Beta
Permits and licenses
Most projects in Seattle need a permit. The shortcut: minor work under $6,000 in any 6-month period doesn't — except for load-bearing supports, the building envelope, or anything that reduces egress, light, ventilation, or fire resistance. SDCI offers free 20-minute coaching for the in-between cases.
Building, remodeling, or repairing
Most projects need a permit — here's the shortcut
SDCI's default rule is “most projects in Seattle require a permit.” The practical decision tree comes down to the $6,000 rule plus a short list of always-OK projects. The complete no-permit list lives in the Do You Need a Permit? page on SDCI's site; the version below is the practical summary.
Permit-free under the $6,000-in-6-months rule
Minor repairs or alterations costing $6,000 or less in any 6-month period do not require a permit. That's labor and parts at fair market value, even if you DIY.
Exceptions — permit required regardless of cost: load-bearing supports; changes to the building envelope; work that reduces egress, light, ventilation, or fire resistance.
Permit-free regardless of cost
SDCI explicitly does not require a permit for the following projects:
- Patio or concrete slabs on grade
- Painting or cleaning a building
- Re-pointing a chimney
- Installing kitchen cabinets
- Paneling or surface finishes over existing wall and ceiling
- Insulating existing buildings
- Hazardous-material abatement
- Limited in-kind repair of deteriorated parts
- Detached one-story accessory buildings (greenhouse, tool / storage shed, playhouse): projected roof area <120 sq ft AND slab-on-grade foundation only
- Retaining walls / rockeries: ≤4 ft height (bottom of footing to top of wall)
- Fences: <8 ft high, with any concrete or masonry portions <6 ft
- Arbors or open landscape structures: ≤120 sq ft
- Platforms, walks, driveways: <18 inches above grade AND not over a basement or other building story
- Roofing or siding replacement in detached one- and two-family houses: in-kind only, not changing the building envelope, work as good as existing structure
- Dish or panel antennas: ≤6.56 ft (2 m) diameter or diagonal
Still required even when no SDCI permit applies
- Underground storage tanks: no SDCI permit for removal or replacement of state- or federally-regulated tanks, but a Seattle Fire Department permit IS required.
- Environmentally critical areas: all of the thresholds above tighten when the property is in one.
- Code references for the complete no-permit list: Seattle Residential Code Section R105.2, Seattle Building Code Section 106.2, and the Seattle Electrical Code 2023 Changes Quick Reference.
- Everything still has to meet code. Permit-free doesn't mean rule-free. All projects must meet code requirements and development standards.
Honest take: The fastest permit-tier shortcut is the $6,000-in-6-months rule. Minor repairs or alterations costing $6,000 or less in any 6-month period — labor and parts at fair market value, even if you DIY — don't need a permit. Above $6,000, you do. The exceptions: load-bearing supports, the building envelope, and anything that reduces egress, light, ventilation, or fire resistance — those need permits regardless of cost. Below $6,000 doesn't mean “skip the code” — the project still must meet all standards.
Honest take: Many small-project permits are skippable in the moment. The catch: unpermitted work shows up at resale inspection. A finished basement, a relocated kitchen, an added bathroom without permits can cause closing problems years later. If you're planning to sell within 5 years, pull the permit even when SDCI says you could skip it. Cheap insurance compared to a closing delay.
Once you've decided you need one
Choose your tier, then apply via Seattle Services Portal
SDCI runs three permit tiers, escalating in complexity. Most home projects land in one of the first two. The third is for projects that touch zoning or use.
Lowest friction
Subject-to-Field-Inspection (STFI)
- Reviewed during the field inspection itself rather than via pre-review.
- For minor work meeting clear standards (fence, small deck, simple addition).
- Eligibility scope documented in SDCI Tip 316.
- Fees vary by project type — see SDCI's How Much Will Your Permit Cost? page for current amounts.
Standard
Construction Permit (Addition or Alteration)
- For additions and remodels needing pre-review (drawings, energy compliance, structural).
- Pre-Application Site Visit (PASV) required for most new construction, grading over 750 sq ft of disturbance, shoreline, wetland, or steep-slope projects.
- PASV is valid for 24 months.
Most complex
Land Use / Master Use Permit (MUP)
- For projects that affect zoning or use.
- Most complex tier.
- PASV required.
SDCI help channels (use them before applying)
- Free 20-minute video coaching session for simple questions about code, application process, and submittal requirements.
- Paid 1-hour coaching for land-use and geotechnical questions. NOT available for building, energy, or mechanical questions.
- Live chat: Monday / Wednesday / Friday 9 AM–3 PM, Tuesday / Thursday 10:30 AM–3 PM.
- SDCI Information Desk on the 4th floor of Seattle Municipal Tower for language assistance or technical help with online services. NOT a permit-issuance counter — most permit work happens online.
Checking application status
- Applicants: Seattle Services Portal → My Records.
- Once review starts, contact your assigned reviewer directly rather than going through the general SDCI line.
- Public lookup: SDCI's “Research a Project” page (linked from How Do You Get a Permit?) lets anyone look up property info, zoning, permit history, and historical records.
- For SDCI complaints (code violations, illegal construction) rather than permits, see /services/report-a-problem.
- For utility connections during construction (City Light and SPU setup, opening fees), see /services/utilities-and-bills.
Honest take: SDCI offers a free 20-minute video coaching session for permit-tier questions. Most people don't know this exists. If your project is on the boundary of needing or not needing a permit, this 20 minutes saves you weeks of back-and-forth — schedule it before applying.
If you're running a business in Seattle
Two licenses, one prerequisite chain
Seattle businesses need both a state UBI and a city business license tax certificate. The UBI is the prerequisite — get that first, then the city license.
WA Unified Business Identifier (UBI) — get this first
- $15 application fee plus $5 per additional trade name (DBA).
- Apply at dor.wa.gov via the MyDOR portal. Requires a SAW (Secure Access Washington) account.
- Online: UBI issued immediately. Paper applications: up to 10 business days.
- Annual renewal via DOR.
- Trade endorsements (electrical, plumbing, general contractor) run through the WA Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), not the city.
Seattle Business License Tax Certificate
Required for anyone doing business in Seattle, including contractors working in Seattle and rental property owners.
2026 annual fees by taxable revenue:
| Annual taxable revenue | Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 – $19,999 | $73 |
| $20,000 – $499,999 | $147 |
| $500,000 – $1,999,999 | $667 |
| $2,000,000 – $4,999,999 | $1,604 |
| $5,000,000 or more | $3,210 |
| Branch locations | +$10 per location |
- Half-year start: businesses starting July 1 or later in the year pay HALF the first-year fee.
- 2026 exemption (new): businesses with $4,000 or less annual gross AND no place of business in the city are exempt.
- Renewal: annual, by December 31.
- Late penalties: January = none. February = $10. March or later = $20.
- Apply via FileLocal at filelocal-wa.gov. Reference page: seattle.gov/city-finance.
If you have a cat, dog, miniature goat, or potbellied pig
Required, annual, and affordable when altered
Seattle Municipal Code 9.25.050 requires licenses for cats, dogs, miniature goats, and potbellied pigs. 1-year licenses only as of January 1, 2025. Unlicensed pets can carry up to a $125 citation.
| License type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dog, altered (proof of surgery required) | $45 | 1 year |
| Dog, unaltered | $105 | 1 year |
| Cat, altered (proof of surgery required) | $30 | 1 year |
| Cat, unaltered | $80 | 1 year |
| Miniature goat | $25 | 1 year · requires proof of dehorning + neutering if male |
| Potbellied pig (renewal) | $40 | 1 year |
| Replacement tag | $7 | — |
| Late renewal penalty | $30 | — |
Discounts and low-cost surgery
- Seniors 60+ and people with disabilities holding a Gold or FLASH Card: 50% off altered fees.
- No discount on unaltered fees.
- Seattle Animal Shelter runs a Spay / Neuter Clinic with low-cost or free surgeries based on financial need. The math typically favors altering once and paying the lower license fee long-term (linked from the licensing fees page).
Apply
- Licensing portal: seattle.gov/animal-shelter/license
- Phone: (206) 386-4262
- Email: petlicensing@seattle.gov
- In person: Seattle Animal Shelter, 2061 15th Avenue W, Seattle WA 98119. Main line: (206) 386-7387.
Airbnb, Vrbo, and other STRs
$75 per unit, primary-residence rule
Seattle requires a Short-Term Rental Operator License for any residential rental of fewer than 30 consecutive nights. The license is $75 per unit per year.
The STR must be the operator's primary residence. Operators may license up to two dwelling units total (for example, your primary home plus one secondary unit like a DADU). The investor-with-five-Airbnbs model is not legal in Seattle.
Booking platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) handle their own monthly and quarterly reports and quarterly fees to the city. Operators don't manage that directly.
Apply at seattle.gov/business-regulations/short-term-rentals.
Block parties, events, signs, and more
Permits for specific situations
Free
Block Party / Play Street
- Closes a street to through-traffic only.
- Apply via SDOT's Block Parties and Play Streets page.
- Thresholds that turn it into a paid Special Event permit: more than 100 people at any time, OR vendors (beyond a permitted food vendor) at the event.
For larger events
Special Event permit
- Required for festivals, large block parties, walks and runs, concerts, parades, demonstrations or marches.
- Fees vary by street classification, segments used, and duration.
- Permit Fee Estimator on seattle.gov/special-events.
- Special Events Office: (206) 684-8017.
- 2026 application channel: Eproval.
Business signage
Sign permit
- For business signage. Submitted via SDCI as part of the Construction Permit category in the Seattle Services Portal.
Production
Film permit
- Separate process via the Office of Film + Music.
Mobile vending
Food truck / mobile food
- SDCI permits hub lists “Street Food Carts or Trucks.”
- Also requires a food handler permit from Public Health — Seattle & King County.
Renewal cadence
What needs to be renewed and when
Seattle and Washington renewals don't share a calendar — each license type has its own cadence and destination.
- Pet license — annual (1-year only since January 2025). See the Pet license section above.
- Seattle Business License Tax Certificate — annual, by December 31. See the City + state business licenses section above. Renew via FileLocal.
- WA Unified Business Identifier (UBI) — annual via WA DOR. See the City + state business licenses section above. Renew at dor.wa.gov.
- Short-term rental license — annual at $75/unit. See the Short-term rental license section above.
- RPZ (Restricted Parking Zone) permit — 2-year cycle. SDOT mails a renewal letter ~6 weeks before expiration. See /services/parking-permits-and-zones (Resident permits) for details.
- WA driver license — 6 or 8 years (state, not city). See /services/new-to-seattle for the conversion + renewal flow.
- WA vehicle registration — annual via WA DOL, separate from your driver license. Update at dol.wa.gov.
Direct lines
Where to apply and who to call
| Purpose | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Services Portal | services.seattle.gov | SDCI permits, RPZ, code complaints |
| FileLocal | filelocal-wa.gov | Seattle business license tax certificate |
| WA DOR / MyDOR | dor.wa.gov | State UBI |
| SDCI live chat | M / W / F 9 AM–3 PM · Tue / Thu 10:30 AM–3 PM | Building, land use, code questions |
| SDCI Information Desk | Seattle Municipal Tower, 4th floor | Language + tech help (NOT permit issuance) |
| Pet licensing | (206) 386-4262 | petlicensing@seattle.gov |
| Seattle Animal Shelter | (206) 386-7387 | 2061 15th Avenue W |
| Short-term rental licensing | seattle.gov/business-regulations/short-term-rentals | $75 per unit per year |
| SDOT Block Parties + Play Streets | seattle.gov/transportation/permits-and-services/permits/play-streets-and-block-parties | Free permit |
| Special Events Office | (206) 684-8017 | Festivals, parades, runs · 2026 channel: Eproval |