window replacement permit requirements across 10 verified Seattle-area cities
Side-by-side: which of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, and Mercer Island require a permit for a window replacement, what triggers one, what it costs, and how long review takes. Verified against each city's own page; sources cited per row.
11 of 11 cities have authoritative rules on file · 2 typically require a permit · 9 often do not.
King County
| Jurisdiction | Permit? | Threshold | Fee | Review days | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City of Bellevue city | Often no | No permit is required for window replacements of the same size in the same location. Enlarging an opening requires the SF Remodel permit. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | — | Cite verified 2026-06-14 |
City of Federal Way city | Often no | 2021 IRC R105.2(1)(g) exempts like-for-like window replacement (same rough opening, same R-value class). Permit required for: new openings, enlarged/reduced openings, egress-affecting changes (R310), and any change that crosses a structural element. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. | — | Cite verified 2026-06-14 |
City of Issaquah city | Often no | Like-for-like window/door replacement is exempt when the opening is not increased, energy efficiency (U-value) is not decreased, and egress is maintained. A new or larger opening requires a permit. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | — | Cite verified 2026-06-14 |
City of Kent city | Yes | Window permits are processed as Minor Work and need a site plan and specifications; typically processed within 2–3 business days. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | 2–3 days | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
City of Kirkland city | Often no | In-kind window/door replacement is exempt when no structural members are altered, the U-value meets the prescriptive energy code, safety glazing and fall protection are provided where required, and egress is maintained. A new or enlarged opening requires a permit. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | — | Cite verified 2026-06-14 |
City of Mercer Island city | Yes | Exempt: in-kind window replacement for IRC structures where no alteration of structural members is required, safety glazing is provided where required, and window fall protection is provided where required. Permit required for: new openings, larger openings, or any structural alteration. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. | — | Cite verified 2026-06-14 |
City of Redmond city | Often no | Removal and replacement of exterior windows in existing openings is exempt provided the opening size is not altered and the operable opening size is not decreased. Resizing or creating a new opening requires a permit. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply via https://eplans.redmond.gov. | — | Cite verified 2026-06-14 |
City of Renton city | Often no | In-kind window/door replacement is exempt when openings are not increased, no structural members are altered, the U-value meets the prescriptive WSEC requirement, and safety glass is provided where required. Enlarging an opening requires a permit. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply via https://permits.rentonwa.gov. | — | Cite verified 2026-05-29 |
City of Sammamish city | Often no | 2021 IRC R105.2(1)(g) exempts like-for-like window replacement (same rough opening, same R-value class). Permit required for: new openings, enlarged/reduced openings, egress-affecting changes (R310), and any change that crosses a structural element. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com. | — | Cite verified 2026-06-14 |
City of Seattle city | Often no | Like-for-like replacement in existing rough opening with U-factor compliance: typically exempt. New opening, enlarged opening, change in egress compliance, or any structural header change requires Subject-to-Field-Inspection permit. | Like-for-like usually no permit. Structural changes scale with valuation. | — | Cite verified 2026-06-14 |
City of Shoreline city | Often no | Replacing windows of the same size in the same location most likely does not need a permit. Moving or enlarging a window opening requires a building permit. New glazing must meet 2021 WSEC R402 U-factor/SHGC. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. Apply electronically via eTRAKiT (https://www.shorelinewa.gov/government/departments/planning-community-development/permit-center-remote-services/register-for-a-professional-etrakit-account). | — | Cite verified 2026-05-17 |
How this table is built
Each row reflects the most-recently-verified authoritative rule on file for that jurisdiction and project type. “Pending verification” means we have the jurisdiction in our database but haven't yet personally checked the city page for window replacement 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.