Demolition permit requirements across 17 Seattle-area cities
Side-by-side: which of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, Mercer Island, Shoreline, Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, Everett, Lynnwood, Woodinville require a permit for a demolition, and what triggers one — each row quoted from the city's own code or permit page, with the source linked. Fees and review times appear where the city publishes them.
2 of 17 cities have authoritative rules on file · 16 always require a permit · 1 depends on the scope · 0 do not.
King County
| Jurisdiction | Threshold | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Always | Demolishing a building or structure needs a permit. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Bellevue's demolition permit is $103 for plan review and $58 for inspection, plus a $53 operations fee ($21 over the counter) and the state building code fee, $6.50 on a residential permit (RCW 19.27.085). Other departments add a review fee when the demolition needs theirs: land use $547, right-of-way $104, clearing and grading $145 (Ordinance 6879). Apply via mybuildingpermit.com. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a structure or a substantial part of one needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Federal Way prices a demolition permit on the value of the demolition work, off Valuation Table A: $89.54 up to $1,000, $157.11 for the first $2,000 plus $33.68 for each $1,000 more up to $25,000, and $931.63 for the first $25,000 plus $24.00 for each $1,000 more up to $50,000. The automation fee, the greater of $43 or 5% of the permit fee, applies (2026 Fee Schedule). | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a building or structure needs a permit; the site must then be cleared and restored within 30 days. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Issaquah's demolition permit is $410.80 on its Site Work and Utility Permit Fee Schedule (effective April 7, 2026), with the City's technology surcharge added (IMC 3.66.020). Apply via mybuildingpermit.com. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a structure or a substantial part of one needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: — | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a structure or part of one needs a permit. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Kirkland prices a demolition permit for each building on the value of the work, off the same table as a building permit: $113 for the first $2,000 plus $23.62 for each $1,000 more up to $25,000, plus the $6.50 state building code fee for a residential building. Where the City's sewer serves the lot, inspecting the capped side sewer is $169. A 3.5% technology fee is added to the City's permit and plan review fees (Kirkland Building Services Fees, 2026). Apply via mybuildingpermit.com. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a building or structure needs a permit. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Mercer Island's demolition permit is $430 for a single-family house and $214 for a soft or partial demolition; further plan review and inspection is $182 an hour (2026 Fee Schedule). | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a building or structure needs a permit; a demolition of 200 sq ft or more also needs a salvage and deconstruction assessment from a King County certified salvage verifier. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Redmond prices a demolition permit on its building permit table, by the value of the work: $46.89 up to $500, $46.89 for the first $500 plus $6.08 for each $100 more up to $2,000, and $138.26 for the first $2,000 plus $27.90 for each $1,000 more up to $25,000, with plan review at 65% of that fee, plus a $434.48 fire fee. A 4% technology surcharge applies to the total, plus the $6.50 state building code fee for a residential permit (2026 fee schedules). Apply through the Redmond ePermitting Service, REPS (cityofredmondwa-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice); plan-reviewed permits go through Plan Review Online, and the How to Apply page (redmond.gov/462/How-to-Apply) says which. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a building or structure needs a permit. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Renton prices a demolition permit on the same table as a building permit, by the value of the demolition work: $44 up to $500, and $119.66 for the first $2,000 plus $22.99 for each $1,000 more up to $25,000; plan check is 65% of the demolition permit fee. Capping the sewer and storm connections is a separate City utility permit, $375 for wastewater and $375 for surface water. The City adds its 5% technology surcharge to each of these fees (Fee Schedule 2025-2026). Apply via permitting.rentonwa.gov. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a building or structure needs a permit; a $500 cleanup deposit is posted unless a new building permit is issued with it. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Sammamish's demolition permit for a single-family house is a $261 flat fee, plus a $513 site bond, and Public Works' review of the demolition a $655 flat fee. The City adds a 15% technology fee to each fee (2026 Fee Schedule). Apply via mybuildingpermit.com. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a structure needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Where a demolition needs an SDCI permit, the fee is 1.5 times the SDCI base fee, $438, plus the 5% technology fee. Capping the side sewer is a separate Seattle Public Utilities permit, $375 for each line capped (SPU Director's Rule FIN-220.2, 2026). | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Depends on scope | Demolishing or removing a building needs a demolition permit, with rodent abatement, asbestos notification, sewer district sign-off and site cleanup; structures exempt from a building permit (such as a small shed) are exempt. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Shoreline's demolition permit is $853. Capping the side sewer, where the City's wastewater utility serves the lot, is billed at $267 an hour with a 2-hour minimum. A 4% technology surcharge is added to the demolition permit (SMC FEE.010). Apply electronically via eTRAKiT (shorelinewa.gov/government/departments/planning-community-development/permit-center-remote-services/register-for-a-professional-etrakit-account). | Cite verified 2026-05-17 |
Always | Demolishing a building or part of one needs a permit in Woodinville: its exempt list (WMC 21.62.070) names no demolition. Asbestos and lead notifications are separate. Demolishing a building or part of one needs a permit in Woodinville: the City adopts the IBC and IRC with their permit chapters (WMC 21.62.010), and its exempt list (WMC 21.62.070) names no demolition. Many demolition materials must be recycled: clean wood, cardboard, metal, gypsum scrap, asphalt paving, bricks and concrete. Asbestos and lead notifications are separate, and utilities are disconnected first. | Fee: A demolition permit in Woodinville is $300, plus the City's hourly rate for review after two hours ($142 an hour for Development Services staff in 2026). Puget Sound Clean Air Agency charges its own filing fee for the asbestos/demolition notification. Apply through Woodinville's online Permit Portal (aca-prod.accela.com/woodinville/default.aspx); the Apply for a Permit Online page (woodinville.gov/347/Apply-for-a-Permit-Online) explains the account setup. | Cite verified 2026-11-07 |
Pierce County
| Jurisdiction | Threshold | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Always | Demolishing a building or structure needs a permit. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Lakewood's demolition permit for a single-family house or duplex is a $240 flat fee, plus the City's $90 administrative base fee and 4% technology fee (2026 Fee Schedule). Apply through Lakewood's Online Permit Center (app.oncamino.com/lakewood_wa), linked with the account steps from the city's Apply for a Permit page (cityoflakewood.us/permit-center). | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a structure or a substantial part of one needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Puyallup's 2026 fee schedule names no separate demolition permit fee. It does price the utility work: capping each side sewer is a $30 inspection, and removing the water service $200 at the meter or $2,070 at the main. Services the schedule does not name may be billed at the department's $180 hourly rate, by the half hour (2026 Municipal Fee Schedule). Apply through Puyallup's online permit system, CityView (permits.puyallupwa.gov/Portal); the Permit Services page (puyallupwa.gov/325/Permit-Services) walks through the steps and fees. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a structure or a substantial part of one needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Tacoma's demolition permit for a single-family or two-family dwelling or an accessory building is $190; partial demolition is priced on the value of the work (Table 8-1) with plan review (Table 8-2), and a residential demolition e-permit is $140 with no plan review fee (Tables 8-6 and 3). Table 1 adds the technology (5%), emergency preparedness (5%) and reserve fund (2%) surcharges, and the natural resources program (5%) on building permits. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Snohomish County
| Jurisdiction | Threshold | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Always | Demolishing a structure or a substantial part of one needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Everett's demolition permit for a residential building is a flat $150 per building. Capping the side sewer is $10 on the City's utility fee schedule. | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
Always | Demolishing a structure or a substantial part of one needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Fee: Lynnwood's demolition permit for a single-family house, its accessory building, or both is $221. Capping the sewer, or abandoning an on-site septic system, is a $123 permit. A 2.5% technology fee is added (LMC 3.104). | Cite verified 2026-10-02 |
How this table is built
Each row reflects the most-recently-verified authoritative rule on file for that jurisdiction and project type. A row shows a fee where the city publishes one; every building permit in Washington also carries the State Building Code Council's $6.50 surcharge. “Not verified” means we have the jurisdiction in our database but haven't yet personally checked the city page for demolition rules — those rows fall back to county or WA-state baselines until verified. Sources link directly to the city or county page we read on the verified-on date. See our data-quality leaderboard for how we keep these current.