Welcome to the Permit Center! We are located on the first floor of City Hall at 210 Lottie Street. Hours of operation are 8:30am – 3:30pm Monday, Tuesday & Thursday and 9:30-3:30 on Wednesday for walk-in customers. We are available 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday-Friday via phone or email.
Visit the City of Bellingham’s TRAKiT Web Portal to apply for permits online, find information on existing permits and projects, pay fees and more!
1. Do I need a permit?
It depends on the project’s scope of work. If you don’t see your project on our Work Exempt from Permits handout, you will need to obtain a permit.
2. What do I need to apply?
All permit types have their own submittal requirements. Refer to our Applications and Forms page to find application requirements and supporting documents for Building, Land Use, Public Works, Fire and Special Event permits.
3. How do I submit my permit application?
The following permit types should be applied for online through our TRAKiT Web Portal: Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, Water Heater Replacement, Re-Roof, Sign & Awning and Utilities Franchise.
All other permit types, including Building, must be submitted electronically. Complete application packets can be emailed to permits@cob.org or brought into the Permit Center on a flash drive.
4. How long will it take to get my permit?
The review time for your application depends on the type of project. For building projects and their associated permits, please refer to our Review Timelines for Building Permits handout for more information.
For certain project scopes, the Building Division review may be waived and the permit processed as “over-the-counter” or “subject to field inspection (STFI)”. Take a look at our STFI Handout to determine if your project may qualify for this expedited review.
5. How much does a permit cost?
Our Permit Fees page contains fee information for all types of permits. For example, building permit fees are calculated off of the project valuation.
Our Permit Fee Calculator (an Excel spreadsheet available to download here) is a great tool to help you determine applicable permit fees on a variety of project types.
Credit/Debit cards are now accepted for online payments. Fees can also be paid at the Finance Department in City Hall, where the majority of payment methods are accepted.
6. How do I schedule an inspection?
Inspections can be scheduled online through the TRAKiT Web Portal or via our automated phone line at 360-778-8303. You can find detailed scheduling instructions in this pamphlet.
Helpful Resources
CityIQ is an interactive map tool that allows you to look up your property’s zoning, boundaries, utilities, easements and more.
The Bellingham Municipal Code contains all the City ordinances related to Building and Construction (Title 17) and Land Use Development (Title 20).
The building and construction codes effective within the City of Bellingham include the International Codes, Washington State Amendments and Washington Administrative Code (WAC). Many of the adopted codes are available to view online.
You can receive information regarding code changes, new polices and programs and other announcements from the Permit Center by subscribing to our Permit Center News.
Resources
- Planning and Community Development Department
- Development and Design Standards
- Neighborhood Profiles
- Doing Business in Bellingham
- Bellingham Municipal Code
Contacts
Permit Center
Walk-in Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30am-3:30pm / Wednesday 9:30am-3:30pm
Available By Phone and Email: Monday-Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
permits@cob.org or 360-778-8300
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