Edmonds, WA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- Permit required unless IBC §105.2 exemption applies
- Exempt sheds
- Up to 120 sq ft, 30-inch max eave
- Exempt fences
- Up to 6 feet high
- Permit term
- Expires 2 years after issuance
- Extension
- One 3rd year at 1/4 original fee
- Violation
- Misdemeanor, separate offense per day
Summary
Edmonds requires a building permit for construction, alteration, repair, demolition or moving of any structure unless the work falls within the city's amended IBC exemption list. A separate demolition permit and performance bond are required before any structure is torn down, and an applicant's rights vest only once a fully complete application is filed.
G. Section 105.2, Work Exempt From Permit, is replaced as follows:Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. It is the applicant’s responsibility to comply with bulk zoning code standards per ECDC Title 16 and storm water management provisions per Chapter 18.30 ECDC. Permit exemptions shall not apply to work that is not entirely within a building when located in areas of flood hazard or areas within the designated Wildland Urban Interface. Permits shall not be required for the following unless required by the provisions of ECDC Title 23 or Chapter 19.10 ECDC:
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4444, passed August 3, 2026).
Full Breakdown
10. 025(E) requires a demolition permit and a performance bond or frozen fund that the building official will not release until abandoned septic tanks are capped, foundations knocked down and hauled, right-of-way debris cleared within 30 days, damaged public property restored, and grading returned to original topography. 074 only when a fully complete application, executed by the property owner or authorized agent and accompanied by all required intake and plan review fees, is on file; minor revisions during review do not defeat that completeness. 5, the building official may grant one six-month extension during a declared emergency, and an applicant may request a third and final year at one-quarter the original permit fee, capping any permit's total life at three years before it becomes void and a new permit with full fees is required.
Violations & Fines
Building without a required permit, or working contrary to any adopted building code provision, is a misdemeanor under ECDC 19.85.000, with each day the violation continues treated as a separate offense punishable under ECC 5.50.020. The building official may also pursue code compliance remedies under Chapter 20.110 ECDC alongside criminal penalties, and issuing notices or stop-work orders under amended Section 104.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What building work is exempt from a permit in Edmonds?
How long is an Edmonds building permit valid?
When do my rights vest under an Edmonds building permit application?
What happens if I build without a permit in Edmonds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Edmonds
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