PLANNING, BUILDING AND PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING CLOSURE

As a precautionary measure, and consistent with King County and State Departments of Health, the City is taking every precaution to limit the exposure and protect the citizens, the City and its staff.  For these reasons the following City Facilities will be closed until further notice:

PLANNING, BUILDING & ENGINEERING SERVICES
Planning/zoning, engineering and general inquiries will be answered via phone or email:

Building:  building@desmoineswa.gov | (206) 870-7576

Planning:  dmplanning@desmoineswa.gov | (206) 870-7576

Engineering: jgrager@desmoineswa.gov  

Please note: To comply with the Governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy Proclamation 20-25, the City will schedule inspections only for projects listed as essential in the appendix to the proclamation. Our inspection schedule may continue to be impacted.

Schedule an inspection for construction allowed under the Governor’s Stay at Home order:

Read the Governor’s order here, includes links to the list of essential businesses and additional guidance for construction.

We will be re-evaluating these procedures as new information becomes available, please check the website for the latest information.

STATUS OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN DES MOINES 

In response to the Governor’s Executive Order No. 20-25 issued on March 23, 2020, with a formal Guidance Memo issued on March 25, 2020, and with further press conference clarification provided at approximately 11:50am on March 26, 2020, all non-essential construction in the City of Des Moines (City) has been ordered to cease for the duration of the order by the Washington State Governor’s Office. 

The City recognizes that as of the passing of the Governor’s Order there are many active construction projects underway within Des Moines and that reasonable measures are anticipated and allowed within the Order. The following actions are permissible when performed within the allowances of the Order and accompanying guidance.

Reasonable Measures to Prevent Spoliation: The City recognizes that winding down construction and allowing property owners to deploy reasonable measures to preserve their property and assets against spoliation is essential to protect private property, guard against degradation of conditions, and to properly secure construction sites for the purpose of public safety. The City recognizes that although construction must be halted, reasonable measures to preserve property and assets against spoliation are allowed by the Governor’s Order (see Item C in guidance memo issued on March 25, 2020).

The City will continue to accept requests for and undertake inspections on reasonably acceptable actions to properly prevent spoliation of an already permitted construction project that is currently underway and must be brought to a point of appropriate preservation or to address public safety concerns (as determined by the individual contactor and/or property owner).

A form to be included with any inspections related to anti-spoliation efforts found HERE.

Closure of Construction Sites: The City further recognizes that winding down construction and allowing property owners and project contractors to properly prepare sites for a duration of dormancy is imperative to the safety and welfare of the community and will assist in guarding against the degradation of our environment. The City recognizes that although construction must be halted, reasonable measures taken to properly shut down and close construction sites are allowed by the Governor’s Order (see Item C in Guidance Memo issued on March 25, 2020).

The City will continue to accept request for and undertake inspections on reasonably acceptable actions to properly close and prepare construction sites for a duration of dormancy or to address public safety concerns (as determined by the individual contractor and/or property owner).

A form to be included with any inspections related to construction site closure efforts care be found HERE. 

Essential Projects Allowed: The City recognizes that although construction must be halted, essential projects are allowed to continue to be permitted, constructed, and inspected. Essential construction activity must be related to an essential project under the Governor’s Executive Order No. 20-25 issued on March 23, 2020, with formal Guidance Memo issued on March 25, 2020.

The City will continue to accept request for and undertake inspections on essential construction projects when the applicant has adequately declared the project fits within the Order’s definition of essential. The City will not accept application for inspection when this form is deemed to be incomplete or when the project is not classified as essential.

A form to be included with any application for permit or inspection requests related to essential projects can be found HERE.

Emergency Repairs Allowed: The City recognizes that although construction must be halted, emergency repairs to non-essential commercial and residential structures are allowed to continue and may be permitted, constructed, and inspected by the Governor’s Order (see Item C in Guidance Memo issued on March 25, 2020). Any proposed emergency construction activity associated with a non-essential structure is limited to that allowed under the Governor’s Order.

The City will continue to accept request for and undertake inspections on emergency construction projects when the applicant has adequately declared the project fits within the Order’s allowance for emergency repairs. The City will not accept application for inspection when the project is not classified as an emergency.

A form to be included with any permit application or inspection request related to emergency repairs can be found HERE.
FEE INCREASE
All Building, Development and Engineering Services fees will increase effective January 1, 2020.

CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS
There will be a 3.5% service fee on all credit card transactions effective January 1, 2020.

Welcome to the City of Des Moines Permit Center! Our staff are here to assist with the process of application, review, issuance, and inspection of proposed land use and construction activities that require permits and to answer questions about code requirements.

MyPermits Online

 

• apply for - residential re-roof/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permit | right-of-way permit
• check the status of an existing permit - building (BLD) permits | engineering (ENG) permits
• schedule an inspection - building (BLD) permits | engineering (ENG) permits
• view scheduled inspections - building (BLD) permits | engineering (ENG) permits

Permit applications are accepted and permits are issued between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. You are encouraged to arrive prior to 4:00 pm to allow sufficient time to process your application. Staff is available to answer questions only until 4:30 pm when the doors close for business.

• Building Permits - Application and informational handouts for building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, demolition and fire prevention permits. 
• Sign Permits - Application and informational handouts relating to the requirements and restrictions for business signage.
• Land Use Permits - Application and informational handouts for land use permits including site plan review, environmental review, critical areas review, subdivisions, shoreline permits, etc.
• Construction Codes - Codes adopted by the City of Des Moines.
• Inspection Instructions - Contact information and how to call in inspections.
• Parcel Numbers - Property parcel numbers can be found by using the city's GIS maps, searching King County's Parcel Viewer, or calling the Permit Center at (206) 870-7576.
• Records Requests - If you would like information on a past or current project, you can submit a Public Record Request.
• Right-Of-Way Permits - Application and informational handouts relating to the requirements for right-of-way permits.
• Transportation Impact Fees - Fee schedule and informational handouts relating to the transportation impact fee program.