Benton County
Benton County Community Development, Planning Division
In short
Benton County Community Development, Planning Division issues 3 permits we publish for Benton County, last verified 2026-10-26. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.
What this agency issues
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Occupation Permit (BCC 11.49)only if it applies to you | Benton County Community Development, Planning Division | $100 non-refundable application fee (BCC 11.49.020(b); Planning Division fee page) | one-time land-use approval; the Planning Administrator issues or denies the permit, and an appeal goes to the Hearings Examiner within 14 days | 2026-10-26 |
| Conditional Use Permit (BCC 11.50)only if it applies to you | Benton County Community Development, Planning Division | $800 non-refundable application fee (Planning Division fee page); an environmental checklist or addendum may also be required | one-time land-use approval; transferable to a new holder after written notice to the Hearings Examiner if the use and location stay the same (BCC 11.50.040) | 2026-10-26 |
| Child Day Care Land-Use Permit (Type A / Type B)only if it applies to you | Benton County Community Development, Planning Division | $120–$800 per application: Child Day Care - Type A $120; Child Day Care - Type B $800 (Planning Division fee page) | one-time land-use approval | 2026-10-26 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
About each permit
Home Occupation Permit (BCC 11.49)
A business run from a home in unincorporated Benton County needs a home occupation permit from the Planning Division under BCC chapter 11.49. The Planning Division's Applications and Fees page lists 'Home Occupation (HO)' at $100, and BCC 11.49.020(b) makes it a non-refundable application fee. BCC 11.49.040 allows art and craft work; office use by architects, attorneys, contractors, consultants and computer-based businesses; personalized services or lessons such as music, art, sports, dance, tutoring, licensed counseling and massage therapy; and other uses the Planning Administrator determines to be similar and compatible. BCC 11.49.050 prohibits: (a) repair, bodywork or painting of automobiles, motorcycles, marine and off-road vehicles, trailers, heavy equipment, recreational vehicles or semi-trucks for persons not residing on the premises; (b) cabinetwork and mill work; (c) a veterinary clinic or hospital; (d) appliance repair; (e) machine and sheet metal shops; (f) uses that require a marijuana processor or retailer license from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board; (g) uses that handle hazardous materials, except small unregulated quantities; (h) uses that require explosives or highly combustible materials; and (i) other uses of similar impact. Criteria (BCC 11.49.030) include a resident proprietor, no more than two non-resident persons, the lesser of 30% of the dwelling and attached garage or 600 square feet, one non-illuminated sign of up to 4 square feet, noise of 65 decibels or less at the property line and one marked vehicle; the Fire Marshal may add the parcel to its annual inspection list.
Conditional Use Permit (BCC 11.50)
A business whose use is listed as a conditional use in its zoning district in unincorporated Benton County needs a conditional use permit, decided by the Hearings Examiner under BCC 11.50.040. The code explains that certain uses are classified as conditional 'because of their unusual nature, infrequent occurrence, special requirements, or potentially significant impacts to the environment, public infrastructure or adjacent properties', and BCC 11.50.040(b) requires a non-refundable application fee. The Planning Division's Applications and Fees page lists 'Conditional Use Permit (CUP)' at $800 and notes that it 'May require an Environmental Checklist or an Addendum'; the addenda it lists are Detached ADU, Business Use, Child Care Type B, Event Center and Mineral Extraction. Once granted, a conditional use permit may be transferred after written notice to the Hearings Examiner, provided the use and location remain the same and the new holder keeps to the permit's conditions. Whether a particular use needs a conditional use permit depends on the zoning district of the site; the Planning Division confirms this before application.
Child Day Care Land-Use Permit (Type A / Type B)
A child care business in unincorporated Benton County applies to the Planning Division for a child day care land-use approval. The Planning Division's Applications and Fees page lists 'Child Day Care - Type A' at $120 and 'Child Day Care - Type B' at $800, and lists a Child Care Type B Addendum among the conditional use permit addenda. BCC 11.03(35) defines a Type A facility as 'a dwelling unit where a childcare provider cares for twelve (12) or fewer children for periods of less than 24 hours a day.' BCC 11.03(36) defines a Type B facility as a dwelling unit where a provider cares for thirteen or more children, or 'a building or structure other than a dwelling unit where a childcare provider cares for any number of children for periods of less than 24 hours a day.' A home-based day care is also inspected by the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector for a $65 special inspection fee (recorded separately).
Contact
- Jurisdiction
- Benton County
- Phone
- Not verified — use the website
Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.
Sources
Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Benton County Code ch. 11.03, Definitions (35) Child Day Care Facility - Type A, (36) Child Day Care Facility - Type BBenton County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
- Benton County Code ch. 11.49, Home Occupation (Ord. 611, 2018)Benton County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
- Benton County Code ch. 11.50, Variance and Conditional Use (§11.50.040 Conditional Use)Benton County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
- Planning Division — Applications and FeesBenton County Community Development, Planning Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
Other offices serving Benton County
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