Walla Walla County, WA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Walla Walla County Code § 15.04.220 gives the building official enforcement authority under Section 104 of the International Building, Residential, Mechanical and Fire Codes and Section 102 of the Uniform Plumbing Code, and for that purpose the official holds the powers of a law enforcement officer. Inspections happen under § 15.04.250's right-of-entry clause: upon presenting proper credentials, the building official or an authorized representative may enter any building, structure or premises in the county at a reasonable time to perform any duty imposed by the code, covering the foundation, framing, mechanical, plumbing and final checks tied to an open permit.

When an inspection finds work proceeding contrary to the code, § 15.04.260 lets the official order the work stopped by written notice served on the person doing the work or posted on site; the recipient must halt immediately until the official authorizes resuming. A stop-work order must describe the violation, order the offending act to cease, warn that continuing exposes the owner to civil and criminal penalties under Chapter 14.13, and state the right to appeal. If an inspection instead finds an occupied structure being used unlawfully, § 15.04.270 lets the official order the use discontinued or the space vacated.

Anyone served a stop-work or occupancy order has ten calendar days under § 15.04.260(C) to appeal to the hearing examiner under § 14.11.030, and unresolved violations can be recorded against the property's title with the county auditor under § 15.04.275.