Permit guide · Updated for 2026
Remodeling permits in Vancouver, WA and Clark County
Six jurisdictions issue residential permits in Clark County, each with its own portal and rules, and electrical permits follow a different map entirely. Here is how it actually works, from the official sources, and how we handle it for you.
- 6Local permit jurisdictions
- 2Portals used by city and county
- $6.50State fee on every permit
- HandledPermits included in our scope
Quick answer: Inside Vancouver city limits, remodel permits go through the City of Vancouver (ePlans portal for building permits, Online Permit Center for trade permits), and the city issues its own electrical permits. In unincorporated Clark County, building permits go through the county's CC LMS portal but electrical permits come from WA L&I. Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground and Ridgefield each run their own building departments. We prepare, file and manage all of it as part of every project.
What needs a permit, and what does not
The City of Vancouver's own examples of permit-required residential work cover most remodels: construction, alteration, addition, repair or demolition; adding or removing walls; converting a basement, attic or garage into living space; changing the structure's footprint; and building garages, carports, decks and patio covers. Standalone electrical, mechanical or plumbing work takes a separate trade (MPE) permit, while trade work that is part of a permitted remodel rides inside the main permit. The exempt list is short, think fences under six feet, painting and wallpapering, cabinets and countertops, and finish flooring, and the code is explicit that an exemption never authorizes work that violates the technical codes. When in doubt, we ask the jurisdiction before work starts, not after a stop-work notice.
Who issues what: the Clark County map
| Where your home is | Building permits | Portal | Electrical permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Vancouver | City of Vancouver CDD | ePlans (plan submittal) + Online Permit Center (trade permits) | City of Vancouver (self-administered) |
| Unincorporated Clark County (Salmon Creek, Felida, Hazel Dell, Orchards) and Yacolt | Clark County Permit Center | CC LMS, electronic only | WA L&I (360-896-2300) |
| Camas | City of Camas Building Division | Civic Access (Tyler EPL), live since June 2024 | Confirm with the city or L&I |
| Washougal | City of Washougal Building Division | City forms portal / Washougal Permit Center | Confirm with the city or L&I |
| Battle Ground | City of Battle Ground | Tyler EnerGov self-service portal | Confirm with the city or L&I |
| Ridgefield | Ridgefield Community Development, 360-887-3908 | Contact the building department | Confirm with the city or L&I |
The electrical twist. Washington electrical permitting is split: some cities, including the City of Vancouver, are on L&I's list of cities that issue their own electrical permits and run their own inspections, while everywhere else, including unincorporated Clark County, the electrical permit is purchased from WA L&I (Vancouver field office, 415 West 6th Street). We pull the right permit from the right office for every job site, which is one less thing a homeowner has to untangle.
City of Vancouver: process and 2026 fees
The city's flow is prescreen, plan review, approval, then permit issuance, with plan review fees paid at application and final fees after approval. Fees are valuation based under the Building Permit Fees 2026 schedule (effective January 1, 2026): a project valued $2,001 to $25,000 pays $91.17 plus $18.43 per $1,000 of value over $2,000, every permit carries a $32 issuance fee and the $6.50 state building fee (RCW 19.27.085), and a combined building-plus-trades single permit runs 160 percent of the building-only fee. Valuation for additions is calculated from square footage, construction type and use, not from your contract price alone. Inspections are scheduled online; the approved plans, permit and inspection card stay on site, and inspectors post results online.
Clark County: electronic only, with published averages
The county's Permit Center reviews and inspects for unincorporated Clark County and Yacolt through CC LMS, the county's land management system; paper submittals are no longer accepted and plan review is electronic. The county publishes rolling 12-month average permit processing times on clark.wa.gov, which is more transparency than most jurisdictions offer, and runs a required LEAN fast-track for eligible new-home lots. Washington's 2021 state building codes took effect here March 14, 2024, so recent code answers you find online may be stale. Contacts: Permit Center 564-397-4078, Building Safety 564-397-4912.
The smaller cities
Camas runs its own Building Division and moved to the Civic Access online portal in June 2024; it also accepts applications by email (permits@cityofcamas.us) and in person, with the permit counter closed over lunch. Washougal issues over-the-counter permits by email to permitting@cityofwashougal.us and takes larger submittals at the Washougal Permit Center on 39th Street; note its 180-day rules, applications expire if no permit issues within 180 days, and permits expire if work stops for 180 days. Battle Ground uses a Tyler EnerGov self-service portal linked from cityofbg.org. Ridgefield runs its own building department at 510-B Pioneer Street; call 360-887-3908 for current submittal instructions. We work in all of them.
About timelines
No Clark County jurisdiction publishes guaranteed review day counts, and anyone quoting you one is guessing. What exists: the county's rolling average processing-time reports, and the city's permit specialists (360-487-7833) who will quote current workload. Our approach is simpler: the review window goes into your written schedule as its own line, we submit complete applications the first time, and we respond to correction letters within days, because the fastest permit is the one that never bounces. The remodel timeline guide shows how review fits into the whole project.
Permit questions
Do I need a permit to remodel my home in Vancouver, WA?
For most real remodels, yes. The City of Vancouver requires a residential (RES) permit for construction, alterations, additions, repairs and demolition, including adding or removing walls, converting basements, attics or garages to living space, and changing the footprint. Standalone electrical, plumbing or mechanical work takes a separate trade permit. Short-list items like painting, cabinets and finish flooring are generally exempt, but even exempt work must follow code.
Who issues my permit: the city, the county or the state?
It depends on the address. Each incorporated city issues its own building permits, while Clark County handles unincorporated areas like Salmon Creek, Felida, Hazel Dell and Orchards plus Yacolt. Electrical has a twist: the City of Vancouver issues its own electrical permits, but in unincorporated Clark County electrical permits come from Washington Labor and Industries, not the county.
What do Vancouver building permits cost in 2026?
City of Vancouver fees are valuation based. Under the 2026 schedule, a project valued between $2,001 and $25,000 pays $91.17 plus $18.43 per $1,000 of value over $2,000, plus a $32 issuance fee and the $6.50 state building fee. A combined building-plus-trades single permit runs 160 percent of the building-only fee. Plan review fees are paid at application and the permit fee after approval.
How long does plan review take?
Neither the City of Vancouver nor Clark County publishes guaranteed day counts, and times move with workload and season. Clark County publishes rolling 12-month average processing times on its website, and the city's permit specialists quote current timelines at 360-487-7833. We build the review window into every project schedule rather than promising dates the jurisdiction has not.
Can I do the permit paperwork myself?
Homeowners can, but as the contractor we handle it as part of the job: drawings, the ePlans or CC LMS application, fee payments, inspection scheduling and corrections. The jurisdictions are strict about complete submittals, and incomplete applications are the most common self-inflicted delay.
What happens if previous work was done without permits?
It is common in older homes, and it is fixable. Jurisdictions have processes to permit existing work, which usually means exposing some of it for inspection. If we find unpermitted wiring or plumbing during a remodel, we tell you, price the correction, and fold the legalization into the current permit rather than papering over it.
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