A lot of the calls I get from homeowners start the same way: “Do I even need a permit for this?” The short answer is usually yes. The longer answer depends on where you live and what you’re doing. I’ve drawn permit sets for remodels, decks, repairs and, this year, a full rebuild of a fire-damaged house, and the same handful of things come up every time. Here are five worth knowing before you apply.
1Find out who issues your permit
It sounds obvious, but it trips people up. If your home is inside Kelso city limits, the City of Kelso Building Department issues your permit. If you’re in unincorporated Cowlitz County, it’s Cowlitz County Building & Planning. If you live in another city, start with that city’s building department.
Electrical is its own animal. Both Kelso and the county send you to Washington L&I for electrical permits and inspections, not the city or county. And in the county, new development generally goes through Planning Clearance, a land-use and environmental review, before other permits.
2Assume you need a permit, and ask early
The Cowlitz County FAQ puts it plainly: most new construction, remodeling and repair work that affects a building or structure will need a permit. Kelso’s list of exemptions is short. It covers finish work like painting, flooring, cabinets and countertops, plus a few small items. If you’re moving walls, changing windows, building a deck or replacing framing, plan on a permit.
Not sure? Call before you start, not after. Cowlitz County offers staff consultations so you can talk through your project before you apply, and it’s a lot cheaper to ask a question than to tear something out.
3Know what goes in the drawings
A permit set isn’t a sketch on a napkin. Kelso’s residential plan requirements ask for drawings that are to scale, fully dimensioned and done in a professional manner. Pencil drawings aren’t accepted. The county’s residential permit checklist spells out what reviewers want to see, including:
- Exterior elevations and a roof plan
- A foundation plan and details
- A floor plan of each floor and the basement
- Beam, header, girder and post sizes, plus the size, direction and spacing of floor and ceiling framing
- A building section from the footings through the roof
- Stairs, handrails and guardrails
- Truss placement plans from your truss supplier, if you have trusses
- A Washington State Energy Code compliance form
Some projects also need structural calculations stamped by a licensed engineer, or a soils report on steep or hazard sites. That’s normal, and a clean set of drawings makes that hand-off a lot smoother.
4On a rebuild, document what’s there first
Repairs after a fire, a storm or a tree coming through the roof have their own wrinkles. Before anything gets torn out, get good photos and measurements of what’s there. On the fire-damaged house I drew this year, the set started with an as-built plan of the existing house and a damage plan showing what was coming out and what was staying. Then came the proposed plans.
That made it clear to everyone, from the plan reviewer to the crew, which walls were being kept, which were being upgraded and where the new framing went. Items like a rebuilt chimney, or new roof trusses that have to match the original pitch, need real details on paper, not guesses in the field.
5Plan for the calendar, and check your contractor
Permits take time. Kelso says approval usually takes about 3 to 5 weeks, depending on how complex the project is and the time of year. Once you have it, keep moving: a Kelso permit expires if work doesn’t start within 180 days of issuance, or if no inspections are requested for 180 days. Expect several inspections along the way, such as footings, foundation, framing, insulation and a final.
Before you hire anyone, use L&I’s contractor lookup to make sure they’re registered with a valid bond and insurance. It takes two minutes and it’s worth it.
Want someone in your corner?
This is the part of the job I like helping with. With my Project Guidance service, I can be on your side from the first sketch to the final inspection. I draw the permit set, help you make sense of the checklist and the review comments, and work alongside your builder so the plans and the work line up. If you’re planning a remodel or rebuild in Kelso or anywhere in Cowlitz County, send me a message. I’m happy to talk it through.
Tony Kunkle-AASTK Drafting Solutions · Kelso, WA
This is general information, not legal or code advice, and it isn’t a guarantee your permit will be approved. Rules, fees and timelines change, so always confirm with your city or county before you apply. Details above were checked against the official sites below on October 25, 2026.
Sources
- City of Kelso: Building (FAQs, exemptions, approval time, permit expiration)
- City of Kelso: Residential Building Plan Requirements (PDF)
- Cowlitz County: Building & Planning
- Cowlitz County: Frequently Asked Questions
- Cowlitz County: Staff Consultations
- Cowlitz County: Planning Clearance & Regulations
- Cowlitz County: Residential Building Permit packet (PDF)
- Washington L&I: Electrical permits, fees and inspections
- Washington L&I: Verify a contractor, tradesperson or business