Administrative overview · FIPS 23029
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
State Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked State Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) - Downeast Region for Washington County unorganized/deorganized areas, with Washington County Unorganized Territories Office support; organized municipalities issue local permits
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
(207) 255-8919 (Washington County Unorganized Territories Office); (207) 592-4448 (LUPC Downeast Region)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Washington County Office, 85 Court Street, Machias, ME 04654; LUPC Downeast Regional Office, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, Bangor, ME 04401
Operating hours
Washington County office hours 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday; LUPC regional office is open by appointment only
Review expectation
LUPC reports significant summer 2026 permitting delays from high application volumes and backlogs; organized-municipality review timelines vary by project and location.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →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?
This record is marked State Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.
How should I begin an application?
No verified online portal was located in the reviewed public materials. Contact (207) 255-8919 (Washington County Unorganized Territories Office); (207) 592-4448 (LUPC Downeast Region) and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
LUPC reports significant summer 2026 permitting delays from high application volumes and backlogs; organized-municipality review timelines vary by project and location.
How are inspections scheduled?
For LUPC-regulated areas, submit applications to ApplicationSubmissions.LUPC@maine.gov or by mail to 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333; contact the Downeast regional office for pre-application assistance, inspections, and site visits. LUPC requests at least 15 days' notice for a desired site visit. Organized municipalities schedule inspections locally.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Organized municipalities enforce their local requirements and applicable Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) provisions. LUPC-regulated unorganized/deorganized areas follow LUPC land-use standards and applicable Maine building requirements, including Maine amendments to the 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Existing Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, and 2021 International Mechanical Code. For LUPC-regulated areas, accessory structures meeting LUPC standards may qualify for an online notification rather than the full building-permit application; new houses/camps and residential expansions generally require an LUPC permit. Organized-municipality exemptions must be confirmed with the local Code Enforcement Officer.