Lewis County Commissioners

10/15/2026

When a neighbor calls for help, we answer.

After the tragedy at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging mill in Longview took the lives of 11 workers, Cowlitz County asked for support. Erika Katt, our deputy director of Emergency Management, spent the next week helping run the Family Assistance Center, creating a safe place at the union hall where families could grieve away from the noise around them.

Ask Erika and she'll say she was just doing her job. That is what public service looks like. She came home with lessons and relationships that make Lewis County better prepared to care for our own.

Read the whole story here: https://lewiscountywa.gov/news-room/press-releases/i-was-just-doing-my-job/

10/14/2026

>> NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION

Ballots are in the mail, Lewis County!

According to the Lewis County Auditor's Office, ballots should begin arriving in mailboxes around Oct. 19.

Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 or delivered to one of Lewis County's 14 ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. Nov. 3.

For those planning to vote by mail, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recommends mailing ballots at least seven days before election day.

For election information, including the Voters’ Guide and local results,
visit https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov/

10/14/2026

>> BURN RESTRICTIONS WILL LIFT OVERNIGHT TONIGHT

(effective 12:01 a.m. Oct. 15)

PRESS RELEASE BURN RESTRICTIONS LIFTED >>>> Effective Thursday, October 15, at 12:01AM Lewis County burn restrictions are lifted (Resolution 25-189). Outside of approved fire pits, burning of natural vegetation requires an Open Burning Application and Permit. Apply on-line at https://burnpermit.lewiscountywa.gov/ or in person at the Lewis County Permit Center, 125 NW Chehalis Avenue, Chehalis, WA. Burning of garbage is strictly prohibited at all times. For more information visit https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/community-development/burn-restriction-information/ or call 360-740-1133. Please refer to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for restrictions applying to outdoor burning conducted on DNR-protected forestlands throughout Washington, which includes state parks. You may obtain the information at https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/outdoor-burning/burn-restrictions

10/13/2026

Commissioners heard testimony on a conditional agreement related to a proposed vacation of part of Peterson Road and recessed that hearing to October 20, and gave notice that the 2027 preliminary budget is available for review, among other business at Tuesday's meeting.

The BOCC meets most Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the Historic Courthouse, 351 NW North St., Chehalis. Join in person, on Zoom, or live on YouTube.

Watch the full meeting on YouTube:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

10/06/2026

Lewis County commissioners approved a contract for repointing work on the Historic Courthouse and a 2026 budget amendment, among other business at Tuesday's meeting.

The BOCC meets most Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the Historic Courthouse, 351 NW North St., Chehalis. Join in person, on Zoom, or live on YouTube.

Watch the full meeting on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/BfONqCtxI9k?si=8ix34SPw7_sTNfix

09/25/2026

>> COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CLOSURE

We apologize for the inconvenience. The Permit Center at 125 NW Chehalis Avenue, Chehalis, WA is temporarily closed due to storm impacts causing unsafe conditions in the lobby. Customers may access SmartGov accounts online to submit permit applications and pay fees https://co-lewis-wa.smartgovcommunity.com/Public/Home . Staff are available by phone at 360-740-1146 and email https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/community-development/community-development-staff-directory/ . We will reopen on Monday, September 28 at 8:00am.

09/25/2026

09/24/2026

>> A CHANCE TO FLEX THOSE CIVIC-DUTY MUSCLES ...

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is looking to fill vacancies on two of its volunteer boards: the Lewis County Board of Equalization (BOE) and the Lewis County Water Conservancy Board.

Application details for both are available under the “BOCC News” tab at the bottom right-hand side of the commissioners’ web page at https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/commissioners/

> Lewis County Board of Equalization (BOE)

The BOE is made up of three regular, full-time members and three part-time alternates appointed by the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). It’s designed to provide an impartial and economical forum through which taxpayers can appeal determinations of the Lewis County Assessor’s Office. The board is separate from – and operates independently of – the Lewis County Assessor.

BOE members hold semi-formal hearings to adjudicate taxpayers’ appeals. The hearings take place between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. many Thursdays and some Fridays throughout the year, depending on how many appeals have been filed. The hearings are held in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse (351 N.W. North Street) in Chehalis, and BOE members are paid $100 for each day of service.

> Lewis County Water Conservancy Board

The Lewis County Water Conservancy Board processes water-rights applications at the local level.

The Water Conservancy Board works closely with water-rights applicants and the Department of Ecology to make recommendations regarding applications for water-rights changes and transfers. Each new board member must attend Ecology’s four-day (32 hours) training event in the fall and then receive eight hours of continuing education annually to continue to meet state standards.

The board is made up of three regular members and two alternates. At least one of the regular positions must be filled by a water right holder who diverts or withdraws water for use within Lewis County.

09/22/2026

Lewis County commissioners accepted a State Flood Response Grant from the Washington State Military Department to help clear flood debris from local rivers and waterways, and set October 6 public hearings on 2026 budget appropriations and minor amendments to the county's Urban Growth Area boundary, among other business at Tuesday's meeting.

The BOCC meets most Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the Historic Courthouse, 351 NW North St., Chehalis. Join in person, on Zoom, or live on YouTube.

Watch the full meeting on YouTube:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.