Basement finish permits in City of Kent: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)

Everything you need to know about pulling a basement finish permit in City of Kent, Washington — when one is required, what it costs, how long review takes, what documents are required, and which inspections you can expect. Cited to Kent uses MyKent permits portal..

Permit required?
Yes — see threshold below
Permit fee
Plan-review fee scales with valuation. State surcharge $4.50. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com.
Review timeline

When does a basement finish need a permit in City of Kent?

Finishing a basement changes the living space and requires a residential building permit; submit a fully dimensioned floor plan for each floor including basements.

From City of Kent's own page

Submit a fully dimensioned floor plan for each floor, including basements. Label each room or area with intended use.
Source ↗verified 2026-05-29

Required submittals

  • floor plan w/ egress windows + ceiling heights
  • electrical layout
  • plumbing diagram
  • mechanical / HVAC plan
  • WSEC compliance form (newly conditioned space)
  • smoke/CO alarm locations

Inspection sequence

  1. rough-in (electrical/plumbing/mechanical)
  2. framing
  3. insulation
  4. drywall
  5. final

Contractor specialties needed

general, plumbing, mechanical

Notes & caveats

Construction permit required for any habitable space addition. Smoke + CO alarms required (R314, R315). Any new circuits, plumbing fixtures, or HVAC requires trade permits.

Basement finish permit fee estimate in City of Kent

Worked example for a $40,000 basement finish project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.

Building permit fee$542.75
Plan review$352.79
WA state surcharge$4.5
Estimated total$900.04

Plan-review fee scales with valuation. State surcharge $4.50. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. Computed from the City of Kent fee bracket schedule · source ↗. Impact/utility fees may apply separately.

How to apply

  1. 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your City of Kent basement finish — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
  2. 2. Assemble submittals (6).
  3. 3. Submit through the city portal: Kent uses MyKent permits portal.
  4. 4. Track review (typical: ). Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
  5. 5. Pay issuance fees (Plan-review fee scales with valuation. State surcharge $4.50. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.

Basement finish permits in City of Kent — FAQ

When does a basement finish need a permit in City of Kent?

Finishing a basement changes the living space and requires a residential building permit; submit a fully dimensioned floor plan for each floor including basements.

How much does a basement finish permit cost in City of Kent?

For a $40,000 basement finish project, the estimated City of Kent permit fee is about $900.04 — building fee $542.75 + plan review $352.79 + surcharges. Fees scale with project valuation per the city schedule.

City of Kent resourcesPermit portal ↗Fee schedule ↗