General building work permit checklist — Seattle, Washington
Assembled from Seattle’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
Seattle requires a permit for general building work.
A permit is not required for minor repairs or alterations that cost $6,000 or less in any 6-month period, measured by the fair market value of labor and parts even when the owner does the work. A one-story detached accessory building such as a greenhouse, tool or storage shed, or playhouse is exempt when the projected roof area is less than 120 square feet and the foundation is only a slab on the ground.
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Sources
- building — permit rules ↗verified August 2026
Other permits Seattle publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Fence permit checklist
- Shed permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Retaining wall permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Seattle before you build.