Olympia, WA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted plumbing code
- Uniform Plumbing Code, current State adopted edition (OMC 16.04.020)
- Permit issued by
- The building official
- Permit issuance fee
- $186.87 for issuing each permit
- New single family plumbing system
- Flat $286.14, no permit issuance fee
- Start deadline
- Work must commence within one hundred eighty days of issue
- Outer permit life
- Eighteen months from date of issue under OMC 16.04.020(B)(2)(c)
Summary
In the City of Olympia, Washington, plumbing work follows the current State adopted edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, which OMC 16.04.020(A)(4) adopts for Thurston County's capital city. Permits are issued by the building official, fees are set in OMC 4.36.010, and a permit expires if work does not start within one hundred eighty days.
A. Pursuant to RCW 19.27.031, the City of Olympia hereby adopts the following codes, as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council, and as thereafter amended by the City of Olympia, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, use and occupancy, location, and maintenance of buildings and structures, as well as the installation, repair, replacement, or alteration of electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems ... 4. Uniform Plumbing Code Adopted. The current State adopted edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code (“UPC”), as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapters 51-56 WAC.
Full Breakdown
The Olympia City Council adopts the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, in OMC 16.04.020(A)(4). The City takes the UPC as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapters 51-56 WAC, and the same section adopts the building, residential, mechanical, energy and fire codes. The adoption also trims neighboring codes: the International Building Code is adopted excluding Chapter 1, Section 101.4.3 "Plumbing", and the International Residential Code is adopted excluding Chapter 11 and Chapters 25 through 43, except that Chapter 29, Section P2904 is adopted.
Permit administration sits in OMC 16.04.020(B). Ownership of a permit inures to the property owner, and the applicant must be the property owner or the owner's authorized agent. A permit issued by the building official expires if work is not commenced within one hundred eighty days of issue, or if work is suspended or abandoned for at least one hundred eighty days, with the time measured between required inspections. The building official can extend a permit for a period not exceeding one hundred eighty days when circumstances beyond the permittee's control prevented action, and all permits expire after eighteen months from the date of issue if the work is not ongoing, yet completed or an extension is granted.
The fee schedule in OMC 4.36.010 charges $186.87 for issuing each permit, a flat $286.14 for a new single family plumbing system of up to 3 bathrooms and one kitchen (no permit issuance fee on top), $17.52 for each fixture on one trap, $29.20 for each water heater and/or vent, $40.87 for each building sewer, and $145.99 for each in-ground swimming pool or spa. Two neighboring sections tie in: OMC 13.04.200(F) requires plumbing on premises connected to the City water system to conform to the uniform plumbing code of the City, and OMC 16.04.440 requires a plumbing permit for a mobile or manufactured home hookup to the city sewer or septic tank, with the installation inspected as provided in the Plumbing Code.
Violations & Fines
Under OMC 16.04.070, knowingly doing work in violation of the Building Code is a misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed ninety days, and each day is a separate offense. Second and subsequent days of a continuing violation are a gross misdemeanor, with a fine not to exceed $5,000 and/or up to three hundred and sixty-five days. The concurrent civil infraction runs Class 3 ($50), Class 2 ($125), Class 1 ($250). A stop work for work done without a permit is charged at $204.38 per hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for a plumbing permit in the City of Olympia?
How long does an Olympia plumbing permit stay valid?
What does a new single family plumbing system cost in Olympia?
Does the plumbing code apply to a mobile home hookup in the City of Olympia?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Olympia
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