Seattle, WA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Seattle Dept. of Construction & Inspections
- Adopted code
- 2021 IBC (SMC 22.101.010)
- Base permit fee
- $292 minimum (SMC 22.900B.010)
- Civil penalty
- $27/day (SMC 22.900A.080)
- Delinquent fee interest
- 12%/yr after 30 days unpaid
Summary
Seattle requires a building permit from the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) for new construction, additions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings, issued under the locally adopted Seattle Building Code (2021 International Building Code, Clerk File 323091). SMC 22.900A.070 makes it unlawful to proceed with any construction, installation, alteration, or repair once the required permit fee is due and unpaid, and SDCI may post a stop-work order until compliance.
It is unlawful to proceed with any work or with any portion of any construction, installation, alteration or repair when the fee required in this subtitle has not been paid.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
SDCI administers Title 22, Subtitle I of the Seattle Municipal Code, which adopts the Seattle Building Code as the 2021 International Building Code, Chapters 2 through 29 and 31 through 35, plus a locally amended Chapter 1 and Chapter 30 filed with the City Clerk under Clerk File 323091 (SMC 22.101.010). Every project that changes a building's 'value of construction', defined by SMC 22.900D.010.C.1 to include finish work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, elevators, fire-extinguishing systems, and other permanent work, triggers a development permit fee under Table D-2 for 22.900D.010.
The base SDCI fee is $292, and the hourly rate for non-land-use review is $292 (land use review is $551 per hour) under SMC 22.900B.010. No permit may be issued, no Certificate of Occupancy granted, and no plans examined until the corresponding fees are paid, per SMC 22.900A.030. If work proceeds before the fee is paid, SMC 22.900A.070 lets the Director post a stop-work order on the structure or notify the owner, lessee, or person in charge; removing or ignoring that posted notice before written authorization to resume is itself unlawful.
Fees not paid within 30 days accrue 12 percent annual interest with a $1 minimum charge under SMC 22.900A.060, and the Director may refer delinquent accounts to a collection agency or place them on a cash-only basis.
Violations & Fines
Working without a paid permit fee is a violation of SMC 22.900A.070, exposing the responsible party to an immediate stop-work order posted on the property. SMC 22.900A.080 sets a civil penalty of $27 per day for each day of noncompliance with the Fee Subtitle, collected through Municipal Court action initiated by the City Attorney at the Director's request. Removing, mutilating, or ignoring a posted stop-work notice before written SDCI authorization to resume is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Seattle require a permit for a home addition or alteration?
What happens if I build without a permit in Seattle?
Which building code edition does Seattle enforce?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
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Building Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle building permits.