Tri-Cities City Permits & Bylaws Online Guide
The Tri-Cities, Washington—covering Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland—operate separate municipal permit and payment systems but share common rules for building, business licensing, and code enforcement. This guide explains how to find online permits and pay fees, where to submit applications, whom to contact for inspections or enforcement, and how appeals and reviews typically work for Tri-Cities jurisdictions.
How the online permits & payment portals work
Each Tri-Cities municipality publishes its own permit requirements, fee schedules, and accepted payment methods. Typically you will:
- Search the city permit portal for the permit type (building, mechanical, plumbing, business) and download the checklist.
- Submit plans and documents through the city upload or e-permit system and track review status.
- Pay review and inspection fees online by card or e-check via the city payment page.
Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland each provide an online permit or building page with instructions and online access to applications and payments. For municipal-specific portals, see the city pages below.Kennewick permits[1] Pasco building permits[2] Richland building permits[3]
Penalties & Enforcement
Enforcement of permit and bylaw obligations in the Tri-Cities is handled by municipal departments such as Building/Permitting, Code Enforcement, and Planning. Specific monetary penalties and escalation schedules are set by each city's municipal code or fee schedule; in many cases the general permit pages list enforcement roles but do not publish precise fine amounts or escalation steps on the portal pages cited above.
- Fines: not specified on the cited page; consult the applicable city municipal code or revenue schedule for exact amounts.[1]
- Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing offence treatment is not specified on the cited permit pages; municipal code sections typically describe daily fines or misdemeanor charges where applicable.[2]
- Non-monetary sanctions: stop-work orders, administrative orders to correct violations, permit revocation, permit withholding, and referral to court are used by enforcement officers (Building Official or Code Enforcement Officer).
- Enforcer & complaints: contact the city Building/Permitting or Code Enforcement office listed on the city permit page to file a complaint or request an inspection.[3]
- Appeals and review: appeals are typically made to a municipal hearing examiner or through the city’s administrative appeal process; specific time limits for filing appeals are not specified on the cited permit pages and must be confirmed in the city municipal code.
Applications & Forms
Most Tri-Cities municipalities publish permit application forms and submittal checklists on their permit pages. Where the city posts a downloadable form, the form name and submission instructions appear on that page; specific form numbers and fees are listed in each city’s fee schedule or building division resources. If a required form or fee is not shown on the portal, the portal page will state where to request the form or how to submit documents online.[1]
- Common forms: building permit application, trade permit applications, inspection request form, and business license applications (names vary by city).
- Deadlines: project-specific (permit expires if not started within the city’s published period; check the municipal code or permit terms).
Common violations and typical actions
- Construction without a permit — typical action: stop-work order and required retroactive permit; fines not specified on portal pages.
- Failure to pass required inspections — typical action: hold on final occupancy or permit closure until corrections made.
- Illegal parking or right-of-way obstruction — typical action: ticketing or tow by municipal code enforcement or parking operations.
Action steps
- Identify which Tri-Cities city governs your property and open its permit portal to find the correct form and checklist.
- Upload plans and pay required review fees online as directed on the city portal.
- If you receive an enforcement notice, contact the listed Code Enforcement or Building Official immediately to request inspection or file an appeal.
FAQ
- How do I pay permit fees online for Tri-Cities?
- Use the city permit portal or payment page for the city where the property is located; each city provides online payment instructions on its permit page.[1]
- Who enforces building and zoning rules?
- Enforcement is by each city’s Building/Permitting and Code Enforcement divisions; contact details are on the city permit pages.[3]
- How do I appeal a stop-work order?
- File an appeal using the city’s administrative appeal process or request a hearing as described in the municipal code; deadlines are set in the code and are not specified on the general permit portal pages.
How-To
- Determine which Tri-Cities municipality (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) has jurisdiction over your address.
- Open that city’s official permit page to find the correct permit application and checklist.[1]
- Complete the application, upload required documents, and submit payment through the portal.
- Schedule inspections as required and respond promptly to correction notices.
- If enforcement action is taken, follow the notice instructions, contact the issuing department, and file an appeal within the municipal code time limits.
Key Takeaways
- Start on the city portal for the property location to avoid delays.
- Keep inspection records and payment receipts until final permit closure.