Issaquah, WA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

The rule is section 105.1 of the Construction Administrative Code (CAC), adopted by IMC 16.04.010. It also covers erecting, installing, altering, removing, converting or replacing any gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by the code. Section 105.1.1 lets the Building Official issue an annual permit for repeated alterations to an approved gas, mechanical or plumbing installation where the applicant regularly employs one or more qualified trade persons. Section 105.1.4 lets the Building Official stipulate permit conditions and bars issuing a permit where public safety would be at risk.

Section 105.2 lists work exempt from permit, including one-story detached residential storage sheds and similar structures up to 200 square feet, fences not over 7 feet, retaining walls not over 4 feet, in-kind re-roofing of one- and two-family dwellings, and decks not more than 30 inches above grade. Those exemptions do not authorize work that violates other laws, and they do not apply in areas of flood hazard or City land use critical areas unless the work is entirely within or on the exterior envelope of a legally established existing building.

An application under section 105.3 must identify the work and the land, state use and occupancy and the valuation, include construction documents when section 107 requires them, and be signed. For building projects valued at over $5,000 the application must also give owner and prime contractor details. Section 105.3.1 requires the contractor's state registration number and Issaquah business license number before issuance.

The clocks are printed. An application with no permit issued within 18 months expires, and failing to respond within 90 days to a written request for corrections counts as inactivity. A permit that expired no more than 180 days ago can be renewed once for 1 year; beyond that a new permit and new fees are required. Section 105.7 requires the permit or a copy to stay on the site until completion.