Auburn, WA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Local electrical permit
- None; state law controls
- Governing statute
- Chapter 19.28 RCW
- Inspecting agency
- WA Dept. of Labor & Industries
- IRC exclusion
- City IRC excludes Ch. 34-43 Electrical
- Local code section
- ACC 15.28.010, Electrical Code
Summary
Auburn does not run its own electrical permit program: ACC 15.28.010 requires all electrical wiring, equipment and appliances to conform to state statutes and states that no additional local permits or licenses are required beyond what state law demands, leaving inspection to the Washington Department of Labor & Industries.
15.28.010 Generally. All electrical wiring, equipment and appliances shall be in conformity with the statutes of the state. No additional permits or licenses shall be required other than as required by state law.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010, which states plainly: 'All electrical wiring, equipment and appliances shall be in conformity with the statutes of the state. 28 RCW, the state law governing electrical installations, as the controlling statute. 010(D)(2) adopts the 2021 IRC 'excluding Chapter 11, Energy Efficiency, Chapters 25 through 33, Plumbing, and Chapters 34 through 43, Electrical,' so the city's own construction code deliberately carves electrical work out of its administration. 28 RCW rather than by the city's department of community development. 07, still governs the mechanical, plumbing, fire, and building permits that accompany a project, so a single construction job in Auburn can carry both a city building permit and a separate state electrical permit, and the contractor listed on the city permit application must still carry a valid state contractor registration.
Violations & Fines
Because Auburn does not issue its own electrical permit, violations of electrical work are enforced under state law through Chapter 19.28 RCW and the Washington Department of Labor & Industries, not through a city citation. A contractor who performs electrical work in Auburn without the required state permit or the state contractor registration listed on a city building permit application under ACC 15.07.050 risks having that city permit application rejected as incomplete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate city permit for electrical work in Auburn?
Which agency inspects electrical work done in Auburn?
Does my Auburn building permit still need contractor information for electrical subcontractors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
Compare Auburn to another location·View the Washington building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Electrical Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle electrical permits.