About Our Divisions

Yakima County Public Services manages the development, utilization, and preservation of Yakima County’s natural resources in order to promote and protect the health, safety, and well-being of all citizens. Public Services consists of 7 Divisions:


Accounting — Provides centralized accounting and financial operations for Public Services and County Road. Services provided include processing receipt of payments of utility, permitting and land use customers. Processing accounts payable transactions, payments to vendors, contractors and suppliers, monitors and tracks contractor payments and retainage, monitors grant expenditures for compliance, processes grant billing applications, monitors grant revenue receipts, processes payroll for all Public Services department employees, prepares monthly and annual financial statements, administers the cash management and investments of Public Services funds, processes monthly Utility Billings to customers.

Administrative Support — Provides customer support to direct inquiries to the appropriate Public Services Division.

Building & Fire Life Safety — Questions and information about Building Permits, Manufactured Home permits, Plumbing permits, Mechanical permits, Grading and Excavation, Demolition permits, LPG Propane tank permits. The Fire Marshal's Office conducts annual Fire and Life Safety Inspections for businesses. Our goal is to educate, rather than enforce, to keep employees and customers safe and the business operational.

Code Enforcement — responsible for enforcing the provisions of Washington State laws, codified in the Revised Code of Washington, Yakima County Code and Ordinances related to building, health, fire issues, regulatory public nuisances, dangerous buildings, and zoning matters.

Environmental Services — The Environmental Services Division oversees the adequate disposal of county waste at the County Landfills, flood preparedness and awareness, operation of the County’s domestic water and wastewater systems, and performs permit compliance requirements through Stormwater Plan review.

GIS — maintains spatial data for Yakima County, and provides services and data to other Yakima County Departments, private/public organizations and directly to the public. Services provided range from customized maps and aerial photos to digital data and online mapping

Planning — help our community define and achieve its preferred future. Planning is engaged in a wide range of community development service activities related to subdivision, zoning, environmental, long range comprehensive planning, special projects, intergovernmental coordination, grants, and public involvement.


2nd Quarter Newsletter