Building Permit — Bellingham, Washington · Requirements sheet
Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source: https://bellingham.municipal.codes/BMC/17.10
PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency. Requirements change and vary by project — confirm current details with the building department before you submit.
Building Permit in Bellingham, Washington
Required for construction in Bellingham. The city names the 2021 editions but takes state amendments as they are made, and replaces the model codes' administrative chapters with its own Construction Administrative Code.
Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source
When you need this permit
- Built to the 2021 International Building Code and Appendix E, as now and hereafter amended by the state of Washington
- Residential work is to the 2021 International Residential Code and Appendix AT
- Accessibility is to the 2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1
- Administration is Bellingham's own Construction Administrative Code, not IBC Chapter 1
Required documents
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Fee schedule
NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR BELLINGHAM - the chapter read sets out which codes apply and how they are administered, and no fee schedule was located in it. Show full citationHide
NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR BELLINGHAM - the chapter read sets out which codes apply and how they are administered, and no fee schedule was located in it. ONE FEE RULE IN THE CODE MATTERS AND IS OFTEN MISSED: where the city has to hire an outside professional to review your application, you pay for it. The Construction Administrative Code provides that "Whenever review of a building permit application requires retention by the City for professional consulting services, the applicant shall reimburse the City the cost of such professional consulting services. This fee shall be in addition to the normal plan review and building permit fees." The city may require a deposit up front, in an amount set at the Building Official's discretion. Lynden, in the same county, has a comparable rule.Review timeline
Inspection process
Tips
- Budget for third-party review: if the city retains a consultant, you reimburse the cost on top of normal fees, and may have to deposit it up front
- Electrical work is to the 2023 NEC, two cycles ahead of the building code
- The publisher flags four pending updates not reflected in the text
Frequently asked questions
Sources & verification
Key facts 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 Bellingham building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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