Overview
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) manages city construction and land-use permitting. Establish that the property is within Seattle; other King County jurisdictions use their own services.
Main portal
Seattle Services Portal
Construction intake
Building and Land Use Pre-Application first
Trades
Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.
Seattle electrical installations
Seattle SDCIApplicable Code
Seattle Electrical Code; use SDCI’s current permit and code-change resources.
License Requirement
Washington L&I electrical contractor license is distinct from general contractor registration; homeowner eligibility must be checked for the work.
License Fee
L&I electrical contractor licensing schedule
CEUs
L&I electrical certification and renewal education rules
Permit Fee
2026 no-plan 150–200A service: $292 + $55.48 administration; with 5% technology fee, $364.85. Circuit/equipment or reviewed-plan fees may be additional.
Plan Review Time
Seattle distinguishes over-the-counter electrical permits from installations requiring review.
Common Pitfalls
- General contractor registration alone does not authorize electrical contracting.
- Keep rough wiring exposed until SDCI approves the required inspection.
Permit-to-closeout workflow
Research property
Review zoning, permit history and planned use
Pre-apply
Submit the preliminary site plan and receive assessment requirements
Prepare intake
Complete SDCI forms, drawings and electronic intake submission
Coordinate agencies
Separate plumbing/gas, electrical and fire-system approvals
Inspect work
Complete construction, trade and system acceptance inspections
Obtain finals
Resolve corrections and required occupancy approval
Permit fees and worked estimates
Seattle’s 2026 Fee Subtitle uses a $292 base/hourly rate and a 5% technology charge on listed SDCI fees. The Development Fee Index (DFI) is $325 for the first $1,000 plus $1.60 per additional $100 or fraction through $25,000. Standard building permit and review each use 100% of DFI; qualifying STFI uses 100% permit plus 40% review. Plumbing is a separate Public Health fee schedule effective January 1, 2026.
| Trade | Permit fee | License fee |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle electrical installations | 2026 no-plan 150–200A service: $292 + $55.48 administration; with 5% technology fee, $364.85. Circuit/equipment or reviewed-plan fees may be additional. | L&I electrical contractor licensing schedule |
| Plumbing, gas piping and backflow | 2026 Public Health: $137 base + $27 per fixture/outlet. Three plumbing fixtures = $218 permit; plan review at $273/hour and repipe inspection supplements are additional. | L&I plumbing contractor schedule and separate required bond |
| Mechanical and ventilation work | 2026 no-plan furnace/heat pump: $60.35 per unit; with 5% technology fee, $63.37. Refrigeration, electrical and gas approvals are separate. | L&I contractor registration schedule; equipment credentials may be separate |
| Fire alarms, sprinklers and acceptance | 2026 no-plan alarm electrical component: $17.52 per control unit + $2.92 per device, $55.48 administration; standard OTC minimum $105.12. Seattle Fire services are additional. | State trade credentials and applicable SFD certification schedule |
| Construction and land-use coordination | 2026 full-review building fee = 100% Development Fee Index permit + 100% index review + 5% technology. $10,000 valuation example: $984.90 subtotal before other reviews. | L&I lists a $150.20 contractor registration application fee; bond and insurance are additional. |
Who handles the trade approvals?
Seattle plumbing and gas piping permits and inspections run through Public Health — Seattle & King County. SDCI administers electrical and mechanical construction permits. Fire alarm approvals involve both SDCI and Seattle Fire. Check each agency’s final requirements rather than treating one construction record as approval for every system.
Choose your permit route
Use SDCI’s permit-type guidance for new construction, alterations, trade work or land-use approvals. Most applications go through the Seattle Services Portal. Construction and land-use applications start with a Building and Land Use Pre-Application, including projects using the Subject-to-Field-Inspection route.
Submission checklist
Application and review
Create a Seattle Services Portal account. After the preliminary assessment, prepare the complete submission and follow the electronic intake instructions. Answer review comments and obtain the issued permit before proceeding with permitted work.
Codes and Seattle amendments
SDCI’s building-code page identifies the 2021 IBC with Seattle amendments and provides the Seattle Building Code with errata. It directs qualifying houses, duplexes and townhouses to the separate Residential Code. Check the relevant energy, trade and existing-building code resources for the project.
Inspections and closeout
Schedule the permit’s required construction inspections through the City’s inspection resources. Arrange separate trade, fire or special inspections where required. Complete corrections and final approvals, including occupancy approval when applicable.