Administrative overview · FIPS 36115
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 Department of Code Enforcement
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
518-746-2150
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Washington County Department of Code Enforcement, Washington County Burgoyne Campus, 1153 Burgoyne Avenue, Fort Edward, NY 12828
Operating hours
N/A; the department provides 24-hour emergency availability for qualifying structural-damage and fuel-burning-appliance incidents. Contact the office for normal public hours.
Review expectation
The County application instructs applicants to allow two to four weeks for processing and review; incomplete applications may be cancelled six months after initial review.
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?
Washington County Department of Code Enforcement 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 518-746-2150.
How long might review take?
The County application instructs applicants to allow two to four weeks for processing and review; incomplete applications may be cancelled six months after initial review.
How are inspections scheduled?
Complete the County application, obtain the required signed Local Regulation Compliance Certificate from the town or village, submit plans and supporting approvals, and keep work accessible for staged inspections. The County performs construction-stage inspections, issues certificates of occupancy/compliance, and offers 24-hour emergency response for qualifying structural or heating-appliance incidents.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Washington County reviews plans and issues permits for work subject to the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Codes and Washington County Sanitary Code, Local Law No. 1 of 1988. The applicable 2025 New York State Uniform Code and 2025 Energy Conservation Construction Code became effective December 31, 2025. Local town and village compliance certification is required before issuance and after completion. The January 2026 County application states that residential storage buildings of 144 square feet or less do not require a building permit, although local zoning setbacks may still apply. Most other projects, including change of use, require permits. The application also exempts certain nonstructural alterations costing $20,000 or less that do not involve structural changes or affect public safety; contact the department when uncertain.