Bainbridge Island building permits

The City of Bainbridge Island's Planning and Community Development (PCD) Department "coordinates and manages development and land-use activity on Bainbridge Island." Its Building Division is "responsible for ensuring that construction and development within the City of Bainbridge Island comply with the minimum Building Code requirements adopted by Washington State". Source [3]Source [2]

• "All building and land use permit applications will only be accepted as electronic submissions via the Public Permit Portal." Source [1]
• "Permit applications must be submitted electronically via the portal; alternative submittal methods are not accepted. A portal account is required to submit applications, pay fees, schedule inspections, and manage active permits." Source [1]
• The City's Clariti Permit Guide "provides helpful prompts for permitting based on project type and GIS mapping tools", and you can use it as a guest. Source [1]
• "Complete building permit applications include the minimum basic project information and the required submittal documents, such as plan sets and drawings." Source [2]
• For a fee estimate on a potential project, the Permitting page says to email permittingsubmittal@bainbridgewa.gov. Source [1]

• "The timeline for the first cycle of review of permit applications is typically 30 days for building projects and 60 days for planning projects. The review timeline starts from the date a submitted application is deemed complete. Additional review time will be required for resubmitted information and/or project revisions." Source [1]
• "Building permits expire 180 days after permit issuance, or 180 days after the last approved inspection activity is performed." Source [1]

• "The required permits must be approved and issued before beginning project activities." Source [2]
• "Projects within a critical area or shoreline designation typically require additional land use permits from the Planning Division." Source [2]
• The City's handout says "All development within 200’ of ordinary high water requires the submittal of a Shoreline Substantial Development Exemption prior to the submission of a building permit." Source [4]
• "Owners may act as the builder and construct all portions of a building. However, if any or all of the construction (including plumbing and mechanical) is hired out, contractor information must be provided." Source [2]
• "The Department of Labor and Industries is responsible for electrical permits." Source [2]
• "The 2021 Building Code and the 2021 Fire Code are effective as of March 27, 2024." Source [2]
• On August 31, 2026 the City announced that its Council adopted Ordinance 2026-10 on August 25, an interim development regulation ordinance that "Adopts a new zoning map and new zoning codes for six months or until the final Comprehensive Plan and Winslow Subarea Plan and their new zoning codes are adopted." Check current zoning with PCD before you design. Source [5]