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Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in University Place, Washington

Required for new one- and two-family dwellings in University Place, under the 2021 International Residential Code as adopted at UPMC 14.05.030.

Verified 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • “The 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code including Appendices F, Q and U … as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-51 WAC” (UPMC 14.05.030)
  • Appendix U (Dwelling Unit Fire Sprinkler Systems) is adopted, alongside F (Radon) and Q (Tiny Houses)
  • Sprinklers are required for any Group R-3 “requiring 2,000 gallons per minute of fire flow per Appendix B of the International Fire Code”
  • A fire flow modification is available for NFPA 13D-protected dwellings where a hydrant is within 500 feet (IFC 507.3 as amended)
  • Residential address numerals: 4 inches high under fifty feet from the street, 6 inches over fifty feet, minimum .05 inch stroke

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 citationUPMC 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

How long did your Residential Building Permit (New Construction) permit actually take in University Place?

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Inspection process

    Tips

    • Your sprinkler answer comes from fire flow, not floor area. Any R-3 needing 2,000 gpm under IFC Appendix B must sprinkler, so get the fire flow calculation done early — it decides the single most expensive line in a residential build here.
    • There is relief worth asking about: with an approved NFPA 13D system, the Fire Code Official may modify IFC Appendices B and C, provided a hydrant sits within 500 feet. That is a negotiation to open before design, not after.
    • Sunday work is allowed, which is unusual in this region — 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays and legal holidays, and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday (UPMC 14.05.070).

    Frequently asked questions

    It depends on fire flow rather than size. UPMC 14.05.110 adds IFC Section 903.2.8.1: “All Group R-3 occupancies requiring 2,000 gallons per minute of fire flow per Appendix B of the International Fire Code shall install an approved fire sprinkler system.” The city also amends IFC Section 507.3 to allow a Residential Fire Flow Modification: where one- or two-family dwellings are protected with an approved NFPA 13D automatic fire sprinkler system, Appendices B and C “may be modified with approval by the Fire Code Official provided a fire hydrant is not located more than 500 feet away.”

    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; Fire Flow Calculation. Depending on your project, University Place may also ask for: NFPA 13D Sprinkler Plans. 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/.

    The 2021 International Residential Code. UPMC 14.05.030 adopts “The 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code including Appendices F, Q and U as published by the International Code Council … as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-51 WAC”. Appendix F is Radon Control Methods, Q is Tiny Houses and U is Dwelling Unit Fire Sprinkler Systems — the same three Issaquah adopts, where Lake Stevens takes only F and Q. Note the published code states it “Includes legislation through 12-01-2025”, so anything adopted during 2026 will not appear in it.

    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.

    University Place's permit history isn't searchable here yet

    This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for University Place 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 University Place lands. Privacy.

    Other permits in University Place

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    Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in other cities

    Bonney Lake, WashingtonDes Moines, WashingtonEdmonds, WashingtonIssaquah, WashingtonKenmore, WashingtonLake Stevens, WashingtonLongview, WashingtonLynnwood, Washington

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