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Bellingham building permits

Department contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Bellingham, Washington.

Last verified 2026-09-16 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history

Building department

Phone
(360) 778-8000

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 2021 EDITIONS, NAMED, AND TAKING STATE AMENDMENTS AS THEY COME. Show full text

    THE 2021 EDITIONS, NAMED, AND TAKING STATE AMENDMENTS AS THEY COME. BMC 17.10.010(A): "Except as amended by this chapter, the following codes, published by the International Code Council, as now and hereafter amended by the state of Washington, are hereby adopted by reference: 1. 2021 International Building Code and Appendix E - Chapter 51-50 WAC; 2. 2021 International Residential Code and Appendix AT - Chapter 51-51 WAC; 3. 2021 International Mechanical Code; 4. 2021 International Fuel Gas Code; 5. 2021 International Property Maintenance Code; 6. 2021 International Existing Building Code; 7. 2021 International Energy Conservation Code; 8. 2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessibility Code and Appendix E; 9. 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code".

  • THE EDITIONS ARE NOT ALL ONE CYCLE. BMC 17.10.010(B) adopts the "2021 National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54)" and the "2020 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (NFPA 58)"; subsection (D) adopts "The 2023 National Electric Code (NFPA 70), as amended by Chapter 296-46B WAC". So the electrical code is two cycles ahead of the building code and the LP gas code one behind - the same spread Tukwila shows.
  • A WILDFIRE CODE APPLIES, AND THE CITY ATTRIBUTES IT TO THE STATE. BMC 17.10.010(E): "In accordance with state requirements, 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code - Chapter 51-55 WAC." Federal Way also carries the 2021 IWUIC. Bellingham's wording credits a state requirement; this guide reports that phrasing and does not adjudicate whether the two adoptions have the same origin.
  • THE PLUMBING CODE IS THE 2021 UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE under Chapter 51-56 WAC, adopted by BMC 17.10.010(C) on the same "as now and hereafter amended" basis.
  • RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.

Permit types & fees

Bellingham's permit history isn't searchable here yet

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

New residential construction activity

New privately-owned residential construction only

Housing 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)
39units

17 buildings · $8.6M valuation

Trailing 12 months
621units

12 of 12 months reported · #6 in Washington coverage by units

Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-07)
304units

128 buildings · $54.6M valuation

7 month(s) reported to Census

Full year 2025
737units

277 buildings · $133.7M 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

  • "THE BELLINGHAM COMMERCIAL ENERGY CODE" CHANGED MEANING ON 15 MARCH 2024. The city's own bespoke code was repealed and the state IECC adopted under the same name.
  • The chapter index gives no repeal marker for it - you only see it on opening the section.
  • Work on a building that existed before 1 January 1985 triggers conformance requirements under the amended IEBC Section 1401.2.
  • If the city retains an outside consultant to review your application, you reimburse the cost on top of normal fees - and may be asked for a deposit first. Lynden, in the same county, does the same.
  • The administrative rules are Bellingham's Construction Administrative Code, not the model codes' Chapter 1.
  • Editions are not all one cycle: 2021 building, 2023 electrical, 2020 LP gas, 2017 accessibility standard.
  • A 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code applies, which the city attributes to state requirements.
  • The publisher flags 4 pending updates against a 1 June 2026 currency date.

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