Washington Administrative Code › Title 51 - Enterprise Services, Department of (Building Code Council) › Chapter 51-16 - State Building Code Guidelines › Section 51-16-080 - Permit exemptions guideline

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Cities and counties are permitted the option of adopting a one
				thousand five hundred dollar building permit exemption for certain construction
				and alteration activities for Group R, Division 3 and Group M, Division 1
				Occupancies. To adopt the permit exemption guideline, the following section of
				the 1991 Uniform Building Code shall be amended as follows:
(1) Section 301(b) of the Uniform Building
			 Code shall be amended to read as follows:
(b)
			 Exempted work. A building permit shall not be required for the following:
1.One-story detached accessory buildings used
			 as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the projected
			 roof area does not exceed one hundred twenty square feet.
2.Fences not over six feet high.
3.Oil derricks.
4.Movable cases, counters, and partitions not
			 over five feet nine inches high.
5.Retaining walls which are not over four
			 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall,
			 unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or III-A
			 liquids.
6.Water tanks supported
			 directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed five thousand gallons and
			 the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed two to one.
7.Platforms, walks, and driveways not more
			 than thirty inches above grade and not over any basement or story
			 below.
8.Painting, papering, and
			 similar finish work.
9.Temporary
			 motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery.
10.Window awnings supported by an exterior
			 wall of Group R, Division 3, and Group M Occupancies when projecting not more
			 than fifty-four inches.
11.Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to
			 a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the
			 adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed five thousand
			 gallons.
12.Minor construction and
			 alteration activities to Group R, Division 3 and Group M, Division 1
			 Occupancies, as determined by the building official, which the total valuation,
			 as determined in Section 304(b) or as documented by the applicant to the
			 satisfaction of the building official, does not exceed one thousand five
			 hundred dollars in any twelve-month period: Provided, That the construction
			 and/or alteration activity does not affect any structural components, or reduce
			 existing egress, light, air, and ventilation conditions. This exemption does
			 not include electrical, plumbing, or mechanical activities. The permit
			 exemption shall not otherwise exempt the construction or alteration from the
			 substantive standards of the codes enumerated in
			 RCW
			   19.27.031, as amended and maintained by the
			 state building code council under
			 RCW
			   19.27.070.
Unless otherwise exempted, separate plumbing, electrical, and
				mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted items.
Exemption from the permit requirements of this code shall not
				be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in
				violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of
				this jurisdiction.
The adoption of an ordinance or resolution by cities and
				counties for the purpose to provide for a permit exemption as outlined in this
				section, shall not be considered a local government residential amendment
				requiring approval by the state building code council.