Everett requires building, plumbing, gas, and electrical permits for permanent outdoor kitchens that involve utility connections or structural work. Pre-fabricated freestanding grills with no utility lines and no roof structure typically do not require a permit. The 2021 I-Codes (WAC 51-50 and 51-51) apply effective March 15, 2024, and electrical permits are issued separately by Washington L&I.
EMC Title 17 (Building Code) and EMC Title 19 (Zoning) govern when permits are required for outdoor kitchens in Everett. A permit is required to install or relocate fixtures requiring water lines, drains, or vents; to install or modify gas lines; for new electrical circuits; and for any attached or detached structure beyond small unconditioned accessory structures exempted by the WA State Building Code. Pre-fabricated freestanding grills and movable cooking islands with no utility connections generally do not need a permit. Once you add a gas line, sink with drain, dedicated electrical circuit, or a roof structure such as a pergola, gazebo, or attached cover, permits are required: building permit (for the structure if over 200 sq ft or attached), gas piping permit, plumbing permit, and an electrical permit issued by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries under WAC 296-46B (not by the city). Setbacks follow the underlying zoning district under EMC Title 19. Outdoor kitchens with overhead canopies must meet fire-separation distances in EMC Title 13. Permits are filed through MyBuildingPermit.com and reviewed by Everett Development Services. Properties in shoreline jurisdiction along the Snohomish River, Port Gardner Bay, or Silver Lake must additionally comply with the Shoreline Master Program under EMC Title 19.
Building an unpermitted attached cover, running gas lines without a permit, or installing a sink drain without plumbing approval is a violation of EMC Titles 17 and 19, with civil penalties under EMC Title 1.20 typically up to $500 per day, double permit fees on legalization, and possible removal orders. Unpermitted gas work can trigger Puget Sound Energy service disconnection. Electrical work without an L&I permit triggers civil penalties under RCW 19.28.
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