County Permit SearchU.S. compliance directory
ColoradoWashington County

Administrative overview · FIPS 08121

Washington County permit authority

The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.

Jurisdictional status

County

This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.

Responsible agency

Washington County Planning & Zoning Department

For a project in or near Washington County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.

Direct contact

Planning & Zoning/Admin/Finance: (970) 345-2701; fax (970) 345-2702; planning@co.washington.co.us.

Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.

Permit counter

Washington County Planning & Zoning Department, 150 Ash Avenue, Akron, CO 80720.

Operating hours

N/A; the official County directory does not publish regular Planning & Zoning counter hours. Contact the office before visiting.

Review expectation

N/A; no standard County review or issuance timeline was published. Manufactured/mobile-home placement and inspection must be completed within six months of signing the application according to the County packet.

Compliance workbench

Choose the next project decision.

Source trail

Official sources for this profile

Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.

Project questions

Frequently asked questions for Washington County

Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?

Washington County Planning & Zoning Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.

How should I begin an application?

Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Planning & Zoning/Admin/Finance: (970) 345-2701; fax (970) 345-2702; planning@co.washington.co.us..

How long might review take?

N/A; no standard County review or issuance timeline was published. Manufactured/mobile-home placement and inspection must be completed within six months of signing the application according to the County packet.

How are inspections scheduled?

For ordinary buildings, the County form does not publish a standard inspection-booking process. For mobile/manufactured homes, after the County permit and fees are paid, the County provides the inspector's contact information; the owner must arrange inspection before occupancy. Foundations must be inspected before setting a home, and the State installation insignia is required before occupancy/permanent utilities.

Which codes and exemptions should I review?

N/A for a County-adopted building-code edition. The current official building application expressly states that Washington County does not have a building-code ordinance and that the applicant is responsible for following uniform building codes and current State standards. Colorado Division of Housing rules govern manufactured-home installation; State and health-department permits apply to trade and septic work. The County application requires a permit for new buildings/structures, additions, remodels, and manufactured homes, but publishes no broad cosmetic or minor-work exemption list. A subdivision exemption may be relevant where a parcel is under 35 acres, but it is a land-use issue rather than a general building-permit exemption. Town jurisdictions may impose separate rules.

Before contacting the permit counter

Have the project facts ready.

A productive call starts with a clear description of the property and proposed work. Keep the site address, parcel or assessor number, project valuation, existing occupancy, approximate square footage, structural scope, contractor information, and desired start date in front of you. Those facts help the Authority Having Jurisdiction route the question to building, planning, fire, environmental health, or another reviewing discipline.

Questions worth asking

  • • Is the parcel inside an incorporated city or county service area?
  • • Does this scope require building, trade, zoning, fire, or site permits?
  • • What plans and supporting documents make the submittal complete?
  • • How much lead time is needed for each inspection?