Washington County, OR Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, OAR 918-750-0010
- Permit review
- Building Services approves plans before issuance
- Permit lapses
- 180 days without starting work
- Permit voids
- 24 months after issuance
- Unpermitted work
- Triggers a special investigation fee
- Penalty
- Up to $100 per offense, § 14.04.430
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Washington County enforces the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code as its plumbing standard for the unincorporated area, and Building Services must review and approve plans before issuing a permit. The permit lapses if work isn't started within 180 days or sits abandoned that long, and starting work first triggers a separate investigation fee under Chapter 14.04.
The Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, as adopted by 918-750-0010, except as modified in this code, is enforced as part of this code. [...] This chapter is to also provide a uniform complaint and citation for violation of the provisions of this chapter in order to facilitate enforcement of violations occurring within the unincorporated areas of the county.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
Washington County Code § 14.04.280 adopts the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, set by OAR 918-750-0010, as the enforceable plumbing standard for the county, and § 14.04.020(B) limits this chapter's enforcement authority to "violations occurring within the unincorporated areas of the county": plumbing work inside Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin or any other incorporated city goes through that city's own building department, not the county's. Before a plumber opens a wall or trenches a line, § 14.04.170 requires Building Services to review the application, plans and specifications and confirm the required fees are paid before the building official endorses the plans "APPROVED." A permit issued under this chapter becomes null and void if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after starting, and it expires outright 24 months after issuance regardless of progress unless the building official grants an extension (§ 14.04.200).
Anyone who starts plumbing work before pulling a permit does not simply catch up later: § 14.04.220 requires "a special investigation" before the permit can even be issued, and the resulting investigation fee is charged in addition to the standard permit fee, whether or not a permit is ultimately granted. Violating any adopted specialty code under this chapter, including the plumbing code, exposes the responsible party to a fine of up to one hundred dollars per offense under § 14.04.430, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Starting plumbing work without a permit doesn't let you skip county review, § 14.04.220 forces a special investigation before any permit can be issued, and the investigation fee applies on top of the standard permit fee no matter the outcome. Continuing to violate the adopted plumbing code carries a fine of up to $100 per offense under § 14.04.430, and Washington County counts each day a violation continues as a new, separate offense, so unpermitted work left uncorrected keeps adding penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for plumbing work in unincorporated Washington County?
What happens if I do plumbing work before getting a permit?
How long is a Washington County plumbing permit valid?
What's the penalty for ignoring the plumbing code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon building safety overview
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