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Applying for Permits



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Performance Audit



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Pierce County receives 20,000 permit applications a year.

All too often, we hear complaints about the time it takes to get a permit in Pierce County.
We know a long wait can be more than aggravating. It can mean your hold on that low interest rate slips. Or you end up paying a mortgage on a building you can't use. Or maybe you even lose a sale.

We don't want that to happen. That's why we're working hard to get the number of complaints down to zero.

Pierce County issues permits on 50 percent of all applications in just one day. More than 90 percent are issued in 120 days.

About two-thirds of all new houses in Pierce County, and all of the plumbing and new roof permits get taken care of in a single day. However, there are properties with special circumstances that require more time and we work closely with the applicants to move things along as quickly as possible.

Planning and Land Services (PALS) only accepts applications for permits in the unincorporated area of Pierce County. If you're unsure of whether your job is in a city or the county, you can find out online at www.southsoundpermits.org by using Jurisdiction Search. Just click on address or parcel number and enter the information. The tax district column will tell you if your property is in a city or unincorporated Pierce County.

In addition, not every job requires a permit. To help determine if one is necessary, take a moment to read Bulletin #8 and Bulletin #10 from our Handouts page.

There are several things you can do to speed up your permit application and avoid a long wait in the lobby. Just click on the links at the top of this page to find out more.


Featured Items
2009 Comp Plan Amendments
Information regarding the 2009 Comp Plan Amendments
Online Permit Info
Interact with the PALS Permit System.
Lobby Information for Applicants
Ensure your lobby visit goes smoothly.
Critical Area Info
Basic parcel info (Zoning, wetland, Etc...)
Map Gallery
Print & view standard maps of the County
Zoning Information
General Land Use and Zoning Information.

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Last Modified
Mar 3 2005 4:27PM