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
- rough-in (electrical/plumbing/mechanical)
- shower-pan/waterproofing
- insulation if walls opened
- drywall
- 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.
How to apply
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup on the main permits page — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals (4).
- 3. Submit through the city portal: Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) ↗
- 4. Track review (typical: —). Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 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.