Building Safety in Yakima County, WA (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Yakima County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Elevator Maintenance
Buildings with elevators in unincorporated Yakima County must keep them running to ASME A17.1 standards under the county's Property Maintenance Code, with the current inspection certificate posted where the public can see it. Where a building has more than one passenger elevator, at least one must stay in service at all times the building is occupied.
Yakima County Elevator Maintenance Standards
Some RestrictionsYakima County Code § 13.11.030 (IPMC §§ 706.1, 706.2)
706.1 General. Elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators shall be maintained in compliance with ASME A17.1. The most current certification of inspection shall be on display at all times within the elevator or attached to the escalator or dumbwaiter, be available for public inspection in the office of the building operator, or be posted in a publically conspicuous location approved by the building o...
Door Locking Hardware
Every door into a rented dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit in unincorporated Yakima County must carry a deadbolt with at least a 1-inch throw that opens from the inside without a key, under the county's Property Maintenance Code. A sliding bolt doesn't count, and low windows serving those units need a working sash lock too.
Yakima County Rental Deadbolt Lock Requirements
Some RestrictionsYakima County Code § 13.11.030 (IPMC §§ 404.18, 404.18.1, 404.18.2)
404.18 Building security. Doors, windows or hatchways for dwelling units, room units or housekeeping units shall be provided with devices designed to provide security for the occupants and property within. 404.18.1 Doors. Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock designed to be readily openab...
Building Permits
Yakima County requires a permit from the Building Official before anyone builds, alters, repairs, moves or demolishes a building, or installs an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, under its amended International Building Code. A short list of small structures, like sheds under 200 square feet and 4-foot retaining walls, is exempt.
Yakima County Building Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsYakima County Code § 13.05.030 (IBC § 105.1)
105.1 Required. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first mak...
Plumbing Permits
Yakima County enforces plumbing work under the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code as amended by WAC 51-56, adopted by YCC Section 13.08.010, with two full chapters and the venting/combustion-air and building-sewer provisions carved out. Plan review runs 65 percent of the permit fee, and violations route through the same Title 13 penalty chapter as building code cases.
Yakima County Plumbing Code & Permits
Some RestrictionsYakima County Code § 13.08.010
Pursuant to RCW 19.27.031(4) and WAC 51-56-003, Chapters 12 and 14 of the 2018 Edition, of the Uniform Plumbing Code are not adopted and those requirements of the Uniform Plumbing Code relating to venting and combustion air of fuel fired appliances as found in Chapter 5 and those portions of the Code addressing building sewers are not adopted nor shall they be part of this Title. Pursuant to WA...
Building Inspections
Anyone installing a manufactured or mobile home in unincorporated Yakima County must call for inspections at each stage the Building Official sets, and the Building & Fire Safety Division will not approve occupancy until the installation matches the approved permit and Chapter 13.09 standards, with a formal correction and reinspection process built in.
Yakima County Manufactured Home Inspections
Some RestrictionsYakima County Code § 13.09.040
§ 13.09.040. Inspections. (1) The installer shall request inspections at each stage of the installation as required by the building official. (2) The Building & Fire Safety Division shall approve the installation of a manufactured home, and allow the manufactured home to be occupied if the installation complies with the installation requirements of this Chapter and the conditions of the install...
Building Safety by City in Yakima County
1 cities in Yakima County have their own building safety rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Yakima County ordinances
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