HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1823

BYRepresentatives Nutley, Winsley and Cooper

Modifying building permit requirements.

House Committe on Housing

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Ballard, Inslee, Padden, Rector and Todd.

House Staff:Kenny Pittman (786-7392)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING FEBRUARY 24, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Legislation was enacted in 1955 requiring counties to issue building permits for the construction or alteration of any building where the value of materials exceeds $500.  A copy of the building permit was required to be forwarded to the county assessor who was authorized to make a physical appraisal of the work and place any new valuation on the property tax rolls. The building permits issued by counties were not subject to building standards or requirements.

In 1975, the Legislature enacted the State Building Code Act.  A State Building Code was adopted that included the then recent editions of the uniform building code, uniform plumbing code, uniform mechanical code, and uniform fire code. These uniform codes are comprehensive sets of technical standards that are updated every three years.  The enforcement of the state building code was accomplished through the issuance of a building permit by counties, cities, and towns.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The 1955 statute requiring building permits is repealed.  Counties, cities, and towns are required to transmit a copy of any permit issued under the state building code where the cost or fair market value of the construction or alteration exceeds $500, to the county assessor of the county in which the property subject to the permit is located. The building permit must contain the county assessor's parcel number.

After June 30, 1990, counties, cities, and towns are authorized to exempt from the requirement to obtain a building permit, certain construction or alteration work on either single family residential or agricultural buildings or both.  The permit exemption must be approved by an resolution or ordinance of the county, city, or town.  The exemption is limited to activity where the total cost or fair market value of the construction or alteration work does not exceed $1,500. The construction or alteration work must still meet the standards of the uniform codes that comprise the State Building Code.

The State Building Code Council is directed to adopt guidelines, by rule, establishing the type of construction or alteration work on single family or agricultural buildings that can be exempted from the permit requirements by counties, cities, and towns.

Counties, cities, and towns are required to submit, every month, a copy of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census' Report of Building or Zoning Permit Issued and Local Public Construction to the Department of Community Development.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The building permits issued by counties, cities, and towns must contain the county assessor's parcel number.

After June 30, 1990, counties, cities, and towns are authorized to exempt from the requirement to obtain a building permit, certain construction or alteration work on either single family residential or agricultural buildings or both.  The permit exemption must be approved by a resolution or ordinance of the county, city, or town.

The State Building Code Council is directed to adopt guidelines, by rule, establishing the type of construction or alteration work on single family or agricultural buildings that can be exempted from the permit requirements by counties, cities, and towns.

Counties, cities, and towns are required to submit, every month, a copy of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census' Report of Building or Zoning Permit Issued and Local Public Construction to the Department of Community Development.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 16, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Gary Lowe, Washington State Association of Counties; and Blair Patrick; Washington Association of Building Officials.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      Alterations to a single family residence should be checked to ensure that the owner does not create an unsafe condition. This bill would not ensure that the alteration work performed by the owner meets code standards.