St. John plan check and resubmittal guide
What we could verify about the Town of St. John’s permit office from government and permit portal pages, what Washington law says about plan check there, and how to answer a correction letter. Each fact links to its source.
The Town of St. John permit office
- Town of St. John: 509-648-3905 (stjohnwa.com, checked October 31, 2026)
- Address: 1 E. Front Street, PO Box 298, St. John, WA 99171 (stjohnwa.com, checked October 31, 2026)
- Building department page
Links and facts checked on October 28, 2026.
Codes its letters cite
Building code named on the city’s pages: 2021 Code Editions and Amendments Effective March 15, 2024.
Local amendments to the building code
Any city or county may amend the state building code; amendments that affect houses and apartments need State Building Code Council approval first.
St. John and Whitman County
St. John is in Whitman County. See the Whitman County guide.
Washington rules every plan check here follows
These come from Washington law and state agencies, so they apply in St. John as well. Each links to its source.
Building code in force
Washington's current building code is based on the 2021 model codes and took effect on March 15, 2024.
Source: Washington State Building Code Council, checked October 31, 2026
Next edition
The next update, based on the 2024 codes, is scheduled to take effect on May 3, 2027.
Source: Washington State Building Code Council, checked October 31, 2026
Local amendments
A city or county may change the state code for its own area, but its changes cannot weaken the code's minimum standards.
Source: Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.27.040, checked October 31, 2026
Rules are locked in when you apply
A complete building permit application is reviewed under the building and zoning rules that were in effect on the date it was filed.
Source: Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.27.095, checked October 31, 2026
What a good response to plan check corrections has
General guidance, not the Town of St. John’s own rules. Check its page before you resubmit.
- Answer every comment, in the reviewer’s order and numbering, so nothing is missed.
- Say plainly what you changed for each comment, or why no change is needed.
- Name the sheet and detail where each change is, so the reviewer can find it fast.
- Mark changes on the drawings (clouds or deltas are common) and keep sheet numbers the same.
- Send the response letter, the revised drawings and any new calculations together.
Other Washington city guides
How we help
Send us the whole correction letter. We draft a response to every comment and list the drawing changes sheet by sheet. Your first letter is free. You review each response, then you sign and submit to the Town of St. John yourself.
Cleared to Build is an independent service. We are not the Town of St. John and are not affiliated with it.
Upload your correction letterOnly one comment to answer? Try the free one-comment tool.
Questions
How do I respond to St. John’s plan check corrections?
In general, answer every comment in a response letter that says what changed and on which sheet, then resubmit the revised drawings the way the Town of St. John asks. Check its own instructions first.
What should a resubmittal to St. John include?
In general: a response letter answering each comment, the revised drawings with changes marked, and any new calculations or reports the comments ask for. The Town of St. John may ask for more, so check with it before you send.
How long does St. John take to review a resubmittal?
Review times change with workload. Ask the building department at 509-648-3905.
Does St. John charge for another plan review?
This guide doesn’t list fees. Ask Town of St. John at 509-648-3905 before you resubmit.
How many rounds of corrections can St. John send?
This guide doesn’t list a limit. Answering every comment fully the first time is the surest way to fewer rounds; ask Town of St. John at 509-648-3905 if unsure.
Is Cleared to Build part of the Town of St. John?
No. Cleared to Build is an independent service, not affiliated with the Town of St. John or any permitting agency. You submit to the city yourself.