Electrical permits in City of Seattle: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a electrical 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
L&I permit fees by circuit count + service size. Standard residential ~$60-$200.
Review timeline
—
When does a electrical need a permit in City of Seattle?
WAC 296-46B requires electrical permit for ALL electrical work in residential. WA L&I issues electrical permits in Seattle (city does NOT do its own electrical inspection — L&I does).
Required submittals
- scope description
- load calc for service changes
- panel schedule for new panels
Inspection sequence
- rough-in
- service inspection
- final
Contractor specialties needed
electrical-01-or-02
Notes & caveats
Service upgrade: load calc per NEC 220. EV charger ≥40A: dedicated circuit + GFCI. AFCI on most habitable circuits. Permit holder must hold L&I electrical contractor license (specialty 01 or 02).
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 (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 (L&I permit fees by circuit count + service size. Standard residential ~$60-$200.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.