Washington Square Tenant Improvement Permits: What You Need to Know
Tenant improvement permits at Washington Square require approval from Macerich and submission to Washington County Land Use & Transportation. Washington Square sits in unincorporated Washington County, not the City of Portland, which catches many tenants off guard. Review times average 20 to 30 business days for standard commercial TI projects.
Washington Square is a regional shopping center in the Portland, Oregon metro area. The mall is owned and operated by Macerich, one of the largest mall operators in the United States. If you are planning a tenant improvement at Washington Square, understanding the correct permit jurisdiction is critical.
Many tenants assume Washington Square permits route through the City of Portland. They do not. Washington Square sits in unincorporated Washington County, meaning all building permits are handled by Washington County Land Use & Transportation, not Portland.
About Washington Square
Washington Square is a regional shopping center owned by Macerich. The mall serves the Portland metro area with national and regional retail tenants. Macerich operates a tenant coordination program that reviews all TI plans before they go to the county for permitting.
The property is located in unincorporated Washington County, Oregon. This means permits are processed by Washington County, not the City of Portland. Understanding this jurisdiction difference saves weeks of misdirected applications.
The TI Permit Process at Washington Square
Tenant improvement permits at Washington Square follow a five-step process. Each step is required. Skipping any step will delay your project.
- Landlord Letter of Authorization from Macerich’s tenant coordination team. Before you can apply for a county permit, you need written authorization from Macerich. The tenant coordination team reviews your construction plans to verify they meet building standards and do not interfere with building systems. This approval typically takes 1 to 2 weeks after you submit complete plans.
- Architectural plans meeting Macerich’s design standards. Your architect must prepare construction drawings that comply with Macerich’s tenant design criteria. These standards cover partition wall construction, fire-rated assemblies, electrical and plumbing connections, HVAC tie-ins, and fire protection system modifications. Macerich will reject incomplete or non-compliant plans.
- Submit to Washington County Land Use & Transportation for plan review. Once Macerich approves your plans and provides the landlord authorization letter, you submit your permit application to Washington County. Do not submit to the City of Portland. Washington Square is in unincorporated Washington County. You will need the building permit application, all construction drawings, energy calculations, and the landlord authorization letter.
- Address county comments and corrections. Washington County plan checkers review your drawings for compliance with the Oregon Structural Specialty Code, Oregon Fire Code, and county-specific amendments. Most TI projects receive correction comments after the first review. Your architect addresses each comment, revises the drawings, and resubmits. The backcheck review typically takes 10 to 15 business days.
- Permit issuance and construction start. After Washington County approves all plans, the county issues your permit. You pay the remaining permit fees, post the permit at the job site, and construction can begin. County building inspectors will visit the site at required milestones during construction.
Jurisdiction Matters
Washington Square is in unincorporated Washington County, not the City of Portland. If you submit your permit application to Portland by mistake, the city will reject it and you will lose 1 to 2 weeks. Always confirm jurisdiction before submitting.
Jurisdiction Requirements
Washington Square is located in unincorporated Washington County, Oregon. All building permits are handled by Washington County Land Use & Transportation, not the City of Portland. This distinction catches many tenants off guard because the mall has a Portland mailing address.
Washington County processes commercial tenant improvement permits with typical first-round review times of 20 to 30 business days for standard retail and restaurant TI projects. County permits cost slightly less than City of Portland permits but take longer to review.
For more information on Portland building permits, review times, and submittal requirements, see our full permit guide for Portland, OR. Note that this guide covers City of Portland permits, not Washington County permits.
FAQ
What permits do I need for a tenant improvement at Washington Square?
Most TI projects at Washington Square require a building permit, electrical permit, plumbing permit, mechanical permit, and fire protection permit. The specific permits depend on the scope of your work. Interior wall construction, new electrical circuits, plumbing fixtures, HVAC modifications, or fire sprinkler relocations all trigger permit requirements. Contact Washington County Land Use & Transportation or a permit expediter to confirm which permits your project needs.
How long does the TI permit process take at Washington Square?
The full TI permit process at Washington Square typically takes 8 to 12 weeks from application to permit issuance. This includes 1 to 2 weeks for Macerich landlord approval, 20 to 30 business days for the first round of Washington County plan review, and 10 to 15 business days for backcheck after corrections. Projects with incomplete submissions or multiple correction rounds take longer.
Do I need landlord approval before applying for a permit?
Yes. Macerich must review and approve your construction plans before you can submit a permit application to Washington County. The county requires a signed landlord authorization letter from Macerich with your permit application. Submitting without this letter will result in an intake rejection.
What is a Landlord Letter of Authorization?
A Landlord Letter of Authorization is a signed letter from the property owner (in this case, Macerich) that gives you permission to perform construction work in the leased space and to apply for building permits on their behalf. Washington County requires this letter for all tenant improvement projects. You obtain it from Macerich’s tenant coordination team after they approve your construction plans.
How can Permit Place help with permits at Washington Square?
Permit Place expedites tenant improvement permits at Washington Square by coordinating with Macerich’s tenant coordination team, preparing complete permit applications that avoid intake rejections, submitting to Washington County Land Use & Transportation, tracking review status daily, and turning around correction responses within 24 to 48 hours. We handle the entire process from landlord approval through certificate of occupancy so your buildout stays on schedule.
Need TI Permits at Washington Square?
Permit Place has expedited tenant improvement permits at Washington Square and hundreds of other Macerich properties nationwide. We handle landlord coordination, county submissions, and all corrections so your buildout stays on schedule.