Lewis County residents, contractors, real estate professionals and developers now have a new way to access permit information from the convenience of their home or office, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) announced in a news release.
The county’s information technology department has launched an online permit search portal that allows users to search development-related records using a parcel number or permit number.
The tool provides access to issued planning approvals, building permits, septic permits and other community development records.
For decades, most county records existed solely in paper format. Over time, Lewis County has transitioned to digital recordkeeping and staff have systematically scanned historical documents into an archival database.
The new search tool allows the public to directly access many of those records through a portal available on community development’s webpage at https://tinyurl.com/3p4unmee.
“Providing convenient access to information is an important part of serving our community,” Community Development Director Mindy Brooks said in the release. “This new portal allows residents and businesses to quickly find many of the records they need while reducing wait times and paper usage.”
While thousands of records are now available electronically, not all permit documents have been digitized. Hundreds of septic records dating back to the 1960s remain available only in paper form.
“We will be applying for a state grant in 2027 to hire a consultant to scan and upload older septic records into our archival database,” Brooks said. “Our department receives approximately 50 requests for septic records each month. Making those documents available online will significantly improve customer service while reducing staff time spent fulfilling records requests.”
Certain records, including code enforcement case files and some other documents exempt from online publication, will not be available through the permit search portal. Individuals seeking comprehensive records related to a specific parcel may submit a request through Lewis County's public records office.
To request additional records, visit https://tinyurl.com/3a7h39rc.
