be diminished locally. A local amendment that affects single-family or multifamily residential buildings is not effective unless the State Building Code Council approves it; amendments to non-residential provisions carry no such approval requirement.
- THE BUILDING CODE IS IN TITLE 20, NOT TITLE 15. POMC Chapter 20.200, CITY CONSTRUCTION CODE, is the live chapter; § 20.200.008 is "State building code adopted".
- THE OBVIOUS PLACE IS DEAD: POMC Chapter 15.04 reads "Chapter 15.04 BUILDING CODE (Repealed by Ord. 019-17)" — and is still listed by name in Title 15's contents. Ord. 019-17 repealed it AND enacted Chapter 20.200, so the same ordinance is the hinge.
- International Building Code — locally amended at POMC § 20.200.012, which renames it: "IBC Section 101.1 is amended as follows: 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Port Orchard Building Code herein referred to as "this code.""
- International Residential Code — locally amended at POMC § 20.200.014.
- International Fire Code — locally amended at POMC § 20.200.016; fire chapters also at POMC 20.204 and 20.206, under Chapters 51-54A and 51-55 WAC.
- Washington State Energy Code — Chapters 51-11C and 51-11R WAC.
- RCW 19.27 — the Washington State Building Code beneath all of the above.
Permit types & fees
Building Permit
Required for construction work in Port Orchard under POMC Chapter 20.200, the City Construction Code — NOT under POMC Chapter 15.04, which is repealed.
See fee scheduleVerify a Contractor Licence
Washington contractors register with the Department of Labor & Industries. Registration is a STATE record; Port Orchard does not issue it.
See fee schedule
Port Orchard's permit history isn't searchable here yet
This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Port Orchard yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.
Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Port Orchard lands. Privacy.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-07)
- 45units
37 buildings · $13.7M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 373units
11 of 12 months reported · #9 in Washington coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-07)
- 173units
133 buildings · $52.9M valuation
7 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 494units
209 buildings · $134.6M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-07 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Washington building activity
Tips & gotchas
- DO NOT READ POMC CHAPTER 15.04. It is still listed as "Building Code" in Title 15's contents and it is repealed. The live chapter is POMC 20.200, City Construction Code.
- Sheds up to 120 square feet, fences up to 6 feet and retaining walls up to 4 feet are exempt from permit — the retaining wall exemption is lost if it supports a surcharge or impounds Class I, II or III-A liquids.
- Driveways and sidewalks are exempt only if not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route.
- Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and counter tops need no permit.
- THERE IS NO STATUTORY CLOCK ON ISSUANCE. POMC § 20.200.005 disapplies the RCW 36.70B.080 time limits to construction permits.
- Where adopted codes conflict, the FIRST NAMED code in POMC § 20.200.008 wins; otherwise the most specific provision, as determined by the building official.