Permits

King County WA Permits help property owners, contractors, and applicants complete building, land use, fire, and related development projects in unincorporated areas of the county. This guide explains the main permit types, application process, online systems, inspections, records, payments, and customer support options available through King County Permitting.

King County Permit Services

King County Permitting manages permits for building, fire, land use, and related property development activities. The main King County Permits page provides access to applications, forms, permit resources, inspections, permit fees, records research, property tools, and customer service information.

Before applying, applicants should confirm that their property is located in unincorporated King County and review zoning and property conditions that may affect the project. King County provides property research tools, including iMap and the Parcel Viewer, to help applicants understand their property location, jurisdiction, and possible requirements.

Projects may involve different types of approvals depending on the work being performed. Building permits, land use permits, fire permits, and special event permits each have separate requirements and review processes.

Building Permit Applications

Building permits are required for many construction and alteration projects. King County provides online application options through MyBuildingPermit.com for many permit types. Applicants can create an account, select the project type, provide location information, and receive a list of required documents and materials for their permit application.

Available online permit types include many residential and commercial projects, such as:

Single-family residential construction, additions, remodels, repairs, and accessory buildings.
Commercial structure additions and tenant improvements.
Clearing and grading projects.
Mechanical permits.
Demolition permits.
Fire and special event permits.
Land use applications.

Applicants should prepare all required materials before submitting an application. Incomplete or incorrect applications are not accepted and may delay the permit process.

Permit Submission Process

The permit submission information explains how to prepare and submit applications through available online systems.

For permit types available through MyBuildingPermit.com, applicants can submit online, view application status, upload resubmittals, and pay invoices. Some permit types that are not available through MyBuildingPermit.com may require electronic submission by email with completed application materials and supporting documents.

When preparing a permit application, property owners should review:

Application forms and required documents.
Electronic plan requirements.
Property zoning and jurisdiction.
Special site conditions that may affect review.

Properties may have conditions such as critical areas, flood zones, steep slopes, wetlands, shorelines, established clearing limits, or other development restrictions. Reviewing these conditions before submitting an application can help prevent delays.

Land Use Permit Types

Land use permits address development decisions that involve property use, subdivision, zoning, and other land-related approvals. The land use permit information identifies several application types handled by King County.

Examples of land use permits include:

Boundary or lot line adjustments.
Subdivisions, plats, and short plats.
Clearing and grading permits.
Conditional use permits.
Critical areas designation and alteration exception processes.
Rezones.
Shoreline development permits.
Zoning variances.
Right-of-Way use permits.

Applicants should research their property before submitting land use applications. Confirming zoning and reviewing applicable property conditions helps applicants understand what documentation may be required for their project.

Fire and Special Event Permits

King County also manages fire permits and special event permits related to fire safety and temporary structures. Fire permit applications may cover fire systems, storage tanks, fireworks displays, and other regulated activities.

The fire and special event permit information explains application requirements and inspection procedures.

Fire system permits may include:

Fire sprinkler systems.
Fire alarm systems.
Fire monitoring systems.
Fixed fire extinguishing systems.
Standpipe systems.
Fire hydrant installations.
Flammable and combustible liquid storage tanks.

Special event permits may be required for certain temporary structures, large gatherings, temporary heating or cooking facilities, generators, amusement rides, inflatable structures, open flames, or other activities involving safety concerns.

Special event applications must include required materials such as a completed application form, payment of the permit fee, and site plans showing relevant event details. Applications submitted less than 30 calendar days before an event start date may result in delayed, limited, or unpermitted activities.

Permit Fees and Payments

Permit fees vary depending on the type of permit and project. King County provides current fee information for building and land use permits through its permit fees page.

Payment instructions depend on how an application was submitted. Applicants who submitted permits through MyBuildingPermit.com should make payments through that system. Applications submitted through other methods may require payment through the King County permit portal.

King County provides invoices and payment instructions. Customers should avoid sharing credit card information by phone or email with individuals claiming to represent the county.

Permit Inspections

Many construction and development projects require inspections after a permit is issued. Inspections verify that work complies with approved plans and applicable requirements.

The inspection scheduling information explains how to request, cancel, reschedule, and review inspections.

Applicants can schedule inspections through MyBuildingPermit.com, by phone, or by text. When requesting an inspection, applicants should provide accurate permit information, contact details, and access instructions for the property.

Common building inspection types may include:

Pre-construction conference.
Foundation and footing inspections.
Framing inspections.
Insulation and energy inspections.
Final inspections.
Mechanical, gas, and plumbing-related inspections performed by applicable agencies.

Approved building, fire, and land use permits must be displayed prominently at construction and development sites. The applicant or contractor is responsible for keeping these records available on-site.

Permit Status and Records

Applicants can check permit status through King County systems. The King County Permit Portal allows users to view permit details, check application progress, pay certain fees, schedule inspections, and review inspection information.

For applications processed through ProjectDox, applicants should use the ProjectDox system for updated application status information.

Permit records are available through King County records services. The permit records research page provides information about searching available records and submitting requests for property permit information.

Applicants requesting records should provide identifying information such as permit numbers, site addresses, or parcel numbers when available. Permit records may include residential permits, commercial permits, land use records, grading permits, subdivisions, and related property documents.

Code Complaints and Violations

King County Code Enforcement handles complaints involving possible violations of building, land use, and environmental rules in unincorporated King County.

Complaints may involve issues such as construction without permits, clearing or grading without permits, zoning violations, unsafe buildings, or other eligible violations.

The Code Enforcement information page explains how to submit complaints and search cases. Code enforcement cases can be searched using information such as a parcel number, site address, or case number.

Customer Service Options

King County Permitting provides customer support through online services, email, phone, and in-person assistance. The customer service portal allows users to submit questions, track progress, and provide additional information after creating an account or signing in.

Applicants seeking help with permit applications should have project details, property information, and permit-related documents available when requesting assistance.

Permits Department List

King County Local Services Permitting Division — 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 300, Renton, WA 98057 — 206-296-6600

Permits FAQs

How can I submit a King County permit application online?

Many permit applications can be submitted through the online permitting system. Applicants should research their property information first, confirm jurisdiction and zoning, prepare required documents, and complete the electronic submission process. The How to submit permits information explains the steps for preparing application materials, submitting documents, and checking application progress.

What should I check before applying for a permit?

Before submitting an application, review property details to understand possible requirements that may affect your project. King County recommends using property research tools to confirm zoning, jurisdiction, and conditions such as critical areas, flood zones, shorelines, steep slopes, wetlands, and clearing limits. Having the correct information ready can help prevent incomplete applications and processing delays.

How do I check my permit status or update submitted documents?

Applicants can check permit information through King County permitting systems. The online portal allows users to view permit details, review status updates, pay applicable fees for certain applications, schedule inspections, and access inspection information. Projects processed through ProjectDox should use that system for current application status updates.

When do I need inspections after receiving a permit?

Inspection requirements depend on the type and scope of the project. Applicants are responsible for requesting required inspections and keeping approved plans and permits available at the project site. Building inspections may include stages such as foundation, framing, insulation, and final inspections. Visit the inspections scheduling information for details about requesting, canceling, and reviewing inspection appointments.

How can I find older permit records for a property?

King County provides permit records research options for residential, commercial, and land use records in unincorporated areas. Records searches may require details such as a permit number, site address, or parcel number. The permit records research page provides information about available records and request procedures.