Message from Planning and Development Services Natural Resources Division:

Regarding the *seasonal clearing limitations from October 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024 on parcels within the Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish and Lake Padden Watersheds

Please note that WCC 20.51.410(3) and WCC 20.80.735(2) prohibit Whatcom County from issuing permits from September 15th – May 31st.

Therefore, no development permits in the above mentioned watersheds will be issued after September 14th, 2023. 

Those permits that are not able to be issued prior to September 15th, 2023 will be available for issuance on June 1st, 2024 .

*Seasonal Clearing Limitations: Clearing activities which expose more than 500 square feet of soil (in total) are not permitted during the seasonal clearing activity limitations.

If you have questions about the seasonal closure, please contact PDS-Natural Resources, Watersheds at 360-778-5900.

Permit Center Information

The Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) has delayed the effective date of the 2021 Building Codes to March 15, 2024.  For more information please visit the SBCC Website.  For more information, please review our Interim Vesting Policy.

Limited In-Person Services

• General property, permitting and zoning information
• Assistance and direction on how to submit and apply online.
• Records Research (capacity for records research shall be limited to one customer at a time). 

Online Services and Resources

• All applications and prescreens must be submitted digitally to [email protected] —we will not be taking paper submissions for prescreens, applications and permit intake. We are experiencing a high volume of emails; your patience is appreciated as we process them in the order in which they are received.
  • Building Permit Application Information
  • Current Planning Application Information
  • Natural Resources Application Information
• This Resource Link page provides information and instructions to obtain information about your property--recorded documents, zoning, septic records, etc. Resource Links Property Search Information Sheet.
• Submit general questions or parcel specific questions using our online Property Information Request Form.
• Schedule a building inspection online using our Building Inspection Request Form.
• The Whatcom County GIS Map Portal provides access to planning-related information for Whatcom County.  Whatcom County GIS Tax Parcel Viewer—Use multiple map gallery choices and map layers to navigate through topics, such as Zoning, view current imagery maps, Assessor information, city boundaries, subdivision annotation and bare earth topography. Instructions for Tax Parcel Viewer.
• Report a code violation - go to our Report a Code Violation page.
• Contact PDS
  • Main Phone number: 360-778-5900
  • General Email: [email protected]
  • Complete Application & Prescreen Submittals: [email protected] 
  • Full Staff Directory