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Pasco, WA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing code
State-adopted UPC via WAC 51-56
Minimum plumbing permit fee
$50.00
Gas appliance/piping permit fee
$50.00
Max fine per violation
$500.00
Continuing violation
Each day is a separate offense
Basement requirement
Floor drain plus backflow preventer
Appeals body
Mid-Columbia Building Appeals Commission

Summary

Pasco enforces the state-adopted Uniform Plumbing Code under PMC 16.20, requiring a permit for plumbing work with a $50.00 minimum permit fee. Violators face fines up to $500.00 per offense, with each day of continuing violation counted separately.

The most current state-adopted Uniform Plumbing Code published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council and published as Chapter 51-56 WAC, is adopted as the plumbing code of the City except as hereinafter amended.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4837, passed May 4, 2026).

Full Breakdown

020. 00 under that same section. 180. 040, the seven-member Mid-Columbia Building Appeals Commission jointly appointed with Franklin and Benton Counties, whose members include a civil engineer, an architect, a general contractor, a specialty contractor and a fire specialist, each serving five-year terms. 050 requires every building to have sanitary facilities under the adopted plumbing and building codes and mandates that every basement include at least one floor drain with a backflow preventer, located in the utility room, bathroom, or furnace room. 070 makes it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to violate any provision of the chapter.

Violations & Fines

Violating any provision of PMC Chapter 16.20 is punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 per offense for an individual, and not more than $500.00 for a firm or corporation. Continuing violations are treated as a separate offense for each day they persist, so unpermitted plumbing work left uncorrected can accumulate daily fines under PMC 16.20.070.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for plumbing work in Pasco?
Yes. Pasco enforces the state-adopted Uniform Plumbing Code (WAC 51-56) under PMC 16.20.010, and permit fees follow the schedule in PMC 16.05.080, with a $50.00 minimum permit fee for plumbing work listed in the City's consolidated fee table under section 16.20.030.
What happens if I do plumbing work without a permit in Pasco?
PMC 16.20.070 makes any violation of the plumbing code chapter punishable by a fine of up to $500.00, and if the violation continues, each day counts as a separate offense, so the fines can add up quickly for unpermitted or uncorrected work.
Is a floor drain required in a Pasco basement?
Yes. PMC 16.20.050 requires every basement to have at least one floor drain with a backflow preventer, installed in the utility room, bathroom, or furnace room, in addition to the sanitary facilities required by the adopted building and plumbing codes.
Where do I appeal a plumbing permit decision in Pasco?
PMC 16.20.040 sends plumbing code appeals to the Board of Appeals created under PMC 16.05.040, known as the Mid-Columbia Building Appeals Commission, a seven-member panel jointly appointed with Franklin and Benton Counties that includes an architect, civil engineer, and contractors.

Sources & Official References

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