Deck permits in City of Seattle: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a deck 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 deck need a permit in City of Seattle?
Permit required if: deck >18in above grade, OR roof deck, OR in an ECA. Decks ≤18in above grade and outside ECAs are exempt. If deck >36in above grade, it counts toward lot coverage. If deck >8ft tall, has long beams, is a roof deck, or in an ECA → Construction Permit (Addition/Alteration); otherwise Subject-to-Field-Inspection.
Required submittals
- site plan with setbacks
- section / detail drawings
- lot coverage calc if >36in above grade
Inspection sequence
- footing
- framing
- final
Contractor specialties needed
general
Notes & caveats
Most residential decks qualify for Subject-to-Field-Inspection permit. Setbacks for decks ≥18in: front 20ft, sides 5ft (NR zones), rear 25ft or within rear 20% of lot depth. Architect/engineer stamp typically not required.
Deck permit fee estimate in City of Seattle
Worked example for a $18,000 deck project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.
| Building permit fee | $381.23 |
| Plan review | $247.8 |
| Technology surcharge | $19.06 |
| WA state surcharge | $4.5 |
| Estimated total | $652.59 |
Subject-to-Field-Inspection permits pay 40% of plan-review fee from SDCI Fee Estimator. See 2026 Fee Subtitle. 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 deck — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals (3).
- 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 permits pay 40% of plan-review fee from SDCI Fee Estimator. See 2026 Fee Subtitle.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Deck permits in City of Seattle — FAQ
When does a deck need a permit in City of Seattle?
Permit required if: deck >18in above grade, OR roof deck, OR in an ECA. Decks ≤18in above grade and outside ECAs are exempt. If deck >36in above grade, it counts toward lot coverage. If deck >8ft tall, has long beams, is a roof deck, or in an ECA → Construction Permit (Addition/Alteration); otherwise Subject-to-Field-Inspection.
How much does a deck permit cost in City of Seattle?
For a $18,000 deck project, the estimated City of Seattle permit fee is about $652.59 — building fee $381.23 + plan review $247.8 + surcharges. Fees scale with project valuation per the city schedule.