Bellingham, WA · Whatcom County
Grading Permit Application
This application requests City of Bellingham approval for grading work and is filed by a property owner or authorized applicant with the required project details and supporting materials.
- licensed online notary
- ~15 min average
- Notarized PDF emailed
What you’ll need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Webcam-enabled device (laptop or phone)
- This form, ready to upload as a PDF
What this form is
Use this application to request a grading permit when the project does not qualify for an exemption listed in the form. It collects site, contractor, and grading information and identifies plans and other materials that may be required. For Process Type II applications, the form also requires a notarized Address Information Verification certifying the mailing list of nearby property owners against Whatcom County Assessor records.
Who needs it
Property owners or authorized applicants proposing grading that is not exempt must submit the application, and Process Type II applicants must also provide the required mailing list and notarized verification.
Why it needs a notary
The Address Information Verification includes a Washington state jurat; the person certifying the property-owner mailing list signs and swears to its accuracy before a notary.
How to get this notarized
- 1
Download The Application
Get the Grading Permit Procedures and Requirements form and review its exemptions, application requirements, and Process Type II instructions.
- 2
Complete The Forms
Fill in the project information and prepare required plans and materials. For Process Type II, prepare the mailing list and Address Information Verification.
- 3
Book An Online Notary
Schedule a commissioned online notary for the Address Information Verification, and leave its signature section unsigned until the appointment.
- 4
Sign On Video
Show identification, then sign and swear to the verification in the notary's live video session.
- 5
Submit To The City
Submit the completed application, notarized verification when required, supporting materials, and fee to the City of Bellingham Permit Center.
Preview the form
The blank PDF straight from Bellingham. Look it over, then upload your filled copy to start the notary session.
You’ll need ID and a webcam.
A licensed online notary will join you on video, verify your government-issued ID, witness your signature, and apply their seal. You’ll receive the notarized PDF by email when the session ends.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I notarize the Address Information Verification?
- Complete the verification using the mailing-list information required by the form, but wait to sign. Book a commissioned online notary, show identification, and sign and swear to the statement during the video session.
- Do I need to notarize the whole grading permit application?
- The form identifies the Address Information Verification as the document that must be notarized. It is required for Process Type II mailing-list submissions; the form does not state that the entire application must be notarized.
- Can I sign this form with a remote online notary?
- Washington authorizes its notaries to perform remote online notarizations under RCW 42.45.280. Ask the City of Bellingham whether it accepts the remotely notarized verification for your submission, and confirm with the city or town if unsure.
- What information does the notarized verification certify?
- The signer swears that they are familiar with the application rules, that submitted statements are true to the best of their knowledge, and that the list of nearby property owners is complete and correct according to Whatcom Assessor records.
Grading Permit Application in other Washington cities
Each city publishes its own version of this form. Pick the city where you’re filing.