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Permitting Authorities / City of Bellingham - Permit Center

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Bellingham, WA?

Adopted code

City of Bellingham - Permit Center

The City of Bellingham Permit Center, part of the Planning and Community Development Department in City Hall at 210 Lottie Street, takes building permit applications and schedules building inspections in Bellingham, in Whatcom County. The Washington State Building Code, including the 2021 International Residential Code as amended by the State Building Code Council, applies in Bellingham as it does in every Washington city. This listing covers the office's contact details and the rules state law sets for every Washington city; it does not cover Bellingham's own permit rules.

Jurisdiction
City of Bellingham, Washington
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
210 Lottie Street (City Hall), Bellingham, WA 98225
Contact
  • url: https://cob.org/services/permits
  • phone: 360-778-8300
Permit portal
Permit portal
Contractor registration required
Required
Adopted code
The 2021 International Residential Code, as adopted and amended by the State Building Code Council in chapter 51-51 of the Washington Administrative Code. WAC 51-51-003 adopts "The 2021 edition of the International Residential Code as published by the International Code Council" by reference "with the following additions, deletions, and exceptions," and WAC 51-51-008 says it "shall become effective in all counties and cities of this state on March 15, 2024." State law makes this code mandatory everywhere: "there shall be in effect in all counties and cities the state building code" (RCW 19.27.031(1)), which "shall be enforced by the counties and cities" (RCW 19.27.050). The State's changes to Chapter 9, Roof Assemblies, consist of one section on secondary roof drains and overflow scuppers (WAC 51-51-0903, Section R903.4.1). A city or county may amend the state code, but "the amendments shall not result in a code that is less than the minimum performance standards and objectives contained in the state building code," and "no amendment ... that affects single-family or multifamily residential buildings shall be effective unless the amendment is approved by the building code council" (RCW 19.27.060(1) and (1)(a)). Amendments to administrative provisions need not be submitted for that approval if they "do not alter the construction requirements" (WAC 51-04-030(4), Exception). This record did not read this city's own amendments to the state code. Everything above is Washington state law, the same in every city. In Bellingham, the Permit Center in the city's Planning and Community Development Department handles building permit applications and inspections, and the department's staff include a Building Official, plans examiners and building and electrical inspectors.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Bellingham, WA

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Bellingham, WA?

Yes.

What building code does Bellingham, WA use?

The 2021 International Residential Code, as adopted and amended by the State Building Code Council in chapter 51-51 of the Washington Administrative Code. WAC 51-51-003 adopts "The 2021 edition of the International Residential Code as published by the International Code Council" by reference "with the following additions, deletions, and exceptions," and WAC 51-51-008 says it "shall become effective in all counties and cities of this state on March 15, 2024." State law makes this code mandatory everywhere: "there shall be in effect in all counties and cities the state building code" (RCW 19.27.031(1)), which "shall be enforced by the counties and cities" (RCW 19.27.050). The State's changes to Chapter 9, Roof Assemblies, consist of one section on secondary roof drains and overflow scuppers (WAC 51-51-0903, Section R903.4.1). A city or county may amend the state code, but "the amendments shall not result in a code that is less than the minimum performance standards and objectives contained in the state building code," and "no amendment ... that affects single-family or multifamily residential buildings shall be effective unless the amendment is approved by the building code council" (RCW 19.27.060(1) and (1)(a)). Amendments to administrative provisions need not be submitted for that approval if they "do not alter the construction requirements" (WAC 51-04-030(4), Exception). This record did not read this city's own amendments to the state code. Everything above is Washington state law, the same in every city. In Bellingham, the Permit Center in the city's Planning and Community Development Department handles building permit applications and inspections, and the department's staff include a Building Official, plans examiners and building and electrical inspectors.