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

Everything you need to know about pulling a plumbing 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
Plumbing permit fees by fixture count. Standard residential ~$80-$250.
Review timeline

When does a plumbing need a permit in City of Seattle?

WAC 51-56 requires plumbing permit for installation, replacement, or relocation. Like-for-like faucet replacement exempt. Seattle sewer side-sewer permits issued separately by SPU.

Required submittals

  • fixture count + DFU calc
  • water heater specs
  • sewer line plan if site work

Inspection sequence

  1. rough-in / pressure test
  2. final

Contractor specialties needed

plumbing

Notes & caveats

Water heater: T&P relief, expansion tank if pressure >80psi. Sewer line: SPU side-sewer permit required for any work in ROW.

Plumbing permit fee estimate in City of Seattle

Worked example for a $6,000 plumbing project (plumbing permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.

Building permit fee$150
Plan review$97.5
Technology surcharge$7.5
WA state surcharge$4.5
Estimated total$259.5

Plumbing permit fees by fixture count. Standard residential ~$80-$250. 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 plumbing — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
  2. 2. Assemble submittals (3).
  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 (Plumbing permit fees by fixture count. Standard residential ~$80-$250.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.

Plumbing permits in City of Seattle — FAQ

When does a plumbing need a permit in City of Seattle?

WAC 51-56 requires plumbing permit for installation, replacement, or relocation. Like-for-like faucet replacement exempt. Seattle sewer side-sewer permits issued separately by SPU.

How much does a plumbing permit cost in City of Seattle?

For a $6,000 plumbing project, the estimated City of Seattle permit fee is about $259.5 — building fee $150 + plan review $97.5 + surcharges. Fees scale with project valuation per the city schedule.

City of Seattle resourcesPermit portal ↗Fee schedule ↗