City of Kent building permits: fees, timelines & requirements (2026)
What needs a permit in City of Kent and what triggers one — each row quoted from the city's own code or permit page, with the source linked and the source page checked daily for changes. Fees and review times appear where the city publishes them. Covers ADU, addition, kitchen, bathroom, basement, deck, fence, siding, windows, flooring, roofing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and ancillary permits (King County).
21 of 24 project types have authoritative rules on file · 15 always require a permit · 6 depend on the scope · 1 do not.
Get your lot in 3D with zoning, setbacks, and the exact permits your project needs — cited to City of Kent's source.
Permit department
Kent uses MyKent permits portal.
Adopted code cycles
2021 IRC w/ WA amendments · 2021 WSEC
Resources
Construction permits
| Project | Permit? | Threshold | Fee | Review days | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | Depends on scope | No permit for cabinets, counters, paint or tile. A permit once you move plumbing, add circuits, run gas or change walls. Cosmetic finish work (cabinets, countertops, tile, paint) is exempt; altering structure or moving electrical/gas/mechanical/plumbing triggers a Residential Alteration permit. Electrical permits route to WA L&I. | Fees set by jurisdiction. WA Building Code Council surcharge: $6.50 per building permit. Trade permits separate. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Bathroom remodel | Depends on scope | No permit for tile, paint or a same-spot fixture swap. A permit once plumbing moves, circuits are added or the tub or shower goes. Replacing plumbing or fixtures in the same location without removing surfaces (gypsum, framing) is treated as minor plumbing work; opening surfaces or rearranging fixtures requires a permit. | Fees set by jurisdiction. Plus separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Basement finish | Always | Finishing a basement into habitable space needs a building permit; egress and ceiling height are the usual review items. Finishing a basement changes the living space and requires a residential building permit; submit a fully dimensioned floor plan for each floor including basements. | Plan-review fee scales with valuation. State surcharge $6.50. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Deck | Depends on scope | Exempt only when all hold: 200 sq ft or under, 30 in or under at any point, not attached, and not serving a required exit door. A deck is exempt only if ≤200 sq ft, ≤30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a required exit door (IRC R311.2); otherwise a building permit is required. | Most jurisdictions handle decks as field-inspection or simplified plan review. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Fence | Depends on scope | No permit for a fence 7 ft or under. Fences 7 feet or under are exempt from a building permit; fences over 7 feet require a permit. Corner/driveway-adjacent fences must show the sight-distance triangle. | Typically no fee unless permit required. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Siding | Always | Kent processes residential siding as a Minor Work permit. Residential siding is processed as a Minor Work permit (portal: Minor Work Permits → Siding/Windows → Residential). Typically processed within 2–3 business days. | Typically minimal fee — like-for-like usually exempt. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | 2–3 days | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Window replacement | Always | Kent processes window replacement as a Minor Work permit. Window permits are processed as Minor Work and need a site plan and specifications; typically processed within 2–3 business days. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | 2–3 days | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Flooring | No permit | Tile and carpet are cosmetic and need no permit. Tiling or carpeting is a cosmetic improvement that does not need a permit. | No permit fee for surface flooring. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| ADU / DADU | Always | An ADU or DADU always needs a building permit, and usually trade permits with it. Two ADUs per lot are allowed (one attached + one detached, two attached, or two detached) per KCC 15.08.350. A detached ADU shall not exceed 24 feet in height. One additional parking space is required per ADU unless within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop (KCC 15.05.040). Owner-occupancy is no longer required (HB 1337). | Full Construction Permit (Addition/Alteration) fees. A new ADU connection commonly also triggers a ONE-TIME sewer and/or water connection charge from the utility that serves the property — called a general facility charge, a capacity charge or a system development charge depending on the utility. WHICH UTILITY AND WHICH CHARGE IS A PER-PROPERTY FACT, not a city or county one, and a single lot can sit inside a city for permitting and outside its sewer district. Ask the utility that will actually serve the ADU; this charge is often the largest single line in an ADU budget after construction. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Roofing | Always | A re-roof needs a Minor Work permit. A re-roof permit (Minor Work) is required; state the materials being removed, the underlayment, and the new materials being installed. Typically processed within 2–3 business days. | Flat fee or valuation-based, per the city's fee schedule. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | 2–3 days | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| HVAC | Depends on scope | Heating and cooling systems, gas piping and gas water heaters need a mechanical permit; portable appliances are exempt. A mechanical permit is required for heating/cooling systems, HVAC, gas pipes, gas water-heater replacements, and other mechanical systems; portable appliances are exempt. Typically processed within 2–3 business days. | Mechanical permit + electrical permit (if new circuit) + plumbing permit (if condensate to drain). Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | 2–3 days | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Electrical | Always | Electrical work needs a permit, issued and inspected by WA L&I. Altering an electrical system requires a permit, but Kent does not issue residential electrical permits — those are issued and inspected by Washington State Labor & Industries. | Electrical permit fees are set by circuit count and service size in the issuing agency's fee schedule. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Plumbing | Depends on scope | Replacing a fixture even in the same location, or an electric water heater, needs a plumbing permit. Stopping leaks, clearing stoppages and resetting a toilet are exempt. A plumbing permit is required for replacing plumbing/fixtures in the same location and for electric water-heater replacements; leak-stopping, clearing stoppages, and like-for-like water-closet reset are exempt. Typically processed within 2–3 business days. | Plumbing permit fees are set by fixture count in the city's fee schedule. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | 2–3 days | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
| Addition | Always | Adding floor area always needs a building permit. A residential building permit is required for most construction, alteration, or repair work — including changing a building's occupancy, structure, or living space. Intake fees are billed when the submittal is deemed complete (pay within 15 days); issuance fees are due before the permit is issued. | Plan-review fee scales with valuation per UBC Table 1-A. State surcharge $6.50 per building permit. Trade permits (E/P/M) separate. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
Ancillary & non-building permits
| Project | Permit? | Threshold | Fee | Review days | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition | Always | Demolishing a structure or a substantial part of one needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Demolition fees commonly charged as flat fee or by structure size. State surcharge $6.50 applies. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Right-of-way | Always | Any work in or occupation of the public right of way needs a right-of-way permit from public works. Issued by city public works (or SDOT in Seattle) under local ROW ordinance. Triggered by physical occupation of or work within the public ROW including driveway aprons, curb cuts, sidewalk replacement, utility tie-ins, hauling routes, and temporary construction staging. | Right-of-way permit fees vary by city: a base fee for a residential driveway or curb cut, plus a per-day occupancy charge if the street is obstructed. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Side sewer | Always | A new side-sewer connection, a repair beyond about 2 ft, relining or capping needs a permit from whichever utility owns the main. The side-sewer permit is issued by whichever utility owns the sanitary sewer — the city, a sewer or water district, or a regional utility — under that utility's own code, with WAC 51-56 (2021 UPC) governing how the building sewer is laid. WHICH UTILITY IS A PER-PROPERTY FACT: a lot can sit inside a city for permitting and outside its sewer district, so confirm the owner of the main before applying. Triggered by a new connection, repair of more than about 2 ft of pipe, relining (CIPP), or capping at the property line for a demolition. | Side-sewer permit fees are set by the utility that owns the main; some add a depth-based surcharge. Utility-issued, not building-permit-issued. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Stormwater / drainage | Always | New or replaced impervious surface and land disturbance are reviewed under the drainage manual this jurisdiction adopts; the threshold is the manual's. Ecology's Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW, 2024 edition) is the state floor. A municipal stormwater permittee may instead adopt a REGIONAL manual Ecology has determined equivalent, and most do — some counties publish their own, some cities publish their own, and others adopt Ecology's directly. WHICH MANUAL APPLIES IS A PER-JURISDICTION FACT and it changes the numbers: review thresholds for new plus replaced impervious surface and for land-disturbing activity differ between manuals, so read this jurisdiction's own adopting chapter before quoting one. Critical-area and closed-basin parcels get stricter review under every manual. | Drainage review fees are commonly tiered by project size in the city's fee schedule. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Land-use / zoning | Always | A variance, conditional use, plat or design review is a land-use decision that precedes the building permit. Triggered when a project does not conform to the strict letter of the zoning code. Variances require a hardship finding under most city codes. Design review thresholds vary (Seattle: most multifamily + non-residential >4,000 sqft; many cities: design review only in designated districts). | Land-use fees vary widely; a variance usually carries an application fee plus cost recovery for the hearing examiner. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Tree removal | Not verified | This city protects trees under its own ordinance and Kolmo has not verified the size threshold. Ask the city before cutting; some cities prohibit removal above a size rather than permit it. Triggered by removal of a tree that the city's own tree ordinance protects — commonly defined by a diameter at breast or standard height, a listed-species table, a grove or heritage designation, or a canopy-cover target. This baseline row carries NO verified local threshold; read the city's tree chapter before quoting a number. Some cities do not permit removal above a size at all — they prohibit removal of regulated trees outside enumerated exceptions, so a "permit required at X inches" reading is wrong there. | Tree-removal permit fees are set per permit or per tree in the city's fee schedule; some cities require replacement bonds. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Signs | Always | Permanent signs need a sign permit; small temporary residential signs are usually exempt. City sign code (typically Title 22 or 23) governs. Wall, freestanding, projecting, awning, and electronic message signs all require permits. Most cities exempt small temporary residential signs (real-estate, political) under area thresholds (~6 sqft). | Sign permit fees are set in the city's fee schedule, plus an electrical sub-permit for an illuminated sign. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
Building in City of Kent?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, bonded and insured — working throughout City of Kent and King County. We pull the permits listed above and build the project.
How this page is built
Each row is the most-recently-verified authoritative rule on file for City of Kent and the listed project type. “Pending verification” means we have City of Kent in our database but haven't yet personally checked the city page for that project — those rows fall back to King-County or Washington-state baselines until verified.
See the data-quality leaderboard for how we keep these current, or run an address-specific lookup on the main permits page.