Plumbing Permit in Clark County, Washington
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Installing any plumbing fixture including water heaters
Issued byClark County Community Development, Building Safety
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A plumbing permit is required for installation of any plumbing fixtures in unincorporated Clark County, including water heaters, toilets and sinks. Lawn sprinklers require a permit for the backflow prevention device between the sprinklers and the water supply. For additions and new construction, plumbing is included in the ADS or NHC permit; residential plumbing permits are otherwise applied for online. Plumbing work on manufactured/mobile homes goes through Washington State Labor and Industries.
Typical threshold: A plumbing permit is required for installation of any plumbing fixtures, including water heaters, toilets and sinks.
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When a permit is usually needed
Installing any plumbing fixture including water heaters
What a plumbing permit costs in Clark County
How Clark County compares in Washington
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | It depends | permit required for new plumbing, concealed piping, and fixture additions; replacing a sink toilet or faucet not concealed in a wall does not require a permit |
| Clark Countythis page | Permit required | A plumbing permit is required for installation of any plumbing fixtures, including water heaters, toilets and sinks. |
| King County | Permit required | Any size |
| Pierce County | Permit required | Any size |
| Seattle | Permit required | Any size |
| Snohomish County | Permit required | Any size |
| Tacoma | Permit required | Any size |
How to apply in Clark County
In Clark County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.
What most plumbing permit applications include:
- For Clark County, a permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
- For Clark County, the application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
- Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
- Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
- Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. Source. Clark County Community Development, Building Safety sets the exact checklist for Clark County.
Where to apply in Clark County:
Clark County Community Development, Building Safety
- Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver, WA 98660
- Phone: 564.397.2375
- Email: permitservices@clark.wa.gov
Plumbing Permit in Clark County compared with nearby Washington localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Washington schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County | Permit required | A plumbing permit is required for installation of any plumbing fixtures, including water heaters, toilets and sinks. | Application rev 9.2.25: $94 issuance plus per-item fees including plumbing fixture/trap... | |
| Bellevue | It depends | permit required for new plumbing, concealed piping, and fixture additions; replacing a sink toilet or faucet not concealed in a wall does not require a permit | Plumbing permit fee per Table 11 of Ordinance 6879, $50 for the first fixture plus... | |
| King County | Permit required | Any size | the plumbing and backflow permit fee is $137 plus $27 per fixture, effective 1/1/2026 | |
| Pierce County | Permit required | Any size | Issue each plumbing permit fee $58.00, plus unit fees per fixture (for example $8.00 per... | |
| Seattle | Permit required | Any size | See schedule |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Clark County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
- In Clark County: piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
- In Clark County: rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Clark County: rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
- In Clark County: the water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
- In Clark County: the framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
- In Clark County: at the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
- In Clark County: final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Clark County permit portal or by phone at 564.397.2375.
Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Clark County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Typical threshold: A plumbing permit is required for installation of any plumbing fixtures, including water heaters, toilets and sinks. Usually needed: Installing any plumbing fixture including water heaters.
- Budget the fee. Application rev 9.2.25: $94 issuance plus per-item fees including plumbing fixture/trap 1-5 $192, water heater $29, lawn sprinkler $122; homeowner water heater only permit $66 with no issuance fee. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Clark County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. Start at the Clark County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Clark County Community Development, Building Safety. Phone: 564.397.2375. Address: Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver, WA 98660.
- Plan for inspections. In Clark County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Permitting activity in Clark County
In 2025, Clark County authorized permits for 3,250 new residential housing units (2,190 single-family, 1,060 in multi-family buildings), valued at $1.3B, down from 3,594 the year before. That works out to about 6.1 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual data · population 532,119.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Clark County?
- A plumbing permit is required for installation of any plumbing fixtures in unincorporated Clark County, including water heaters, toilets and sinks. Lawn sprinklers require a permit for the backflow prevention device between the sprinklers and the water supply. For additions and new construction, plumbing is included in the ADS or NHC permit; residential plumbing permits are otherwise applied for online. Plumbing work on manufactured/mobile homes goes through Washington State Labor and Industries. Always confirm with the Clark County Community Development, Building Safety before starting.
- How much does a plumbing permit cost in Clark County?
- Application rev 9.2.25: $94 issuance plus per-item fees including plumbing fixture/trap 1-5 $192, water heater $29, lawn sprinkler $122; homeowner water heater only permit $66 with no issuance fee. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Clark County?
- You can apply through the Clark County permit portal or contact the Clark County Community Development, Building Safety directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Clark County?
- Under Washington law (RCW 18.27.090(11), (12); RCW 19.28.261(1); RCW 19.28.141; RCW 18.106.150(1)): Washington lets homeowners do their own construction work, including the licensed trades, on property they own. RCW 18.27.090(12) exempts any person working on his or her own property from contractor registration, but the exemption does not apply if you do contractor type work for the purpose of selling, demolishing, or leasing the property. A separate exemption in RCW 18.27.090(11) lets an owner who hires a registered contractor skip registration too, but it does not apply to someone doing contractor work to lease or sell improved property owned under twelve months. For electrical work, RCW 19.28.261 lets you wire your own residence, farm, or place of business without an electrician license, unless the work is on construction of a new building intended for rent, sale, or lease (an owner who will personally perform the work and occupy one of up to four new units as a principal residence may instead apply for an exemption by signed affidavit, once every 24 months), or on property offered for sale within 12 months after you obtained it. RCW 18.106.150(1) gives the same kind of exemption for plumbing trade work at your own residence, farm, or place of business. These exemptions waive the license, not the permit: an owner doing electrical work still buys an electrical work permit, from L&I or from a city that runs its own electrical program under RCW 19.28.141, and passes inspection (WAC 296-46B-901), and building and plumbing permits still come from your local building department. Confirm how Clark County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Clark County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | Exempt only if the deck does not exceed 200 square feet, is not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, does not serve a required exit door, and is not used for a hot tub or pool; all other decks require a permit. | See schedule |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Electrical work in Washington requires a permit and inspection, with a few exceptions listed in chapter 296-46B-901 WAC; in unincorporated Clark County electrical permits are issued by state Labor and Industries, not the county. | See schedule |
| Fence Permit | It depends | Fences seven feet or less in height do not require a permit; fences over 7 feet in height require a Fence/Retaining Wall (FRT) permit. | See schedule |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Mechanical permits cover installation of heating and cooling equipment such as furnaces, heat pumps, A/C units, ductless mini splits and gas piping; for additions and new construction this work is included in the ADS or NHC permit. | Application rev 1.30.23: $94 issuance plus per-appliance fees including furnace or heat... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Patio and concrete slabs on the ground grade are exempt from permit but may not be built on easements; adding a patio cover or enclosing a covered patio requires a building permit under the ADS permit type. | See schedule |
| Pool Permit | It depends | A permit is required for any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 24 inches deep, including in-ground, aboveground and on-ground pools, hot tubs and spas. | See schedule |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Re-roofing permits are required for all buildings in Clark County; a separate permit may be required if structural work such as replacing roof sheathing is necessary. | County handout rev 7.16.18: residential re-roofing permit $220 plus $94 issuance and... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | Sheds over 200 square feet require a building permit; sheds of 200 square feet or less are exempt if they meet setbacks and easements, but any size shed in a mobile home park or multi-family zone requires a permit. | See schedule |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Separate SOL permits are required for ground mounted units or panels mounted on existing buildings; in new construction the solar panels are included in the NHC or ADS permit. | See schedule |
Plumbing Permit in other Washington localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Clark County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this plumbing permit page for Clark County was verified. 2 official sources: clark.wa.gov, clark.wa.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Clark County Community Development, Building Safety. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across Washington localities