City of Lynnwood building permits: fees, timelines & requirements (2026)
What needs a permit in the City of Lynnwood 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 weekly for changes. Fees and review times appear where the city publishes them. Covers kitchen, bathroom, basement, deck, fence, siding, windows, flooring, ADU, roofing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, addition, solar and heat pumps, and the permits beside them: demolition, right-of-way, side sewer, drainage, land use, tree removal and signs.
7 of 23 project types have authoritative rules on file · 13 always require a permit · 10 depend on the scope · 0 do not.
Get your lot in 3D with zoning, setbacks, and the exact permits your project needs — cited to the City of Lynnwood's source.
Permit department
Lynnwood Development & Business Services
Adopted code cycles
2021 IRC w/ WA amendments · 2021 WSEC
Resources
Construction permits
| Project | Threshold | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel Depends on scope | Under the state code cabinets, counters, paint and tile need no permit. Replacing a sink or faucet, even in the same spot, or moving or adding plumbing needs a plumbing permit: the state plumbing code exempts only clearing a stoppage or fixing a leak with nothing replaced. Gas or venting work, new circuits and moving a wall need permits too. Cosmetic-only refresh (cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint) without structural/electrical/plumbing changes is generally exempt under 2021 IRC R105.2 (work exempt from permit). Any new circuit, fixture relocation, or structural change requires permits. | FeeAbout $1,569 for a $35,000 project, when a permit is needed | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Bathroom remodel Depends on scope | Under the state code tile, paint and other finish work need no permit. Replacing a toilet, sink, faucet, shower valve, tub or shower, even in the same spot, or moving or adding plumbing needs a plumbing permit: the state plumbing code exempts only clearing a stoppage or fixing a leak with nothing replaced. New circuits need an electrical permit, and moving a wall a building permit. Like-for-like fixture replacement in same location with no plumbing rerouting and no new circuits: typically exempt under 2021 IRC R105.2(2)(g). Any relocation, new fixture, new circuit, or shower-pan replacement triggers permits. | FeeAbout $1,150 for a $22,000 project, when a permit is needed | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Basement finish Always | Finishing a basement into habitable space needs a building permit; egress and ceiling height are the usual review items. 2021 IRC R310: every sleeping room below grade requires emergency escape and rescue opening (egress window). Min sill height 44in, min net clear opening 5.7 sq ft (5.0 grade-floor), min width 20in, height 24in. Ceiling height min 7ft (R305). Entire newly conditioned area must comply with WSEC R402. | FeeAbout $1,714 for a $40,000 project | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Deck Depends on scope | Under the state code a deck needs no permit only when it is 200 sq ft or less, no more than 30 in above grade at any point, not attached to the house, and does not serve the required exit door. Many cities change this in their own codes. 2021 IRC R105.2 (Building, item 10), adopted in Washington without amendment by WAC 51-51-003, exempts a deck only when it does not exceed 200 sq ft, is not more than 30 in above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve the exit door required by R311.4. Many cities set their own rule (Seattle: 18 in). | FeeAbout $979 for an $18,000 project, when a permit is needed | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Fence Depends on scope | A fence taller than 7 ft needs a building permit. Lynnwood's zoning caps a fence at 6 ft in residential zones (8 ft with an attached adornment such as an arbor or trellis) and at 8 ft in commercial and industrial zones, and keeps a fence over 4 ft out of the first 15 ft from a street lot line and out of sight distance triangles on a residential lot (LMC 8.40.0320, 8.40.0330). 2021 IRC R105.2 (Building, item 2), adopted in Washington without amendment by WAC 51-51-003, exempts fences not over 7 ft high. Cities often set their own height (several in King County: 6 ft) or require permits for fences in critical areas, flood zones, or with masonry. | FeeAbout $467 for a $6,000 project, when a permit is needed | Cite verified 2026-04-26 |
| Siding Always | The state code exempts no siding replacement, and the local code adds no exemption: re-siding needs a permit. Patching a few boards without cutting into the wall is an ordinary repair. | FeeAbout $979 for an $18,000 project | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Window replacement Always | The state code exempts no window replacement, and the local code adds no exemption: replacing windows needs a permit. Replacing broken glass is an ordinary repair. | FeeAbout $552 for an $8,000 project | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Flooring Depends on scope | Floor finishes are exempt. Modifying the subfloor or joists, or installing radiant heat, needs a permit. 2021 IRC R105.2(1)(j) exempts floor finishes (carpet, vinyl, hardwood, tile). Permit required if subfloor structure is modified, joists altered, or radiant heat installed. | FeeAbout $467 for a $6,000 project, when a permit is needed | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| ADU / DADU Always | An ADU or DADU always needs a building permit, and usually trade permits with it. WA HB 1337 (signed 2023, code-adoption deadline mid-2025) requires cities ≥6,000 pop. to permit ≥2 ADUs per lot in SF residential zones, allow ADUs of ≥1,000 sq ft (state floor — cities may allow larger, e.g. Bellevue/Redmond/Sammamish 1,200), drop owner-occupancy requirements, and waive parking requirements within ½ mi of frequent transit. City adoption status varies; local size + design caps may exceed the state floor. | FeeAbout $4,818 for a $200,000 project | Cite verified 2026-09-07 |
| Roofing Always | The state code exempts no re-roofing, and the local code adds no exemption: replacing a roof needs a permit. A small repair can be an ordinary repair. | FeeLynnwood prices a re-roof's building permit on the value of the work, by the ICC valuation table or the building's square footage, whichever is greater: $114 up to $1,000, $114 for the first $1,000 plus $5.74 for each $100 more up to $2,000, $171.35 for the first $2,000 plus $25.23 for each $1,000 more up to $25,000, and $751.73 for the first $25,000 plus $17.21 for each $1,000 more up to $50,000. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| HVAC Depends on scope | Installing or replacing heating, cooling or ventilation equipment needs a mechanical permit; a portable unit or a minor part replacement does not. WAC 51-52 (2021 IMC) and WAC 51-56 (2021 UPC) require mechanical permit for any equipment install, replacement, or relocation. WSEC R403 requires sizing per Manual J/S/D for new equipment. | FeeLynnwood's mechanical permit for work on an existing house (the schedule's remodel or addition line) is $257 for up to 4 pieces of equipment and $22 for each one more; for new construction it is 10% of the building permit fee. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Electrical Depends on scope | Electrical work needs a permit from the City of Lynnwood, not L&I. The City's exemptions handout lists like-in-kind replacement of a breaker, switch, dimmer, outlet, light fixture, lamp, appliance, thermostat and similar parts as exempt. Lynnwood issues its own electrical permits — through the City's Development & Business Services, not WA L&I. The City's Electrical Permits page: "The City of Lynnwood issues Electrical Permits and conducts inspections for work done within Lynnwood City Limits." and "An electrical permit is required for most electrical work and ensures your installation conforms to safety codes and standards." Lynnwood adopts "the Washington State adopted National Electrical Code (NEC)" (LMC 16.10.050) and sets electrical permit fees by city fee ordinance (LMC 16.10.090); the chapter's own exempt-work section, LMC 16.10.065, is repealed. The City's "Electrical Permit Exemptions" handout (Building Permit Series, 2024.06) lists the "work which does not require a permit per the Lynnwood Municipal Code, RCW 19.28, WAC 296.46B, NEC and TIA/EIA standards": like-in-kind replacement of a circuit breaker, dimmer, fuse, heating element, household appliance, lamp, luminaire ballast with an exact same ballast, receptacle outlet, residential luminaire, snap switch, thermostat, motor of ten horsepower or smaller, control component (contactor, relay, timer, starter, circuit board), or sign and outline-lighting components where the system is not modified; induction gate-control loops; heat cable repair; listed heat mats embedded in tile grout; telecommunications installations inside single-family, duplex and multifamily dwelling units; cord-and-plug telecommunications equipment; and travel trailers. It does not cover replacing a whole unit, assembly or enclosure that contains an exempt component, such as an electric furnace or heat pump. | FeeOn a house, adding or altering up to 10 circuits with no service change is $147, and $15 for each more circuit up to a $200 total; altering or changing a service or panel is $147 plus $15 for each added circuit, up to $200. | Cite verified 2026-09-25 |
| Plumbing Depends on scope | Under the state code stopping a leak or clearing a stoppage needs no plumbing permit. Replacing anything, even a faucet or a fixture in the same spot, or the water heater, needs one, and so do new or moved fixtures and piping. WAC 51-56 (2021 UPC) requires plumbing permit for installation, replacement, or relocation of any plumbing fixture, water heater, or piping. Like-for-like faucet replacement is exempt. | FeeLynnwood's plumbing permit for work on an existing house (the schedule's remodel or addition line) is $257 for up to 4 fixtures and $22 for each outlet more, with a backflow device counted at $22; for new construction it is 10% of the building permit fee. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Addition Always | Adding floor area always needs a building permit. 2021 IRC R105.1 requires permits for "construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, removal, conversion, or demolition" of structures. Additions are never exempt under R105.2. Footprint additions trigger zoning compliance (setbacks, lot coverage, height); vertical additions trigger structural review for the existing foundation/wall framing. WSEC R402-R403 applies to new conditioned area. SEPA threshold typically ≥12,000 sqft total floor area (RCW 43.21C). | FeeAbout $3,421 for a $120,000 project | Cite verified 2026-04-29 |
| Solar (rooftop PV) Always | Rooftop solar needs a City electrical permit and a City building permit for the racking: Lynnwood adopts the IRC's list of work exempt from a permit unamended, and it names no solar installation (LMC 16.09.010, IRC R105.2). | FeeLynnwood's fee schedule lists a single-family solar system that meets the City's permitting checklist at $228; one that does not, or a commercial system, is priced on the building permit valuation table, valued on its structural components and labor only. | Cite verified 2026-11-07 |
| Heat pump Depends on scope | Installing or replacing a heat pump needs a City mechanical permit, and its circuit an electrical permit from the City; a portable unit, work on the piping inside the equipment, a minor part replacement or a self-contained unit with 10 lb of refrigerant or less or a motor of 1 hp or less does not need the mechanical permit. | FeeLynnwood's mechanical permit for work on an existing house (the schedule's remodel or addition line) is $257 for up to 4 pieces of equipment and $22 for each one over 4 (LMC 3.104.150). | Cite verified 2026-11-07 |
Review days: not published by the city for any permit in this table.
Ancillary & non-building permits
| Project | Threshold | Fee | 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. | FeeLynnwood's demolition permit for a single-family house, its accessory building, or both is $221. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
| Right-of-way Always | Any work in or occupation of the public right of way needs a right-of-way permit from the city, or from the agency that owns the street. 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. | FeeLynnwood's right-of-way use permit is priced by the length of the work: underground work is $994 for the first 100 lineal feet, $319 for each 100 feet more up to 500, and $69 for each 100 feet after that; new above-ground work, or repair and replacement, is $994 for the first 100 feet and $69 for each 100 feet more. | Cite verified 2026-05-02 |
| Side sewer Always | A new side-sewer connection needs a permit from the utility that owns the main; many utilities also require one for any repair, however short, and for capping. The side-sewer permit comes from the utility that owns the sewer main (the city, a sewer or water district, or a regional utility), under that utility's own code. 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. The utility's code, not a statewide rule, decides which work needs the permit: a new connection does, and many utility codes also require it for any repair, however short, and for capping or disconnecting a side sewer, so check that code before digging. WAC 51-56, the state plumbing code, governs how the building sewer is laid. | FeeWhere the City of Lynnwood serves the lot, its side sewer permit is $997 for a new house, plat or short plat, per side sewer, and a repair or replacement is $475 over 25 feet or $247 for 25 feet or less; capping a sewer is $123, with a 2.5% technology fee added (LMC 3.104). | Cite verified 2026-05-02 |
| 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. | FeeLynnwood's grading permit, where grading is over 50 cubic yards, is a $695 administrative fee plus inspection ($71 for 51 to 100 cubic yards) and plan review ($47 for 51 to 100 cubic yards, $71 for 101 to 1,000). | Cite verified 2026-09-06 |
| 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). | FeeLynnwood's variance is $735 for a single-family property and $4,410 otherwise; a conditional use permit is $7,325, and a critical areas permit $790 with no mitigation or $1,815 with a mitigation plan. | Cite verified 2026-05-02 |
| Tree removal Depends on scope | In Lynnwood removing any tree, a woody plant with a trunk 3 in or more across at 4.5 ft or a multi-stemmed trunk with a formed crown, needs the City's tree removal permit, on private land or public (LMC 17.15.040 Q, 17.15.100). On a developed single-family lot under 16,000 sq ft it is a Class I permit, approved as soon as the application is complete for up to two significant trees (6 in or more) or 40 percent of them, whichever is greater, in a calendar year; more than that, or a tree replanted or saved under an earlier permit, is inspected first, and each significant tree over the allowance is replaced (17.15.110). Every other site takes a Class II permit (17.15.120). A dead or diseased tree needs no permit unless it was killed deliberately or by careless construction, nor does a tree that is or threatens to become a danger to life or is damaging property, as the City determines on review (17.15.150 D, E). A designated heritage tree may not be removed or even pruned without Public Works' approval (17.15.070 D). Within 300 ft of a critical area or its buffer the work also needs the City's critical areas permit. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree. | FeeLynnwood's Class I tree removal permit is $75 where the City needs a site inspection, with an $86 tree replacement option fee. | Cite verified 2026-10-28 |
| Signs Always | A sign permit is needed before any sign is placed; political campaign signs and the signs outside the sign code need none. Lynnwood requires a sign permit before any sign is placed, except as its sign code provides; signs must be on the premises they serve and permanently installed, unless the code expressly allows a portable or temporary sign (LMC 21.16.210(A)). Political campaign signs need no sign permit (LMC 21.16.270), and building address numbers, signs inside windows and signs not visible from streets or neighboring property are outside the sign code (LMC 21.16.200). | FeeLynnwood's zoning fees name no general sign permit fee: a banner permit is $60 per occupancy, and a sign with searchlights $125 a permit. | Cite verified 2026-10-24 |
Review days: not published by the city for any permit in this table.
Building in the City of Lynnwood?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, bonded and insured — working throughout the City of Lynnwood and Snohomish County. We pull the building permits listed above and build the project. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work, and those permits, go to licensed trade subcontractors that Kolmo manages.
How this page is built
Each row is the most-recently-verified authoritative rule on file for the City of Lynnwood and the listed project type.
See the data-quality leaderboard for how we keep these current, or run an address-specific lookup on the main permits page.