Local building department guide · Updated 2026-07-30
King County Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact
Use this guide to find the official King County Permitting Division, start a permit application, search permit records, schedule an inspection, and locate the correct zoning or plan review contact.
Start here
Quick actions
Apply for a building permit
Review the typical application path and prepare your project details.
See permit stepsTrack or search permits
Find King County permit search resources and application status links.
Search permitsSchedule a building inspection
Learn what to have ready before requesting your next inspection.
Schedule inspectionOther portal login
Open the department's official online services and permit portal.
Open portalKing County Permitting provides building, land-use, fire, and code-enforcement services for unincorporated King County. Seattle, Bellevue, and the county’s other incorporated cities generally issue their own building and zoning permits. Confirm the property’s jurisdiction in the county map or parcel viewer before using a county permit portal.
Unincorporated King County building permits
The county’s permit process covers projects such as changing occupancy, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, or demolishing a building or structure. King County directs applicants to its building and land-use guidance, permit forms, MyBuildingPermit workflows, and the county permit portal. Electrical permits and inspections are handled by Washington State Labor & Industries, while plumbing and gas-piping permits may be handled by Public Health—Seattle & King County.
Permit search, inspections, zoning, and code compliance
Use MyBuildingPermit to submit or track eligible applications and request inspections. King County says building inspections can be requested up to five days in advance, with next-business-day requests generally entered before 3 p.m. The county’s inspection page explains how to search by jurisdiction, permit number, project information, location, or people and how to view inspection results.
King County manages zoning, land use, and permits for unincorporated areas; each city manages its own zoning and permits. County code enforcement investigates building, zoning, property-maintenance, shoreline, and critical-area violations in unincorporated areas. Permit records research includes active and finalized permits and can include certificates of occupancy, but records for property inside city limits must be requested from that city.
Official contact information
The King County Permitting Division publishes 35030 SE Douglas Street, Suite 210, Snoqualmie, Washington 98065-9266 and (206) 296-6600 as its contact information. Use the county’s official jurisdiction tools first, then use MyBuildingPermit or the county permit portal according to how the application was submitted.
Permit process
How to Apply for a King County Building Permit
Confirm the project scope
Identify the work, property address, project valuation, and whether plans are required.
Prepare your documents
Gather plans, owner and contractor details, site information, and any zoning approvals.
Submit and monitor
Submit through the department’s stated process, pay fees, and watch for review comments.
Field work & closeout
Building Inspections & Code Compliance in King County
Most permitted work must remain accessible for inspection at defined stages. Before scheduling, check your permit record for the required inspection sequence and make sure the site is safe and ready. Final inspections can be especially important for code compliance and a certificate of occupancy.
Helpful preparation
Keep the permit card or approval number available, confirm the property address, and ask the official office about lead times or reinspection fees.
Planning & review
Zoning and Plan Review Requirements
A building permit is not always the only approval your project needs. Zoning guidelines may affect use, setbacks, height, parking, signage, or lot coverage. Residential and commercial building permits can also follow different plan review tracks, so confirm the correct path before investing in a full plan set.
For a project in King County, start with the official department below and ask which zoning, planning, conservation, or fire review approvals apply to your address.
Keep this handy
Official Contact Information
| Department | King County Permitting Division |
|---|---|
| Phone | (206) 296-6600 |
| Address | 35030 SE Douglas Street, Suite 210, Snoqualmie, WA 98065-9266 |
| Official website | https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services/certificates-permits-licenses/permits |
| Last verified | 2026-07-30 |
Official source pages used for this guide
These links were checked on 2026-07-30. Requirements, fees, office hours, and portal addresses can change; use the official source as the final authority.
- https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services/certificates-permits-licenses/permits
- https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services/buildings-property/inspections/building-inspections
- https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services/buildings-property/public-notices-permit-records-search/permit-records-research
- https://kingcounty.gov/so-so/dept/kcit/data-information-services/gis-center/property-research/zoning
- https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services/buildings-property/codes-complaints/code-enforcement
- https://dls-permit.dynamics365portals.us/
- https://inspection.mybuildingpermit.com/
- https://kingcounty.gov/en/-/media/king-county/depts/local-services/permits/building-land-use-inspections/inspection-scheduling-instructions.pdf?hash=E6FF06877B961F17B6A2762564D05652&rev=3ac98eed5f3d4dddaeeaae55dc9020c3