Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Puyallup, Washington

Puyallup requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: Reviewed under “the current edition of the International Residential Code … as adopted by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-51 WAC” (PMC 17.04.030) — the city names no edition year; IRC Section R104 is amended to add R104.12, under which the building official has no duty to verify or establish lot lines or setback lines; Fire sprinklers are NOT triggered by house size: PMC 17.36.020 excepts “a building that has three or less dwelling units”; Applications expire 180 days after the city determines the application COMPLETE, extendable in 90-day periods for good cause (PMC 17.04.120(1)); Permits expire if work is not commenced within 180 days, if work stops for 180 days, or two years after issuance regardless of progress (PMC 17.04.120(2)). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Puyallup at (253) 841-4321 before starting work.

In Puyallup, the published Permit fee is: Set by city manager executive order. Additional published fees: Refund if withdrawn — Up to 80% refunded if no work is done; Refund if charged in error — 100% refunded if paid in error; Work started before permit — Investigation fee if work starts early; Fee waiver (low-income nonprofit) — May be waived: low-income nonprofit; Reissue after expiry — Reissue after expiry: half original fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Up to two years, but three separate things can end it sooner. Under PMC 17.04.120(2) a permit expires and becomes void if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days or more, or “after two years from the date of permit or approval issuance, regardless of whether work is finished.” The building official may grant “one or more” extensions of not more than 180 days each on written request with justifiable cause. If it does expire, a new permit for the unfinished work costs half the original fee on a showing of good cause.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Construction Plans; Site Plan Establishing Lot Lines and Setbacks. Depending on your project, Puyallup may also ask for: Contractor Registration. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Apply through City of Puyallup at 333 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371. Phone: (253) 841-4321. Official information: https://www.puyallupwa.gov/.

The code deliberately does not say. PMC 17.04.030 adopts “the current edition of the International Residential Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., as adopted by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-51 WAC”, under an opening clause that takes the codes “as they currently exist or are hereafter amended”. There is no year to quote, by design: whatever edition Chapter 51-51 WAC currently adopts is the edition in force in Puyallup, and it changes without any action by the city. Check the WAC chapter to identify the edition that applies on the day you file.

No, and the code says so explicitly in two places. PMC 17.04.040(2) adds IBC Section 104.12 and PMC 17.04.050(1) adds the identical IRC Section R104.12: “Notwithstanding the authority of the building official to administer and enforce the building code, the building official shall have no duty to verify or establish lot lines or setback lines. No such duty is created by this code, and none shall be implied.” Zoning setbacks still apply; the building permit simply does not adjudicate them.