This jurisdiction has no online permit portal that we could find, so expect to apply in person or by phone.
How inspections work
There are no county building inspections for single-family homes in unincorporated areas. Planning appointments are scheduled by emailing planning@washingtoncountyar.gov. Road Department construction inspections are billed at $50.00 per hour minimum and $25.00 per half hour thereafter; Road Department phone is 479-444-1610.
What the office says about permits
Even though there is no county building permit, several approvals still apply in unincorporated Washington County. Septic: county septic ordinances 1999-26, 2003-37 and 2008-33 require a permit for an individual sewage disposal system from the Washington County Health Department before installation. Driveway and culvert: contact the Road Department at 479-444-1610 for a culvert permit to install a driveway access; the county asks for an aerial photo or plat and a description of the work, and specifications vary by road. Floodplain: a Floodplain Development Permit is required before any land development in a designated floodplain. Planning also handles E911 address applications, Additional Dwelling Unit applications, lot splits and other exemptions, minor and full subdivisions, replats, variances, conditional use permits, communication tower approvals, and large scale developments. Planning fees effective January 1, 2026 include lot split or exemption $100.00, variance request $200.00, conditional use permit $300.00, minor subdivision or replat of 4 lots or less $300.00, and preliminary or final plat $500.00 for 50 lots or fewer.
Work that may not need a permit
The county states: Washington County does not enforce building codes for agricultural buildings, single-family homes, or residential accessory structures (such as swimming pools or personal-use storage sheds) in unincorporated areas. As a result, no building permits or inspections are required, and no certificates of occupancy will be issued unless specifically requested.
Contractor registration
Whether contractors must register with this jurisdiction before pulling a permit is not published. Ask before you schedule the work.
Can a homeowner pull their own permit?
There is no county building permit for a single-family home in an unincorporated area, so there is nothing for a homeowner or a contractor to pull.