Official website of the
City of Vancouver, Washington

Building, Planning & Environment

We are proud of our quality of life and work hard to do our part to maintain or, in some cases, improve it. Our staff is dedicated to carrying out our responsibilities related to planning, code enforcement and other regulations dealing with the environment, land use, development and the construction and alteration of buildings within Vancouver.

Building Vancouver

Building Permits - Apply Online

Licensed contractors can now purchase electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits on the Web. Anyone can look up a permit or find information about a parcel of land.

Permit Fees Changed January 2010

Development review, fire, and building permit and plan review fees have changed.

Building and Development Permits

Building, land use, engineering, development permits and building inspection scheduling

Fire Code Information and Forms

Material storage forms, access requirements for fire equipment, and other information for builders and developers.

Engineering Review

Information related to civil engineering design, review timelines, checklists, standard details, and approval blocks and forms.

Zoning Ordinance

Land Use and Development regulations (Title 20) in the Vancouver Municipal Code.

Hearings Examiner

Transportation Development Review

Road modifications, impact fees, drafting standards, and standard detail drawings.

Protecting Our Environment

Sustainable Vancouver

Sustainability asks all of us, as a community, to participate in a nonpartisan way to preserve our future.

The Water All Around Us – Surface and Groundwater Program

Vancouver’s surface and groundwater management, Stormwater Ordinance, Water Resources Protection Program, spill reporting; erosion prevention, watersheds and more information for residents and businesses.

Urban Forestry

Preserves and enhances the urban forest through tree regulations and tree planting coordination.

Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership

The City has joined with other government agencies and local citizens to explore issues and potential strategies for the future of Vancouver Lake.

Water Resources Protection Program

Environmental protections for ground water resources

Environmental Planning

The City has a consolidated critical areas ordinance to protect wetlands, streams and water bodies, steep slopes and geological hazard areas, priority habitats, riparian areas and floodplains.

Train Horn Noise

Public Works Projects

East Evergreen Corridor Project

The East Evergreen Corridor Project aims to provide comprehensive planning and design for public services within the East Evergreen Corridor, from Southeast 164th to 192nd avenues.

Ellsworth Water Station Improvement Project

Capital project to improve water system reliability and supply delivery, treat stormwater, and restore the landscape at this important city water station.

Planning for the Future

Columbia River Crossing

Columbia River Crossing is a bridge, transit and highway improvement project aimed at reducing congestion and improving safety problems on a five-mile segment of Interstate 5.

Annexation

Annexation helps ensure consistent and unified level of urban service.

Zoning Map

Detailed map showing zoning and comprehensive plan land-use designations, presented as area maps covering all parts of the city.

Park & Trail Planning

Comprehensive Plan for Vancouver

Adopted by Vancouver's City Council on May 3, 2004

Comprehensive Plan Review

The annual review process allows property owners to request changes to their property’s comprehensive plan and zoning designations.

Transportation Improvement Program

City Council adopts an updated version of this plan each year, identifying transportation-related projects the City intends to begin within the next six years.

Transportation Planning

Planning for Vancouver's growing transportation needs.

Planning Commission

Appointed by City Council to conduct studies and hold public hearings on mixed use master plans, comprehensive plan amendments, rezone requests and zoning text amendments.

First Tuesday

Monthly discussions of current issues and topics facing the community, hosted by the Planning Commission.

Community Planning Projects

Central Park Plan Update

The City completed the Central Park Plan and related Vancouver Municipal Code amendment, 20.640, Vancouver Central Park Plan District. The Central Park Plan area is bordered by the Columbia River, Interstate 5, Fourth Plain, and Reserve Street.

Fourth Plain Plan

The City completed a plan for the Fourth Plain Boulevard corridor from St. Johns Boulevard to Burton Road, including the surrounding neighborhoods. Planners are exploring ways to improve the livability of the neighborhood.

Fruit Valley Subarea Plan

The city is working with stakeholders to prepare a Fruit Valley Subarea Plan.

Riverview Gateway Subarea Plan

The City completed a subarea plan for future mixed use urban development once mining activities are completed in the Fisher and WSDOT quarries at the corner of 192nd Avenue and SR-14.

Urban Livestock - Farm Animals In The City

The City is beginning a discussion about raising of farm animals within the City limits

Lower Grand Employment Area

The City has focused attention on the City Center area west of I-5, the Central Park area and the Columbia Shores area south of SR-14.

Section 30

The City is working with stakeholders to refine and update the existing Section 30 Subarea Plan.