Whatcom County Council Moves Jail Project to Design Phase

A new jail and behavioral care center in Whatcom County, Wash., will replace the county’s current jail in downtown Bellingham and include up to 460 beds, with roughly a quarter of them dedicated to mental health treatment. | Photo Credit: Whatcom County

• The Whatcom County Council voted 5-2 to move the replacement jail project into design, permitting and preliminary construction. 

• The approved program calls for approximately 150,000 to 155,000 square feet and 450 to 460 beds, with about 26% assigned to behavioral health. 

• Council members directed the project team to prioritize a second courtroom, family contact visitation and a Rapid Resource Center without reducing housing capacity. 

• The jail carries a $205 million design and construction cap; restoring the priority features could add about $4.3 million. 

• The new facility is expected to consolidate operations at the aging Whatcom County Jail and Work Center and open in 2028. 

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Whatcom County Council in Washington has authorized the next stage of its long-planned replacement jail project, approving a program of approximately 150,000 to 155,000 square feet and 450 to 460 beds under a $205 million design and construction cap.  

The County Council voted 5-2 on Aug. 11 to accept the framework and authorize design, permitting and preliminary construction. It also directed the project team — which includes NELSON Worldwide and RMC Architects and the joint venture of Clark Construction and RAM Construction — to preserve housing capacity while prioritizing two courtrooms, family visitation spaces and a Rapid Resource Center. 

About 26% of the beds in the new jail are designated for behavioral health needs. The new justice facility in Ferndale is expected to consolidate the county’s existing jail in downtown Bellingham and the Whatcom County Work Center and open in 2028. 

The design-build project plans also call for a Behavioral Care Center component, with an additional $34 million budget cap. 

The scope follows months of cost and capacity discussions. Voters approved a 0.2% sales tax increase in 2023, when officials estimated the project at about $150 million for roughly 400 beds. After the county established the $205 million cap, the proposed jail was reduced from approximately 227,000 square feet to its current range. 

Project management firm STV recommended roughly 460 beds after accounting for higher construction costs and lower-than-expected sales tax revenue. Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley has advocated for 650 beds, while council members said the framework does not permanently settle the final count. 

Council Chair Kaylee Galloway described the action as a balance between competing priorities. “I really feel like this does the best possible job at striking a balance,” said Galloway, according to an article from The Bellingham Herald. 

Restoring the second courtroom, visitation room and Rapid Resource Center could add about $4.3 million to the project budget. Designers previously said fitting those features within the current footprint could eliminate as many as 48 beds or reduce elements of the Behavioral Care Center. The council instead called for design solutions that preserve jail housing capacity. 

The larger planned courtroom may be divided into two, reducing inmate transports to the downtown courthouse. The Rapid Resource Center would connect people leaving custody with housing assistance, social services, legal meeting space and other reentry support. County officials are considering a request for state funding during the next legislative session. 

Whatcom County Deputy Executive Kayla Schott-Bresler said the county intends to pursue that support. “Our strategy is to be optimistic here and urge the Legislature to become a partner with us on this aspect of the facility,” said Schott-Bresler, according to an article from Cascadia Daily News. 

The combined jail and behavioral health initiative was identified as one of Correctional News’ 2026 Projects to Watch; stay tuned for ongoing coverage as the project develops. 

This article is based reporting by Annie Todd originally published in Cascadia Daily News on Aug. 11, 2026, and on reporting by Hannah Edelman originally published by The Bellingham Herald on Aug. 12, 2026.