PERMIT DRAWINGS · SEATTLE, WA
Permit drawings in Seattle, WA, at a fixed price
Seattle sits in Seismic Design Category D, so most new structures here need engineered shear walls on top of the architectural set. We draw the set to what the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections reviews, coordinate with your engineer, and quote it all in writing within 2 working hours.
- ✓ Plan check here: about 17 weeks
- ✓ Energy forms for climate zone 4C
- ✓ SDC D: engineer coordination included
- ✓ Corrections answered free
What permit drawings cost in Seattle
A permit set for a project in Seattle, WA costs $1 per square foot of drawn floor area, with a $1,200 minimum, or $195 per sheet for new construction under 1,200 sq ft. That's our drawing fee only. Seattle's own permit and impact fees for a new ADU ran about $11,500 to $13,000 in our research (July 2026), paid to the city.
Residential permits here are reviewed by the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections, phone (206) 684-8600. Plan check takes about 17 weeks for a typical residential submittal, so from ordering drawings to first comments, plan on roughly 19 weeks.
| Project | Drawn area | Fixed fee | What sets the fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage conversionProject minimum | 400 sq ft | $1,200 | Project minimum |
| New ADU at Seattle's 1,000 sq ft cap10 to 13 sheets × $195 | 1,000 sq ft | $1,950 to $2,535 | 10 to 13 sheets × $195 |
| Addition with existing rooms shown$1 per sq ft | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 | $1 per sq ft |
Local data last checked .
What makes a Seattle permit set different
Washington enforces the Washington State Energy Code, and Seattle falls in climate zone 4C, which sets the insulation and window values on the sheets.
Seismic Design Category D means new structures and large openings in bearing walls usually need engineered shear walls, hold-downs and a structural engineer's calculations, so plan for an engineer on anything beyond interior work.
For ADUs, Seattle allows up to 1,000 sq ft and 32 ft in height, with 5 ft side and 5 ft rear setbacks, per our research. Any new ADU here is under our 1,200 sq ft threshold, so it's priced by sheet, typically $1,950 to $2,535.
About 31% of homes in Seattle sit in an HOA. If yours does, start the association's architectural approval at the same time as the permit; it runs on its own clock.
Parts of Seattle fall inside a coastal overlay, which can add a separate review before the building permit. Check your parcel before you plan the schedule.
Properties in historic districts go through design review on top of the building permit, which adds a step before plan check.
The full sheet list, and what our fee does and doesn't cover, is on the permit sets page. In Seattle, the sheets that change are the site plan (ADU setbacks of 5 ft side and 5 ft rear), the energy forms for climate zone 4C and the structural sheets your engineer seals.
Submitting in Seattle
You (or your contractor) submit through Seattle's permit portal. We deliver print-ready PDFs set up for electronic submittal, plus native DWG files.
When the reviewers send comments, forward the correction letter. We revise free, as many rounds as it takes, within the scope you approved.
Questions people ask before they order
How much do permit drawings cost in Seattle?
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At ArchWorkPro, $1 per sq ft of drawn area with a $1,200 minimum, or $195 per sheet for new construction under 1,200 sq ft. City permit and impact fees for a new ADU here ran about $11,500 to $13,000 in our research, paid separately to the city.
How long does plan check take in Seattle?
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About 17 weeks for a typical residential submittal, per our research in July 2026. Confirm with the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections at (206) 684-8600, since workloads change.
Do I need an engineer in Seattle?
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For most new structures, yes. Seismic Design Category D means engineered lateral design for new buildings and large openings in bearing walls. You hire the engineer; we draft to their design.
Which energy forms does Seattle want with the drawings?
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Washington State Energy Code compliance forms, including the energy credits worksheet for climate zone 4C, under the Washington State Energy Code. We prepare them with the set.
How big can an ADU be in Seattle?
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Up to 1,000 sq ft, 32 ft tall, with 5 ft side and 5 ft rear setbacks, per our research. Confirm current limits with the city before you design; we check them when we quote.
Related: What is in a permit set · For owner-builders · ADU plans · Stamp rules in Washington · All cities
Get your Seattle permit set quoted
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