What Permits Do You Need to Build a House in the Tri-Cities?
In this article
A building permit everywhere, plus a septic permit on any lot not connected to city sewer and a well permit where there is no city water. Grading and driveways generally need no permit here. Franklin County additionally requires a road access permit, which no other local jurisdiction does.
The short version
- Six separate jurisdictions cover this region, and they all differ.
- No septic permit means no building permit, unless the lot is on city sewer.
- Grading needs no permit here. Neither does a driveway.
- Franklin County requires a road access permit. Nowhere else does.
- One to three weeks in a typical city, about four weeks in the counties.
Which jurisdictions issue permits in the Tri-Cities?
As many as six, depending on where your lot sits: the cities of Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, and Benton City, plus Franklin and Benton counties. Lots near Burbank fall under Walla Walla County. Every one of them requires a building permit, and every one handles it differently.
“You have three, four cities, you have two counties, possibly a fifth city, so you have six different entities depending on where you’re actually building,” John Worlund says. “They all require a building permit. And they all differ.”
Which one applies is decided by your parcel, not by the mailing address, which surprises people with rural land near a city boundary.
Which permits does a build actually require?
The building permit always. A septic permit on any lot not connected to city sewer, which in this region means going through the Benton-Franklin Health District. A well permit where there is no city water. And in Franklin County only, a road access permit.
| Permit | When required |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Always, in every jurisdiction |
| Septic permit | No city sewer. Required before the building permit |
| Well permit | No city water |
| Road access permit | Franklin County only |
| Grading | No permit required here |
| Driveway | No permit required here |
The sequencing rule is the one worth memorizing. In most jurisdictions here you cannot obtain a building permit without the septic permit in hand first, unless the lot is already on city sewer.
How long do permits take?
One to three weeks in a typical Tri-Cities city and about four weeks in the counties. One city offers an expedited option at around $700 for a two- to three-day turnaround. Summer vacation coverage at permit offices adds a week or two, which is unpreventable from the builder’s side.
| Scenario | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Typical city | 1 to 3 weeks |
| One city, expedited | 2 to 3 days for about $700 |
| County | About 4 weeks |
| Vacation season | Add 1 to 2 weeks |
County permits also ask for more. In John’s description, a county application will ask for a hundred items.
The larger variable is city lot versus rural land. A city lot is already defined on paper with known costs. Rural land adds plot-plan work, a well, a septic system, and utility extension, all of which lengthen the process.
Do you pay hookup fees on a city lot?
Yes. On a city lot you avoid building the utilities, but sewer, water, and electric hookup fees still apply, and they are separate from the permit itself. That is the trade against rural land, where you build the infrastructure but avoid the connection charges.
Costs vary by jurisdiction and change over time, so ask for current figures rather than working from a number you read somewhere.
Anasazi handles all permit paperwork either way. You do not call the permit office, fill out forms, or track applications.
Who handles the permits, you or the builder?
The builder, on any professionally managed build. Anasazi submits and tracks every application, including the building permit, septic permit, well permit where applicable, and any county-specific documentation, then coordinates the inspections through to the Certificate of Occupancy.
If you act as your own general contractor, all of that becomes yours, along with responsibility for passing every inspection.
Municipal inspections happen at stages: foundation, framing, mechanical, plumbing, insulation and drywall, then final. Anasazi coordinates them, which is part of what delivering a home move-in ready means.
Anasazi builds throughout Pasco, Kennewick, and the surrounding counties.
Common questions about building permits
Does the permit cost depend on the house?
Fees are generally tied to valuation or square footage and vary by jurisdiction. Ask for a current figure during pricing.
Can I start site work before the permit is issued?
Grading needs no permit here, but confirm with your builder before anything begins so nothing jeopardizes the application.
What if my lot is just outside city limits?
Then it is a county permit, with the longer timeline and the additional documentation. That distinction is worth confirming before you buy.
Is a perc test part of the septic permit?
On most rural lots the Benton-Franklin Health District requires percolation results before approving a septic design.
Do I need a permit to drill a well?
Yes, and the work is done by a licensed driller. Your builder coordinates it.
Permits are the part of a build most people find opaque and never actually have to touch. Ask which jurisdiction your lot falls under, or read how permitting fits into the nine-stage process.
Written by John Worlund
CEO & Founder, Anasazi Builders
John began building at 17 and has spent more than five decades learning the trade from the ground up. He remains directly involved from the first conversation to the final walkthrough.
A local guide to required permits, jurisdiction differences, timing, inspections, and utility hookups.
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Family-owned custom home builder serving the Tri-Cities, WA since 2014. Father and son. 80 years experience. 250+ homes built.
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