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How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Seattle?
✓ Fee schedule checked against city sources
Fee math from Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), not a national average
Data last verified: September 28, 2026
Seattle issues building, electrical and mechanical permits through SDCI and plumbing and gas permits through Public Health - Seattle & King County. Building permits use the 2026 Development Fee Index plus plan review (40% for subject-to-field-inspection work), a 5% technology fee and the $6.50 state fee. Minor work of $6,000 or less, siding, re-roofing and fences under 8 feet need no permit.
Permit Cost by Project
Kitchen Remodel$1,435.36
Swimming Pool Residential$1,168.00
Bathroom Remodel$1,144.97
Deck / Patio$1,087.62
Building Permit ($25K project)$1,048.73
Solar Pv 12 To 26kw$876.00
Building Permit ($12K project)$742.97
Window Replacement$648.89
Building Permit ($8K project)$648.89
Solar Panel Installation$518.15
Solar Pv Under 12kw$438.00
Demolition$438.00
Electrical Panel$364.85
Electrical Permit$364.85
Water Heater$164.00
View full municipal schedule (5 more items)
HVAC Replacement$153.30
Commercial Reroofing$146.00
Reinspection$146.00
EV Charger Installation$110.38
HVAC / Mechanical Permit$63.37
Do You Need a Permit?
No: Paint, cosmetic updates, fixture swaps
Yes: Bathroom remodel ($1,144.97)
Yes: Kitchen remodel ($1,435.36)
Exempt: Roof replacement
Yes: HVAC replacement ($153.30)
Yes: Water heater ($164.00)
Yes: Deck / patio ($1,087.62)
Yes: Window replacement ($648.89)
Yes: Electrical panel ($364.85)
Yes: Solar panels ($518.15)
Verified Permit Cost by Project Type
Kitchen Remodel
$1,435.36
Building, Electrical
Swimming Pool Residential
$1,168.00
Flat Fee
Bathroom Remodel
$1,144.97
Building, Electrical, Mechanical
Deck / Patio
$1,087.62
Building
Building Permit ($25K project)
$1,048.73
Building
Solar Pv 12 To 26kw
$876.00
Flat Fee
Building Permit ($12K project)
$742.97
Building
Window Replacement
$648.89
Building
Compare these permit costs across U.S. cities
Two Types of Permits
Seattle issues building permits for structural work and separate trade permits for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and roofing. Most remodels need both kinds. See the full breakdown of which projects need a permit and which are exempt.
Seattle Permit Cost Calculator
Choose a common project or enter a project value to estimate local permit fees from Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) data.
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✓ Verified local fee schedule
✓ EXEMPT: SDCI Re-Roof Permit page: "A permit is not required for re-roof work at one- and two-family homes and townhouses if no changes are made to the building envelope other than adding or replacing insulation"; 2021 Seattle Residential Code R105.2 item 12. Commercial and multifamily re-roofs need a permit.
Local sourceBuilt from Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) fee data, not a national average.
Formula-backedValuation-based projects recalculate from the local fee formula.
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Seattle prices a building permit on its Development Fee Index, adds plan review, a 5% technology fee and the state's $6.50 fee. A non-structural interior alteration worth $8,000 comes to $648.89. Seattle also exempts more than most cities: minor work of $6,000 or less, siding replacement, re-roofing a house and fences under 8 feet need no permit. Trade permits are separate, and plumbing goes through the County. A $25,000 kitchen remodel with its building, electrical and County plumbing permits comes to $1,435.36, a new deck to $1,087.62, and a water heater replacement to $164.
Seattle Permit Fee Structure Explained
The building permit fee is the Development Fee Index in Table D-1 of the 2026 Fee Subtitle: $325 for the first $1,000 of value plus $1.60 for each additional $100 "or fraction thereof" up to $25,000, at lower rates above that, with a $292 minimum. Plan review is extra. Work that qualifies for a subject-to-field-inspection (STFI) permit pays 40% of the index (at least $116.75); work that needs full plan review pays 100%. A 5% technology fee goes on top, plus the $6.50 State Building Code Council fee on building permits.
SDCI's Tip 316 says non-structural interior alterations in houses typically qualify for STFI. At that rate an $8,000 alteration pays $648.89, a $12,000 job $742.97 and a $25,000 job $1,048.73. The same work under full plan review costs more.
Trade permits are separate. SDCI issues electrical and mechanical permits; Public Health - Seattle & King County issues plumbing and gas-piping permits and collects those fees. The $6.50 state fee does not apply to trade permits; state rules say they are not building permits. The 5% technology fee applies to SDCI fees, not the County's.
A few jobs work differently. An AC-only install is not a named mechanical line, so SDCI bills its half-hour minimum at the hourly rate, $153.30 with the technology fee. The County's 2026 plumbing list charges $137 plus $27 per fixture, so a water heater is $164. A new deck usually draws a $438 site-inspection deposit on top of the permit, and a same-opening window replacement is a subject-to-field-inspection permit on its declared value: $648.89 at $8,000.
Chuck's Take
"In Seattle a remodel is three permits from two agencies. Building and electrical come from the city, plumbing from the County. If a bid shows one permit number for a kitchen, ask which permits it covers."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
What Needs a Permit in Seattle?
The 2021 Seattle Residential Code, section R105.2, lists the work that needs no permit. Minor repairs or alterations of $6,000 or less in any six months are exempt, as long as no loadbearing support is removed or altered and egress, light, ventilation and fire-resistance are not reduced. SDCI adds that changes to the building envelope need a permit however small the job.
Also exempt: replacing siding (no structural changes, sheathing or door and window alterations), re-roofing a one- or two-family house when nothing changes in the building envelope other than insulation, fences not over 8 feet with no masonry or concrete above 6 feet, platforms and walks not more than 18 inches above grade, one-story sheds up to 120 square feet on a slab, retaining walls up to 4 feet (outside critical areas), and painting, cabinets and insulating.
A deck more than 18 inches above the ground needs a permit; SDCI says most decks need only an STFI permit. Electrical work needs an electrical permit. Public Health - Seattle & King County says permits are required for replacement water heaters starting July 1, 2026.
Work in an environmentally critical area follows stricter rules. Check SDCI's "Do You Need a Permit?" page before you start.
Penalties for Unpermitted Work in Seattle
Seattle hits unpermitted work with a tiered special investigation fee. The exact amount depends on your project valuation. Table B-2 in the fee schedule lays it out.
They can also charge you a $146 reinspection fee on top. The city doesn't play around with this. You won't get away with it during a future sale either. Title companies flag this stuff now.
The rules come straight from page 12 of the 2026 fee tables under section 22.900B.020.F. Nobody wants to pay double or triple later. Pull the permit up front.
How Long Is a Building Permit Good For in Seattle?
Seattle building permits don't last forever. Most expire after a set period if work stops. You have to keep inspections moving.
Check your specific permit for the exact validity dates. SDCI can revoke permits too if you aren't following the approved plans. Renewal isn't automatic.
Start early. The review process takes time in this city. If you let it lapse you'll pay new fees to restart.
Who Should Pull the Permit in Seattle?
Contractors usually pull the permit in their own name in Seattle. That keeps the liability on them. They carry the insurance and bonding.
Homeowners can pull owner-builder permits for work on their own house. You sign paperwork saying you'll supervise it yourself. But electrical, plumbing and mechanical work often still needs licensed trades.
Watch out for contractors who want you to pull the permit. That's a red flag. It usually means they don't want their name on the paperwork if something goes wrong. We recommend the contractor pulls it. Every time.
Chuck's Take
"Never let a contractor talk you into pulling the permit yourself. I won't work that way. My license and insurance are on the line. If they push back on this in Seattle it's time to find someone else."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
Seattle's Separate Trade Permits and State Surcharges
Seattle splits permits by trade and by agency. Electrical permits come from SDCI: a panel upgrade to 150-200 amps is $292 plus a $55.48 administrative fee plus 5%, or $364.85. A rooftop solar system under 12 kW is $438 plus the same administrative fee, or $518.15. A furnace or heat pump is $60.35 per unit plus 5%, or $63.37. Plumbing and gas piping come from Public Health - Seattle & King County.
The State Building Code Council fee under RCW 19.27.085 is $6.50 on each residential building permit, not on trade permits. The 5% technology fee applies across SDCI's fee chapters.
A kitchen or bath remodel takes a building permit, an SDCI electrical permit priced per circuit, and a County plumbing permit priced by fixture. Our reference kitchen comes to $1,435.36 at $25,000 and our reference bath to $1,144.97 at $15,000.
Quick Reference · Seattle Permit Requirements
| Homeowner Task | Permit? | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Paint interior / exterior | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace flooring | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace kitchen cabinets (same layout) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Swap a light fixture (same location) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace a water heater | YES | $164.00 Plumbing |
| Upgrade an electrical panel | YES | $364.85 Electrical |
| Remodel a bathroom | YES | $1,144.97 Building, Electrical, Mechanical |
| Remodel a kitchen | YES | $1,435.36 Building, Electrical |
| Replace / repair roof | EXEMPT | Permit not required |
| Build a deck or patio | YES | $1,087.62 Building |
| Build a fence (≤6 ft) | NO | Typically exempt |
| Install solar panels | YES | $518.15 Building, Electrical |
| Replace HVAC system | YES | $153.30 Mechanical |
| Replace windows (new opening) | YES | $648.89 Building |
∗ Costs are verified for Seattle, WA from published fee schedule. Always confirm with your local building department.
Internal Comparison · separate trade permits
Compare Seattle Permit Fees With Related Cities
Use these source-linked city pages to compare Seattle against other Washington markets and cities with similar permit fee structures.
Minneapolis, MNAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $967.70 · -$177.27 vs Seattle
Columbus, OHAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $944.35 · -$200.62 vs Seattle
Portland, ORAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $1,388.93 · +$243.96 vs Seattle
Fort Worth, TXCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $525.95 · -$619.02 vs Seattle
Chicago, ILCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $325.00 · -$819.97 vs Seattle
Dallas, TXCross-market benchmark
Permit Guides
Permit Cost and Process Guides
Pricing a specific project in Seattle? These guides cover what each permit runs and how the approval process actually works.
Building permit cost, every verified city ranked
How much does a building permit cost?
How long does a permit take to get?
When is a permit not required?
Deck permit cost
Roof replacement permit cost
HVAC permit cost
Kitchen remodel permit cost
Solar panel permit cost
EV charger permit cost
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater?
Do I need a permit for an electrical panel upgrade?
How to speed up a building permit
Getting an electrical permit online
What happens if you build without a permit
Before You Build
Before you build, check deck and patio cost data at TheFatBook, the cost index behind these permit numbers.
Frequently Asked · Seattle
How much does a building permit cost in Seattle?
The fee is set by project value. A non-structural interior alteration that qualifies for a subject-to-field-inspection permit pays $648.89 at $8,000 and $1,048.73 at $25,000, including 40% plan review, the 5% technology fee and the $6.50 state fee. Work under full plan review pays more. Minor work of $6,000 or less needs no permit.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Seattle?
Yes. Public Health - Seattle & King County says permits are required for replacement water heaters starting July 1, 2026, in most cases an over-the-counter plumbing permit. The County's 2026 fee list charges $137 plus $27 per fixture, so a water heater replacement is $164.
How much is a plumbing permit in Seattle?
Plumbing permits are issued and priced by Public Health - Seattle & King County, not SDCI. Its 2026 fee list charges $137 plus $27 per fixture, so a single water heater replacement is $164.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Seattle?
Yes, if it is more than 18 inches above the ground, a roof deck, or in an environmentally critical area. SDCI says most decks need only a subject-to-field-inspection permit. For a 240 square foot deck valued at $7,100 that comes to $1,087.62, including the $438 site-inspection deposit most new deck permits carry.
Why does Seattle charge separate permits for electrical, plumbing and mechanical work?
Seattle's Fee Subtitle prices each trade in its own table, and plumbing and gas-piping fees are collected by Public Health - Seattle & King County (SMC 22.900G.030). A panel upgrade is $364.85 and a furnace or heat pump $63.37. The 5% technology fee applies to SDCI's fees; the $6.50 state fee applies only to building permits.
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