Basement finish permits in City of Shoreline: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)

When does a basement finish need a permit in City of Shoreline?

2021 IRC R310: every sleeping room below grade requires emergency escape and rescue opening (egress window). Min sill height 44in, min net clear opening 5.7 sq ft (5.0 grade-floor), min width 20in, height 24in. Ceiling height min 7ft (R305). Entire newly conditioned area must comply with WSEC R402.

Required submittals

• Permit Application and Critical Area Worksheet (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents > Applications)
• Submittal Fee per City fee schedule (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents > Submittal Fee)
• Building Coverage and Hardscape Calculation Worksheet (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents)
• Civil Engineering Plans — must meet frontage requirements in SMC 20.70.320 (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents > Civil Engineering Plans)
• Construction Documents per Construction Documents handout (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents > Construction Documents)
• WA State Energy Code Compliance Forms, 2021 Washington State (completed); WSEC energy credits selected must be incorporated into floor plans (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents > WA State Energy Code Compliance Forms)
• Site Plan(s) per Site Plan handout (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents > Site Plan(s))
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) — Short Form for projects <5,000 sqft new/replaced hard surface AND <7,000 sqft disturbance; Ecology template for larger projects (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents > SWPPP)
• Tree Worksheet (Residential Additions checklist — Required Documents > Tree Worksheet)
• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Worksheet — required for projects creating a new ADU or changing an existing ADU; worksheet lists additional submittal items (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > ADU Worksheet)
• Arborist Report — required if work is proposed within the critical root zone of any trees to remain on site; ISA-certified arborist must assess impacts; tree protection measures must be shown on plans (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > Arborist Report)
• Critical Areas Report(s) — required for projects in or near environmentally critical areas (steep slopes, streams, wetlands); preapplication meeting required prior to submittal unless waived by a planner (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > Critical Areas Report(s))
• Declaration of Covenant – Stormwater Facilities — required for any project that proposes on-site stormwater facilities; refer to EDM Chapter 4.9 (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > Declaration of Covenant)
• Geotechnical or Soils Report — required for projects with fill/excavation ≥500 cu yd, sites with slopes ≥15%, or certain storm drainage designs (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > Geotechnical or Soils Report)
• Heating System Sizing Form — required for new residential construction and additions where total new area exceeds 750 sqft, measured cumulatively (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > Heating System Sizing Form)
• Surface Water Report — required for projects proposing ≥2,000 sqft of new/replaced hard surfaces; must follow EDM Appendix C (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > Surface Water Report)
• Waste Diversion Plan and Salvage Assessment — required for construction/alterations exceeding 1,000 sqft gross floor area, or when demolition work is proposed; Waste Diversion Report due before final inspection (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > Waste Diversion)
• Water Availability Certificate — required when total new area exceeds 500 sqft OR new (not replacement) plumbing fixtures are proposed AND property is served by North City Water District (Residential Additions checklist — Additional Documents > Water Availability Certificate)

Inspection sequence

1. rough-in (electrical/plumbing/mechanical)
2. framing
3. insulation
4. drywall
5. final

Contractor specialties needed

general, electrical-01-or-02, plumbing, mechanical

Notes & caveats

Per the Residential Interior Remodel checklist exclusion: "this permit type does not include conversion of a house to a duplex. It also does not include finishing unfinished space, such as garages or existing unfinished basements. Those projects must follow the Residential New Build or Residential Additions Building Permit checklists, respectively." So basement finish uses the Residential Additions checklist. WSEC applies to newly conditioned area. Egress windows per 2021 IRC R310 (sleeping rooms below grade): min net clear opening 5.7 sqft, sill ≤44" above floor, min width 20", min height 24". Smoke + CO alarms per IRC R314/R315.

Basement finish permit fee estimate in City of Shoreline

Worked example for a $40,000 basement finish project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.

Apply electronically via eTRAKiT (https://www.shorelinewa.gov/government/departments/planning-community-development/permit-center-remote-services/register-for-a-professional-etrakit-account). Heating System Sizing Form required when total new area >750 sqft. Computed from the City of Shoreline fee bracket schedule · source ↗. Impact/utility fees may apply separately.