Hello Builders!

The Central Washington Home Builders Association (CWHBA) wanted to provide an update on our government affairs efforts and the coronavirus response of local governments. 

The CWHBA team has been proactively working to stay in touch with permitting and planning departments as well as commissioners and council members to make the case for keeping permitting offices open and permits on track. In our discussions, it has become clear that some are already considering changes to submission methods, inspections of occupied buildings, and how they do business to avoid exposure. CWHBA is working diligently to avoid closures and ensure that leaders take steps to mitigate impacts through timeline extensions, electronic submissions, and telework methods.

You can find up-to-the-minute information about the current status of planning and permitting departments across Washington’s six central counties by visiting our COVID-19 response page. If you don’t see your city included on this page, please let us know and we will be happy to reach out for information. 

Keeping as close to “business as usual” while government responds to public concern is our #1 priority. We hope to leverage this experience to move building departments toward more efficient and resilient electronic systems going forward and your efforts in engaging with them is very much appreciated. 

What You Can Do:

• Check our COVID-19 Response page regularly for updates on local jurisdictions and before contacting permit offices. Our efforts to inform you and reduce calls to their office will keep their staff focused on processing permits and implementing new systems.

• Please alert us immediately if you begin to experience difficulties with any of the systems put in place by local jurisdictions. We are happy to leverage our collaborative working relationships with local leaders to fix problems as they arise.

• If you are experiencing any changes to business, please email us with what you are seeing. We are collecting information for our state and federal counterparts regarding the impact of the coronavirus on your businesses. Any and all information will help our lobbyists and leaders garner support for regulatory relief and access to other programs.

Please feel free to call, text, or email with any questions or concerns.

Best wishes,