Seattle requires construction permits for most home renovations including structural changes, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, and adding/removing walls. Minor cosmetic work like painting and replacing fixtures generally does not require permits.
Seattle's SDCI requires building permits for most home renovation projects. Work that requires a permit includes: structural modifications (removing or adding walls, changing roof structure), electrical upgrades or new circuits, plumbing changes (adding or moving fixtures), HVAC installation or replacement, window or door replacements that change the size of openings, additions or alterations that increase floor area, basement conversions, and ADU construction. Work that generally does not require a permit includes: painting, wallpapering, replacing existing fixtures with similar ones, installing flooring, cabinet replacement (without plumbing/electrical changes), and minor landscaping. Seattle offers several permit types: Construction Permit for Addition or Alteration (full plan review), Subject-to-Field-Inspection permits (for simpler projects), and trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Permit processing times vary from same-day for STFI permits to several weeks for full plan review. The city encourages using the online Seattle Services Portal for permit applications.
Unpermitted work: penalties, required retroactive permits, potential requirement to expose concealed work for inspection.
Seattle, WA
Seattle's Land Use Code allows residential lawn ornaments, statuary, and yard art without permits provided structures do not exceed accessory-structure heigh...
Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA
Seattle has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. The general Noise Ordinance SMC 25.08 applies to any amplified ou...
Seattle, WA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Seattle require building permits from SDCI when they include new electrical, plumbing, gas piping, or a structural roof under Se...
Seattle, WA
Backyard wood and pellet smokers in Seattle are allowed at single-family homes but are subject to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) Regulation I, Section ...
Seattle, WA
Seattle Fire Code Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas containers larger than 1 lb on combustible balconies of multi-family buildi...
See how Seattle's renovation permits rules stack up against other locations.
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