Seattle building department

Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) issues construction, land use (Master Use Permits), grading, mechanical, electrical, and tree permits inside Seattle city limits. SDCI also issues and inspects electrical permits itself under the Seattle Electrical Code. A Seattle mailing address alone does not establish jurisdiction: unincorporated King County parcels go to King County Permitting, and other King County cities have their own offices.

How a Seattle permit application works

SDCI’s process has seven steps: research the property, start the application, prepare plans, submit, respond to corrections, pay fees, and print the permit. Several of those steps are specific to Seattle:

• Seattle Services Portal. Create an account at services.seattle.gov and upload a preliminary site plan that meets SDCI Tip 103.
• Pre-Application Site Visit (PASV). Required for most land use, new construction, and grading applications. SDCI’s goal is to finish the PASV report within 5 business days.
• Preliminary Assessment Report (PAR). Prepared for most Master Use Permits and new construction that involves several city departments, with a goal of 10 business days. PASV and PAR results stay valid for two years.
• Pre-submittal conferences. Offered for complex projects such as high-rises and design review, when staff time allows.
• Electronic intake appointment. Your complete application must be uploaded by 7 a.m. on the appointment day. Through the Intake Express Lane, applications are typically taken in within 2 to 3 weeks of upload.
• Fees within 48 hours. Fees must be paid within 48 hours of the completeness determination.

SDCI offers free 20-minute coaching sessions, plus paid one-hour sessions for complex land use or geotechnical questions. Land use review applies Seattle Municipal Code Title 23.

What doesn’t need a permit

SDCI’s “Do you need a permit?” page lists these exemptions:

Work	Exempt when…
Minor repairs or alterations	$6,000 or less in any 6-month period, and not affecting structure, envelope, egress, light, ventilation, or fire resistance
Storage shed	Under 120 sq ft on a slab-on-ground foundation
Fence	Under 8 feet high, with no concrete or masonry over 6 feet
Retaining wall or rockery	Not over 4 feet, bottom of footing to top of wall
Reroofing or residing (single-family/duplex)	No building-envelope change, and work as good as the existing
Platforms, walks, driveways	Under 18 inches above grade, with no basement or building beneath
Finishes	Painting, cleaning, kitchen cabinets, paneling over existing walls, insulating existing buildings

Decks that don’t fit the platform exemption need a permit. For a broader overview, see how to apply for a building permit.

Electrical permits

An SDCI electrical permit is required whenever wiring is installed, altered, extended, or connected to equipment, including signs. Electrical contractors need a Washington State electrical contractor license and a Seattle business license. Owners may do their own electrical work on property they own and occupy. Many electrical permits that don’t need plan review are issued the same day online. Most jobs require three inspections (cover, service, and final), plus a feeder inspection for subpanels. Seattle enforces the 2023 Seattle Electrical Code, and electrical technical support is at (206) 684-5383 (7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays).

Codes

Seattle enforces the 2021 Seattle Building Code, which is the 2021 IBC with city amendments. The Seattle Residential Code covers single-family houses, duplexes, and townhouses.

Fees

SDCI’s fees are set in the annual Fee Subtitle. Its 2026 fee summary sets the base hourly rate at $292 for 2026. Construction permit fees depend on project value and complexity and include plan review, inspection, and technology fees. Payment is staged:

• Permits with plan review: you pay 75% of the estimated plan review and permit fees when the application is accepted, and the balance before issuance.
• Subject-to-field-inspection permits: all fees are due at issuance, and these carry only 40% of the standard plan review fee.

SDCI publishes a 2026 Fee Estimator spreadsheet, and Director’s Rule 5-2025 sets building valuation data.

Inspections

You can schedule inspections online through the Seattle Services Portal or by calling the 24-hour automated line at (206) 684-8900. Inspection staff are at (206) 684-8950; managers are available 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on-site inspections run 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Special inspections are arranged directly with an approved special inspection agency, while boiler and elevator annual inspections are scheduled automatically. Most new buildings need a Certificate of Occupancy before anyone moves in, and a change of occupancy classification generally can’t happen until the building official issues one.

Researching permit history

The Seattle Services Portal covers permit activity from 2005 to the present. The Permit and Property Records Library holds land use plans from 2007, permits and inspections from 2005, and microfilm records from 1894 to 2004 (contact [email protected]). The SDCI Permit and Site History map combines zoning and permit history by address.

Location and hours

SDCI is in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Ave, with the information desk on the 4th floor. The desk, live chat, and video calls are available 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. The main line, (206) 684-8600, operates 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Code compliance complaints go to (206) 615-0808. The mailing address is P.O. Box 34019, Seattle, WA 98124-4019.