Washington building permits

Where to get a building permit in Washington

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Our Washington city guides, with each department's contacts, fees, inspections and project rules:

• Seattle

Washington state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Washington

For homes, the residential code is the International Residential Code, 2021 edition, without chapters 11 and 25-43; Appendices AF, AQ and AWU included⁵, in effect since March 15, 2024⁵ (statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Washington building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

RCW 19.27.060(7), 19.27.065, 19.27.067, 19.28.101(1)

• $1,500. (7)(a) Effective one year after July 23, 1989, the governing bodies of counties and cities may adopt an ordinance or resolution to exempt from permit requirements certain construction or alteration of either group R, division 3, or group M, division 1 occupancies, or both, as defined in the uniform building code, 1988 edition, for which the total cost of fair market value of the construction or alteration does not exceed fifteen hundred dollars.¹
• Exempt work still must meet the codes. The permit exemption shall not otherwise exempt the construction or alteration from the substantive standards of the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031, as amended and maintained by the state building code council under RCW 19.27.070.¹
• Temporary growing structures exempt from the building code. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to temporary growing structures used solely for the production of horticultural plants including ornamental plants, flowers, vegetables, and fruits.¹
• Temporary worker housing under separate DOH code. The construction, alteration, or repair of temporary worker housing is not subject to the codes adopted under RCW 19.27.031, except as provided by rule adopted under chapter 70.114A RCW or chapter 37, Laws of 1998.¹
• No electrical work permit for class A basic electrical work. The department may not require an electrical work permit for class A basic electrical work unless deficiencies in the installation or repair require inspection.¹
• Electrical work generally requires permit and inspection; exceptions in WAC 296-46B-901. Electrical work in Washington requires a permit and inspection. However, there are a few exceptions.²

Applies to

Counties and cities that choose to adopt the $1,500 exemption¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes¹

Homeowners doing their own work

RCW 18.27.090(11)-(13), 19.28.261(1) and (5), 18.106.150(1)

• Owner working on own property exempt from contractor registration unless building to sell, demolish or lease. Any person working on his or her own property, whether occupied by him or her or not, and any person working on his or her personal residence, whether owned by him or her or not but this exemption shall not apply to any person who performs the activities of a contractor on his or her own property for the purpose of selling, demolishing, or leasing the property…¹
• Owner maintenance, repair and alteration exempt. An owner who performs maintenance, repair, and alteration work in or upon his or her own properties, or who uses his or her own employees to do such work…¹
• 12 months. The exemption prescribed in this subsection does not apply to a person who performs the activities of a contractor for the purpose of leasing or selling improved property he or she has owned for less than twelve months…¹
• Owner may do own electrical work without a license, except new building for rent/sale/lease or resale within 12 months. Nothing in RCW 19.28.161 through 19.28.271 shall be construed to require that a person obtain a license or a certified electrician in order to do electrical work at his or her residence or farm or place of business or on other property owned by him or her unless…¹
• Affidavit route for owner-occupied new residential building up to four units. However, if the construction is of a new residential building with up to four units intended for rent, sale, or lease, the owner may receive an exemption from the requirement to obtain a license or use a certified electrician if he or she provides a signed affidavit to the department stating that he or she will be performing the work and will occupy one of the units as his or her principal residence.¹
• Homeowner doing the work buys the electrical permit. Electrical permits must be purchased by the electrical contractor or the property owner or homeowner who will actually be doing the work.²
• Owner may do own plumbing without a license. (1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require that a person obtain a license in order to do plumbing work at his or her residence or farm or place of business or on other property owned by him or her.¹

Applies to

Owners working on their own property¹

Contractor licensing

RCW 18.27.020, 18.27.110, 19.27.095(2)(c)

• All contractors must register with L&I. (1) Every contractor shall register with the department.¹
• Unregistered contracting is a gross misdemeanor. Advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor without being registered as required by this chapter…¹
• Registration with L&I, bonded and insured. Washington State requires all construction contractors to register with L&I. State law also requires construction contractors to be bonded and insured to protect the public.⁴
• $150.20. Pay the required application fee of $150.20.⁴
• $30,000. $30,000 for general contractors.⁴
• $15,000. $15,000 for specialty contractors.⁴
• Liability insurance $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined. $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 property damage…⁴
• Permit offices must verify contractor registration. (1) No city, town or county shall issue a construction building permit for work which is to be done by any contractor required to be registered under this chapter without verification that such contractor is currently registered as required by law.¹
• Permit office gives homeowner written notice about unregistered contractor risk. (b) Providing a written notice to the building permit applicant informing them of contractor registration laws and the potential risk and monetary liability to the homeowner for using an unregistered contractor.¹
• Applications over $5,000 must list the prime contractor's registration number. The prime contractor's business name, address, phone number, current state contractor registration number…¹
• Plumbing, electrical and some other trades need additional licensing. However, contractors working with plumbing, electrical, elevators, mobile home installation, boilers, and asbestos have additional requirements for education, examination, and licensing.⁴

Applies to

Every construction contractor¹

Handyman limits

RCW 18.27.090(9)

• $500. (9) Any work or operation on one undertaking or project by one or more contracts, the aggregate contract price of which for labor and materials and all other items is less than five hundred dollars, such work or operations being considered as of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature.¹
• No splitting jobs to stay under $500. The exemption prescribed in this subsection does not apply in any instance wherein the work or construction is only a part of a larger or major operation, whether undertaken by the same or a different contractor, or in which a division of the operation is made into contracts of amounts less than five hundred dollars for the purpose of evasion of this chapter or otherwise.¹
• Exemption lost if the person advertises. The exemption prescribed in this subsection does not apply to a person who advertises or puts out any sign or card or other device which might indicate to the public that he or she is a contractor, or that he or she is qualified to engage in the business of contractor…¹

Applies to

Projects under $500 total¹

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

RCW 36.70B.020(5)(b), 36.70B.070(1)(a), 36.70B.080(1)(d), 36.70B.240

• Statutory review deadlines do not cover building-code permits. (b) "Project permit" or "project permit application" does not include permits issued based on compliance with state and local building codes, or a special purpose district's or public utility district's determination of service availability, system capacity, infrastructure requirements, or review of proposed water, sewer, or stormwater civil plans.¹
• 28 days. (1)(a) Within 28 days after receiving a project permit application, a local government planning pursuant to RCW 36.70A.040 shall provide a written determination to the applicant.¹
• 65 days. For project permits which do not require public notice under RCW 36.70B.110, a local government must issue a final decision within 65 days of the determination of completeness under RCW 36.70B.070…¹
• 100 days. For project permits which require public notice under RCW 36.70B.110, a local government must issue a final decision within 100 days of the determination of completeness under RCW 36.70B.070…¹
• 170 days. (iii) For project permits which require public notice under RCW 36.70B.110 and a public hearing, a local government must issue a final decision within 170 days of the determination of completeness under RCW 36.70B.070.¹
• Partial fee refund (10% or 20%) when deadlines are missed. (l)(i) When permit time periods provided for in (d) of this subsection, as may be amended by a local government, and as may be extended as provided for in (i) of this subsection, are not met, a portion of the permit fee must be refunded to the applicant as provided in this subsection.¹
• Voluntary grant program: residential building permit decisions within 45 business days or 90 calendar days. (a) Issuing final decisions on residential permit applications within 45 business days or 90 calendar days.¹

Applies to

Land use project permits in counties and cities planning under the Growth Management Act¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Local governments may modify the time periods¹

Private plan review and inspections

No statewide private-inspector statute found; RCW 19.27.050, 36.70B.160(1)(i), 36.70B.240(1)(a)(ii) are related

• Local enforcement; jurisdictions without a building department contract with another government or an approved inspection agency. Any county or city not having a building department shall contract with another county, city, or inspection agency approved by the county or city for enforcement of the state building code within its jurisdictional boundaries.¹
• Local option to let licensed outside professionals certify parts of applications. Adopting a program to allow for outside professionals with appropriate professional licenses to certify components of applications consistent with their license…¹
• Grant-funded local governments may contract third-party review or inspection staff. (ii) A local government may contract with a third-party business to conduct the consolidated permit review or as additional inspection staff.¹

Applies to

Counties and cities¹

Limits on permit fees

RCW 19.27.085(3), 19.27.100, 19.27.087

• $6.50. (3) There is imposed a fee of six dollars and fifty cents on each residential building permit and a fee of twenty-five dollars for each commercial building permit, issued by a county or a city, plus an additional surcharge of two dollars for each residential unit, but not including the first unit, on each building containing more than one residential unit.¹
• Local fees may differ from state code. Except for permitting fees for agricultural structures under RCW 19.27.087, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a city, town, or county of the state from imposing fees different from those set forth in the state building code.¹
• Agricultural structure permit fees limited to cost. Permitting and plan review fees under this chapter for agricultural structures may only cover the costs to counties, cities, towns, and other municipal corporations of processing applications, inspecting and reviewing plans, preparing detailed statements required by chapter 43.21C RCW, and performing necessary inspections under this chapter.¹

Applies to

Building permits issued by counties and cities¹

Selling a home with unpermitted work

RCW 64.06.020

• Seller disclosure statement required for improved residential property. In a transaction for the sale of improved residential real property, the seller shall, unless the buyer has expressly waived the right to receive the disclosure statement under RCW 64.06.010, or unless the transfer is otherwise exempt under RCW 64.06.010, deliver to the buyer a completed seller disclosure statement in the following format and that contains, at a minimum, the following information…¹
• Form asks about conversions, additions or remodeling. *C. Have there been any conversions, additions, or remodeling?¹
• Form asks whether all building permits were obtained. *(1) If yes, were all building permits obtained?¹
• Form asks whether all final inspections were obtained. *(2) If yes, were all final inspections obtained?¹
• Manufactured/mobile home section asks about permits for alterations. *C. If alterations were made, were permits or variances for these alterations obtained?¹
• New statute version takes effect January 1, 2027. Improved residential real property—Seller's duty—Format of disclosure statement—Minimum information. (Effective January 1, 2027.)¹

Applies to

Sales of improved residential real property¹

Wildfire areas

RCW 19.27.560

• Statewide WUI provisions start only after statewide wildfire maps are complete. In addition to the provisions of RCW 19.27.031, the state building code shall, upon the completion of a statewide wildfire hazard map and a base-level wildfire risk map for each county of the state, per RCW 43.30.580, consist of chapter 1 and the following technical provisions of the International Wildland Urban Interface Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., which are hereby adopted by reference…¹
• Local option to adopt the IWUIC now. (2) All counties, cities, and towns may adopt the International Wildland Urban Interface Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., in whole or any portion thereof.¹
• Applies to permits in high and very high hazard areas. (5) All counties, cities, and towns issuing commercial and residential building permits for parcels in areas identified as high hazard and very high hazard on the map required by subsection (1) of this section or adopted according to subsection (4) of this section shall apply the code enumerated in subsections (1) or (2) of this section.¹
• WAC 51-55 reserved pending maps. Until the completion of a statewide wildfire hazard map and a base-level wildfire risk map for each county of the state, per RCW 43.30.580, WAC 51-55 will be in a reserved status and contain no amendments to the model code.⁷

Applies to

Parcels in high and very high wildfire hazard areas¹

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

RCW 36.70A.680, 36.70A.681, 36.70A.696

• Cities and counties planning under the GMA must adopt ADU rules by their next periodic plan update. (1)(a) Cities and counties planning under this chapter must adopt or amend by ordinance, and incorporate into their development regulations, zoning regulations, and other official controls the requirements of this section and of RCW 36.70A.681, to take effect at the same time as the jurisdiction's next periodic comprehensive plan update required under RCW 36.70A.130.¹
• State rules preempt conflicting local rules where a jurisdiction has not adopted. (b) In any city or county that has not adopted or amended ordinances, regulations, or other official controls as required under this section, the requirements of this section and RCW 36.70A.681 supersede, preempt, and invalidate any conflicting local development regulations.¹
• Only inside urban growth areas. (2) Ordinances, development regulations, and other official controls adopted or amended pursuant to this section and RCW 36.70A.681 must only apply in the portions of towns, cities, and counties that are within urban growth areas designated under this chapter.¹
• The city or county must allow at least two accessory dwelling units on all lots that are located in all zoning districts within an urban growth area that allow for single-family homes in the following configurations…¹
• No owner-occupancy requirement. The city or county may not require the owner of a lot on which there is an accessory dwelling unit to reside in or occupy the accessory dwelling unit or another housing unit on the same lot…¹
• 1,000 square feet. The city or county may not establish a maximum gross floor area requirement for accessory dwelling units that is less than 1,000 square feet…¹
• 24 feet. The city or county may not establish roof height limits on an accessory dwelling unit of less than 24 feet, unless the height limitation that applies to the principal unit is less than 24 feet, in which case a city or county may not impose roof height limitation on accessory dwelling units that is less than the height limitation that applies to the principal unit…¹
• 50%. The city or county may not assess impact fees on the construction of accessory dwelling units that are greater than 50 percent of the impact fees that would be imposed on the principal unit…¹
• Setbacks, coverage and design rules no stricter than for the house. A city or county may not impose setback requirements, yard coverage limits, tree retention mandates, restrictions on entry door locations, aesthetic requirements, or requirements for design review for accessory dwelling units that are more restrictive than those for principal units…¹
• Conversions of existing structures (e.g., garages) allowed even if nonconforming. A city or county must allow accessory dwelling units to be converted from existing structures, including but not limited to detached garages, even if they violate current code requirements for setbacks or lot coverage…¹
• No parking required within one-half mile of a major transit stop. Require off-street parking as a condition of permitting development of accessory dwelling units within one-half mile walking distance of a major transit stop…¹
• No street improvements as a condition of ADU permits. (l) A city or county may not require public street improvements as a condition of permitting accessory dwelling units.¹
• Building code and health rules still apply as for the principal unit. Applying public health, safety, building code, and environmental permitting requirements to an accessory dwelling unit that would be applicable to the principal unit, including regulations to protect ground and surface waters from on-site wastewater…¹
• Exclusions: critical areas and impaired potable-water watersheds. (4) The provisions of this section do not apply to lots designated with critical areas or their buffers as designated in RCW 36.70A.060, or to a watershed serving a reservoir for potable water if that watershed is or was listed, as of July 23, 2023, as impaired or threatened under section 303(d) of the federal clean water act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1313(d)).¹
• Definition of accessory dwelling unit. (1) "Accessory dwelling unit" means a dwelling unit located on the same lot as a single-family housing unit, duplex, triplex, townhome, or other housing unit.¹

Applies to

Urban growth areas of cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Generally applicable local development regulations apply to ADUs except where contrary to RCW 36.70A.680 or 36.70A.681¹