Everything you need to know about Inspections
If you submit an application to Thurston County government, county codes may require the county to inspect the property and the project.
How to know if you need county inspections
- A property gets county inspections if its mapped with regulated environments. Go to Look Up My Property to check.
- A project gets county inspection if it includes any construction, mechanical/plumbing, adding structures, septic work (add, replace, repair).
- Other, special property and project inspections & reports by independent experts that you hire may be needed to meet environmental, septic, stormwater, & well regulations.
What happens during an inspections
Staff visit in person for an on-property look at protected environmental areas, construction sites, septic, building placement, construction progress, stormwater & erosion control measures and other things required by code.
Inspection fees
- Fee information is on the Fee Information page.
- The county accepts payment by check or credit card (transaction fees apply).
- Reinspection fees apply if inspectors can't access your property or project for a scheduled inspection, and if permits, plans aren't visible, and if requested corrections aren't complete.
Inspection scheduling
- You or your contractor may schedule inspections.
- To set up, cancel or reschedule inspection, visit Set up or Cancel Inspections.
- If you scheduled a county inspection for today, see Today's Inspection Schedule for times.
List of permit-related inspections
- Regulated Environmental Areas (Critical Areas, Habitat Conservation Plan, Land Use, Shorelines)
- County staff typically schedule a site visit, or may ask for reports from environmental experts if your project is near certain protected areas, or if the project property has critical areas, habitat conservation plan species, shorelines, wetlands or any other regulated critical area, or land or water type.
- Many applicants complete these reports before applying for building or development permits.
- Start by looking up your property on a county map to see if critical areas and/or other protected environments are on site.
- Find more information on the Critical Areas and Regulated Lands web page.
- Septic, On-site Sewage & Well
- County staff do these inspections after you submit septic and well permits. They typically don't need to schedule with you.
- Flag the corners of your lot to prepare.
- Staff come on site to test soils, check site conditions or geography, examine existing wells or septic systems and other things related to your application.
- You may need to hire experts to prepare septic or well reports. If so, submit all reports before any ground-disturbing work begins.
- Find details at Septic, Well & Water, Sewer.
- Building & Construction Sites
- You schedule your own county inspections after you receive a permit and start work. Permit instructions and staff will guide you.
- Schedule 1-3 days before you want the inspection. If calling the day before, schedule before 4 p.m.
- There are multiple building and construction site inspections. They're done as project kicks off, during and after construction.
- Find details at Building & Construction Site Inspections.
- Driveway, Road Access, Clearing & Grading - These are called Development Review Inspections
- You schedule these inspections after your permit is approved.
- Find details about Development Review inspections on the Building & Construction Site Inspections webpage.
The County's Elected Officials Adopt All Codes & Authorize Staff Inspection Requirements
All County Codes, inspection requirements and procedures are reviewed or adopted by the County's elected officials, the Board of County Commissioners before being implemented.