EPHRATA - Building permits in unincorporated areas of Grant County will increase by one dollar per square foot.

The Grant County Board of Commissioners approved the increase Monday.

Grant County Building Department Head Dave Nelson asked the board to adopt Washington's State Building Code Act, and increase the amount of a building permit from $90 to $100 per 100 square feet.

Nelson said that the industry standard, as established by the International Code Counsel, is more than $110 per 100 square feet.

In addition to the permit fee, builders have to pay a plan review fee, which is typically 65 percent of the permit fee, but in Grant County that fee is just 25 percent of the permit fee.

Nelson said that Grant County's building and plan review fees are at or below other Central and Eastern Washington counties.

He said that the rates have not increased since 2003 and may not increase for at least 10 years.

Commissioners also adopted a resolution that the county automatically adopts state standards as they are updated, which Nelson says occurs about every three years.