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Commercial Building Permit — University Place, Washington · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-09-16 · Source: https://ecode360.com/48791127
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Commercial Building Permit in University Place, Washington
Required for commercial construction and alteration in University Place, under the 2021 International Building Code — with locally lowered sprinkler thresholds that catch most buildings.
Verified 2026-09-16 · Source
When you need this permit
- “The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, including Appendix E, and ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017, and the 2021 International Existing Building Code and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code” (UPMC 14.05.030)
- SPRINKLERS ABOVE 5,000 SQUARE FEET for Groups A-1 to A-4, B, E, F, M and S — far below the model code
- 2,500 square feet for woodworking generating finely divided combustible waste, and for manufacture or display and sale of upholstered furniture or mattresses
- 12,000 square feet for Groups B, F-2 and S-2 in Type IA/IB, IIA/IIB, IV/VA or IIB/IIIB construction
- Commercial address numerals must be at least 12 inches high, with unit or suite numbers at 4 inches
- Fire lane striping and signage are specified to the inch (IFC 503.3.1 and 503.3.2 as added)
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Permit fee
UPMC 14.05.060: “All fee schedules shall be listed in a fee resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of University Place.” No dollar amount appears in the code. Show full citationHide
UPMC 14.05.060: “All fee schedules shall be listed in a fee resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of University Place.” No dollar amount appears in the code. The fire code amendments add a parallel provision at IFC 105.2.15: “The City shall collect fees for permits, plan review and inspection services as prescribed in the City of University Place ‘Fee Schedule.’” Across this Washington set the instrument varies — resolution here and in Edmonds and Lake Stevens, a fee ORDINANCE in Lynnwood, an EXECUTIVE ORDER in Puyallup, a PUBLISHED TABLE in Issaquah, a master fee schedule in Longview, and nothing at all in Wenatchee.Set by city council fee resolution
Review timeline
Plan review
Not published — contact the department
Inspection process
Tips
- Assume sprinklers. University Place sets the threshold at 5,000 square feet for Groups A-1 through A-4, B, E, F, M and S, which is well below the model code and catches buildings most jurisdictions would not. The exception worth chasing is the 12,000 square foot allowance for Groups B, F-2 and S-2 in the named construction types.
- Do not plan a fire wall as a sprinkler avoidance strategy. The city amended the definition to close exactly that: “A Fire Wall shall not be allowed to create a separate building that avoids the requirement for approved automatic fire sprinkler systems.”
- The fire lane details are specified to the inch — six-inch red lines, four-inch white lettering at 25-foot intervals, signs 12 by 18 inches mounted at 6'6” and no more than 50 feet apart. These fail at final inspection rather than at plan review, which is the expensive moment to discover them.
Frequently asked questions
University Place requires a commercial building permit for: “The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, including Appendix E, and ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017, and the 2021 International Existing Building Code and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code” (UPMC 14.05.030); SPRINKLERS ABOVE 5,000 SQUARE FEET for Groups A-1 to A-4, B, E, F, M and S — far below the model code; 2,500 square feet for woodworking generating finely divided combustible waste, and for manufacture or display and sale of upholstered furniture or mattresses; 12,000 square feet for Groups B, F-2 and S-2 in Type IA/IB, IIA/IIB, IV/VA or IIB/IIIB construction; Commercial address numerals must be at least 12 inches high, with unit or suite numbers at 4 inches; Fire lane striping and signage are specified to the inch (IFC 503.3.1 and 503.3.2 as added). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of University Place at (253) 566-5656 before starting work.
In University Place, the published Permit fee is: Set by city council fee resolution. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.
University Place does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of University Place at (253) 566-5656 for current turnaround.
You'll need: Building Permit Application. Depending on your project, University Place may also ask for: Automatic Sprinkler System Plans; Fire Apparatus Access and Lane Marking Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.
Apply through City of University Place at 3609 Market Place West, Suite 200, University Place, WA 98466. Phone: (253) 566-5656. Official information: https://www.cityofup.com/.
University Place, Washington has adopted: UPMC 14.05.030 opens: “The following codes are hereby adopted by this reference as if fully set forth in this chapter and as specifically modified or amended as set forth in this chapter:”; IBC — “The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, including Appendix E, and ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017, and the 2021 International Existing Building Code and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted b…” (extract ends there). Three codes and an accessibility standard in one sentence.; IRC — “The 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code including Appendices F, Q and U as published by the International Code Council is hereby adopted as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-51 WAC…” Appendices F (Radon), Q (Tiny Houses) and U (Dwelling Unit Fire Sprinkler Systems) — the same three Issaquah takes, where Lake Stevens takes only F and Q.; IMC / FUEL GAS — “The 2021 Edition of the International Mechanical Code, including adoption of and amendments to the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54), published by the International Code Council, and the 2021 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (NFPA 58), published by the National Fire Protection Association, is hereby adopted by reference with the exceptions noted in Chapter 5152 WAC.” NOTE TWO THINGS AS PUBLISHED: NFPA 58 is named at 2021 here, and the WAC chapter is printed “5152” without its hyphen.; IFC — “The 2021 Edition of the International Fire Code, including Appendix B, published by the International Code Council is hereby adopted by reference with the additions, deletions, and exceptions co…” and those amendments run to roughly half the chapter.; UPC — “The 2021 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, including Appendices A, B, I and M, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, is hereby adopted by reference with the additions, deletions and exceptions contained in Chapter 51-56 WAC.” Four appendices, where Lake Stevens takes A, B and I.; ENERGY — “The 2021 Edition of the Washington State Energy Code, including commercial and residential provisions and appendices, is hereby adopted by reference with the additions, deletions and exceptions contained in Chapters 51-11C and 51-11R WAC.”; NO ELECTRICAL CODE APPEARS in the UPMC 14.05.030 list as read. The absence is bounded: the adoption paragraphs were read in sequence and cover the IBC/IEBC/ISPSC, IRC, IMC/IFGC/NFPA 58, IFC, UPC and energy code. Electrical permitting in Washington is the Department of Labor and Industries' under Chapter 19.28 RCW; this entry does not establish the arrangement for University Place.; NOT OPENED FOR THIS ENTRY: UPMC 14.10 (Moving of Buildings), 14.15 (Flood Damage Prevention), 14.20 (RETAINING WALLS — a whole chapter, §§ 14.20.010–.080, unusual to find separated out), UPMC 14.05.090 (Administrative provisions), 14.05.100 (Building code amendments), 14.05.120 (Penalties and enforcement), 14.05.130 (Liability), 14.05.140 (Hearings Examiner) and UPMC § 9.05.040, which the construction-hours section cross-references.. Local amendments apply — see the University Place overview page for the full list.
Much sooner than the model code requires. UPMC 14.05.110 amends IFC Section 903.2 so an approved automatic sprinkler system is required where the building exceeds 5,000 square feet for Group A-1 (or 300 occupants, or a multi-theater complex), Group A-2 (or 100 occupants), Groups A-3 and A-4 (or 300 occupants), Group B, Group E (or 50 occupants), Group F, Group M and Group S. Two uses drop to 2,500 square feet — woodworking that generates finely divided combustible waste, and the manufacture or the display and sale of upholstered furniture or mattresses. Groups B, F-2 and S-2 in Type IA/IB, IIA/IIB, IV/VA or IIB/IIIB construction may reach 12,000 square feet.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.
Codes & ordinances
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the University Place building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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