Addition permits in City of Seattle: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a home addition permit in City of Seattle, Washington — when one is required, what it costs, how long review takes, what documents are required, and which inspections you can expect. Cited to Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI).
When does a home addition need a permit in City of Seattle?
Any additional floor area requires Construction Permit (Addition or Alteration). Plan review required. ECA + lot coverage + setback compliance verified at intake.
Required submittals
- architectural plans
- structural calcs
- WSEC compliance form
- site plan w/ setbacks + lot coverage
- survey if near setback or in ECA
Inspection sequence
- footing
- foundation
- framing
- rough-in (electrical/plumbing/mechanical)
- insulation
- drywall
- final
Contractor specialties needed
general, electrical-01-or-02, plumbing, mechanical
Notes & caveats
Full structural plan review. Lot coverage limits apply (NR zones: 35% or 1,000sf + 15% for small lots). Energy code applies to new conditioned space.
Addition permit fee estimate in City of Seattle
Worked example for a $120,000 home addition project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.
| Building permit fee | $1,437.48 |
| Plan review | $934.36 |
| Technology surcharge | $71.87 |
| WA state surcharge | $4.5 |
| Estimated total | $2,448.21 |
$100,001 to $500,000: $993.75 + $5.60 per $1,000 over $100,000 (Seattle SDCI applies ~1.30× multiplier vs. UBC baseline; verify against current SDCI Fee Subtitle for exact figures) Computed from the City of Seattle fee bracket schedule · source ↗. Impact/utility fees may apply separately.
How to apply
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your City of Seattle home addition — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals (5).
- 3. Submit through the city portal: Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) ↗
- 4. Track review (typical: 30–120 days). Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 5. Pay issuance fees (Construction Permit (Addition/Alteration). Pay 75% of plan-review + permit fees at application acceptance. See SDCI 2026 Fee Estimator.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Addition permits in City of Seattle — FAQ
When does a home addition need a permit in City of Seattle?
Any additional floor area requires Construction Permit (Addition or Alteration). Plan review required. ECA + lot coverage + setback compliance verified at intake.
How much does a home addition permit cost in City of Seattle?
For a $120,000 home addition project, the estimated City of Seattle permit fee is about $2,448.21 — building fee $1,437.48 + plan review $934.36 + surcharges. Fees scale with project valuation per the city schedule.
How long does City of Seattle take to review a home addition permit?
Typical review window: 30–120 days.
