Weekly Briefing

Olympia this week: Thurston County Warns of Scam Emails and Calls

Monday, October 19, 2026

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Thurston County officials warn residents about scammers posing as county employees with fake invoices demanding wire transfers, stating the county does not require wire transfers for permitting services.

Inspections must be scheduled online within five business days, and commercial final inspections require all permits to be issued, signed off, and paid in full.

Inspections must now be scheduled within five business days via the Online Permit Portal.

Olympia City Council amends parking code to reduce minimum requirements aligning with state law and climate goals.

The Washington Department of Ecology and Washington Department of Enterprise Services issued a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project.

📄 Source: Weekly briefing — built from this week's The Olympia Wire stories, each line checked against its story

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Olympia this week: Thurston County Warns of Scam Emails and Calls“Thurston County Warns of Scam Emails and Calls”
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Officials alert residents to fake invoices and payment demands from scammers posing as county employees.“Officials alert residents to fake invoices and payment demands from scammers posing as county employees.”
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Thurston County officials warn residents about scammers posing as county employees with fake invoices demanding wire transfers, stating the county does not require wire transfers for permitting services.“Scammers are posing as County directors and emailing permit customers with fake invoices demanding wire transfers. The County states it does not demand wire transfers for permitting services, as wire transfers are time-sensitive and non-reversible.”
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Inspections must be scheduled online within five business days, and commercial final inspections require all permits to be issued, signed off, and paid in full.“Inspections must be scheduled through the Online Permit Portal within five business days to reduce cancellations and keep inspections on schedule. Permit Center staff will now require online scheduling for building inspections through the Online Permit Portal. Residents must schedule inspections within five business days to reduce cancellations and keep inspections on track. Commercial final inspections now require all permits to be issued, signed off, and paid in full before calling for a final. Staff will verify these conditions before scheduling the inspection.”
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Inspections must now be scheduled within five business days via the Online Permit Portal.“The Olympia Permit Center now requires inspections to be scheduled through the Online Permit Portal within five business days.”
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Olympia City Council amends parking code to reduce minimum requirements aligning with state law and climate goals.“Olympia City Council is amending the city's parking code to reduce minimum requirements. The project, titled 'Minimum Parking Requirements Code Amendments; OMC 18.38', updates Olympia Municipal Code 18.38 to reflect recent state laws on parking minimums.”
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The Washington Department of Ecology and Washington Department of Enterprise Services issued a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project.“The Washington Department of Ecology and Washington Department of Enterprise Services issued a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project.”

Source text saved for this check (2026-10-19T08:00:26.511Z)

Thurston County Warns of Scam Emails and Calls
Officials alert residents to fake invoices and payment demands from scammers posing as county employees.
Thurston County officials are warning residents about a new scam targeting county residents with fake invoices and payment requests.

Scammers are posing as County directors and emailing permit customers with fake invoices demanding wire transfers. The County states it does not demand wire transfers for permitting services, as wire transfers are time-sensitive and non-reversible.

Residents are advised to hang up immediately if receiving a call requesting payment and to verify any email invoice by forwarding it to [email protected] or visiting a County office.

Inspections Now Require Online Scheduling
Inspections must be scheduled through the Online Permit Portal within five business days to reduce cancellations and keep inspections on schedule.
Permit Center staff will now require online scheduling for building inspections through the Online Permit Portal. Residents must schedule inspections within five business days to reduce cancellations and keep inspections on track.

Commercial final inspections now require all permits to be issued, signed off, and paid in full before calling for a final. Staff will verify these conditions before scheduling the inspection.

Inspections must be scheduled within five business days
New online portal system requires scheduling inspections within 5 business days for faster processing.
The Olympia Permit Center now requires inspections to be scheduled through the Online Permit Portal within five business days.

Olympia proposes parking code amendments for minimum requirements
City council plans to amend parking minimums in Olympia code to align with state law and climate goals.
Olympia City Council is amending the city's parking code to reduce minimum requirements. The project, titled 'Minimum Parking Requirements Code Amendments; OMC 18.38', updates Olympia Municipal Code 18.38 to reflect recent state laws on parking minimums.

Costco Facility Proposed in Tumwater
State agency proposes to restore 260 acres of estuarine habitat at Deschutes River mouth.
The Washington Department of Ecology and Washington Department of Enterprise Services issued a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project. The project aims to restore 260 acres of estuarine and salt marsh habitat at the mouth of the Deschutes River.
The updated project design builds on the preliminary Estuary Alternative from the 2022 Final EIS. The Estuary Alternative was identified as the Preferred Alternative in the 2022 document. Public comments on the draft are due by November 9, 2026.