Construction Tip Sheets

The following tip sheets (obtain free Acrobat Reader) are the collaborative effort of the MyBuildingPermit.com Management Committee.   Printed copies are also available through the permit centers of participating cities.

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions regarding the tip sheets or inspection checklists, please send it via our feedback page.

The following tip sheets reflect the 2006 Washington State Building Codes:

  0  Permits When Required 

  1  Basic Stairs

  2  Handrails

  3  Guards

  4  Smoke Alarms

  5  Basic Decks

  6  Garage Separation

  7  Water Heaters

  8  Restrooms

  9  Accessible Parking Spaces

 10  Residential Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings

 11  Notching & Boring of Rafters / Joists / Studs

 12  Fire Protection of Horizontal Venting

 13  Ramps and Landings

 14 Accessibility and Door Clearance

 15 Bathrooms -- Type A Unit 

 16  Bathrooms -- Type B Unit

 17  Kitchens -- Type A Unit

 18 Kitchens -- Type B Unit 

 19  Safety Glazing

2003 vs 2006 IRC Non-Structural Summary

Significant Structural Changes to the 2006 International Residential Code

Engineered Lateral Design Over Prescriptive Design

The following tip sheets reflect the 2003 Washington State Building Codes:

  0  Permits When Required 

  1  Basic Stairs

  2  Handrails

  3  Guards

  4  Smoke Alarms

  5  Basic Decks

  6  Garage Separation

  7  Water Heaters

  8  Restrooms

  9  Accessible Parking Spaces

 10  Residential Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings

 11  Notching & Boring of Rafters / Joists / Studs

 12  Fire Protection of Horizontal Venting

 13  Ramps and Landings

 14  Accessibility and Door Clearance

 15 Bathrooms -- Type A Unit

 16  Bathrooms -- Type B Unit

 17  Kitchens -- Type A Unit

 18  Kitchens -- Type B Unit

 19  Safety Glazing