Benton County Community Development, Building Division

Commercial Building Permit and Plan Review

New construction, additions and tenant improvements in unincorporated Benton County need a building permit from the Benton County Community Development Building Division; inside Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Prosser and Benton City the city's own building department issues the permit. The county's 'Building and FAS Permit Fee Schedule', headed 'As authorized by resolution of the Benton County Commissioners' and marked 'Effective 3-26-25', states that building permit fees follow 'Section 109 of the 2021 International Building Code (IBC)', with valuation based on the 2020 Jan./Feb. Building Valuation Data published by the International Code Council; where a project is not covered, a contract price is provided. The same page states: 'All commercial, Industrial, and type U structures over 4,000 sq/ft will be charged a 65% plan review fee on the permit.' It lists a commercial application deposit fee of $200, 'Refundable within permit issuance only' and 'Not applicable to permit fees less than $200.00', a $65 special inspection or extra plan review fee and a $65 reinspection fee. The State Building Code fee under RCW 19.27.085 is $25 for each commercial building permit. Under BCC 3.04.039 every permit expires two years from issuance; one extension of one year may be requested in writing before expiry, at a fee of 25% of the original, and an expired permit needs a new permit and full fees. Call the Building Division at 509-735-3500.