Administrative overview · FIPS 41067
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 Land Use & Transportation, Building Services
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
Building Services: 503-846-3470; inspection IVR: 503-846-3699; SelecTXT: 844-339-4609
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
155 N First Avenue, Suite 350, Hillsboro, OR 97124-3072
Operating hours
Building Services lobby Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed for in-person services Friday. Remote services are generally available 24/7.
Review expectation
Average setup and prescreen: 3-5 business days each; current-planning site review: 5-7 business days; initial plan review: 10-20 business days; issuance after file check: 1-2 business days. Plan-review averages are 5-7 business days for simple prescriptive residential, 10 business days for non-prescriptive residential, and 20 business days for commercial projects. Inspections average 1-2 business days.
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 Land Use & Transportation, Building Services 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 Building Services: 503-846-3470; inspection IVR: 503-846-3699; SelecTXT: 844-339-4609.
How long might review take?
Average setup and prescreen: 3-5 business days each; current-planning site review: 5-7 business days; initial plan review: 10-20 business days; issuance after file check: 1-2 business days. Plan-review averages are 5-7 business days for simple prescriptive residential, 10 business days for non-prescriptive residential, and 20 business days for commercial projects. Inspections average 1-2 business days.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule through the Public Permitting and Services Portal, call the IVR at 503-846-3699, or text SCHEDULE to 844-339-4609 and follow the prompts using the permit number and inspection code. Requests before 6:00 a.m. are processed that business day; inspections are generally Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with no exact appointment time guaranteed.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Washington County enforces the State of Oregon Building Code and applicable Washington County Community Development Code and development standards. The current 2026 Oregon specialty-code set is 2025 OSSC; 2023 ORSC, OESC, and OPSC; 2025 OMSC and OEESC; plus applicable fire, floodplain, grading, septic, and land-use requirements. County FAQs identify exemptions for a ground-level deck, qualifying non-habitable one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet and 15 feet average roof height (up to 400 square feet on parcels of at least 2 acres when set back at least 20 feet), and ordinary minor plumbing repairs to existing accessible fixtures and attachments. Cosmetic work, fences and other state-code minor-work exemptions may also apply; zoning/setback rules still need to be checked, and habitable sheds require permits.