Bathroom remodel permits in City of Seattle: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)

Everything you need to know about pulling a bathroom remodel 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).

Permit required?
Yes — see threshold below
Permit fee
Subject-to-Field-Inspection typical. Plus electrical, plumbing, mechanical permits.
Review timeline

When does a bathroom remodel need a permit in City of Seattle?

Like-for-like fixture replacement in same location with no plumbing rerouting and no new circuits is sometimes exempt; any relocation, new fixture, or circuit change triggers permits.

Required submittals

  • floor plan w/ fixture locations
  • plumbing diagram
  • electrical layout
  • waterproofing detail at tub/shower

Inspection sequence

  1. rough-in (electrical/plumbing/mechanical)
  2. shower-pan/waterproofing
  3. insulation if walls opened
  4. drywall
  5. final

Contractor specialties needed

general, electrical-01-or-02, plumbing

Notes & caveats

Construction Subject-to-Field-Inspection + electrical + plumbing + mechanical (exhaust fan circuit + venting). Tile waterproofing inspection required. GFCI/AFCI per WA-amended NEC.

Bathroom remodel permit fee estimate in City of Seattle

Worked example for a $22,000 bathroom remodel project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.

Building permit fee$454.03
Plan review$295.12
Technology surcharge$22.7
WA state surcharge$4.5
Estimated total$776.35

Subject-to-Field-Inspection typical. Plus electrical, plumbing, mechanical permits. Computed from the City of Seattle 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 Seattle bathroom remodel — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
  2. 2. Assemble submittals (4).
  3. 3. Submit through the city portal: Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI)
  4. 4. Track review (typical: ). Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
  5. 5. Pay issuance fees (Subject-to-Field-Inspection typical. Plus electrical, plumbing, mechanical permits.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.

Bathroom remodel permits in City of Seattle — FAQ

When does a bathroom remodel need a permit in City of Seattle?

Like-for-like fixture replacement in same location with no plumbing rerouting and no new circuits is sometimes exempt; any relocation, new fixture, or circuit change triggers permits.

How much does a bathroom remodel permit cost in City of Seattle?

For a $22,000 bathroom remodel project, the estimated City of Seattle permit fee is about $776.35 — building fee $454.03 + plan review $295.12 + surcharges. Fees scale with project valuation per the city schedule.

City of Seattle resourcesPermit portal ↗Fee schedule ↗