What does a new house permit cost in Seattle?
Updated November 11, 2026 · Built from official fee schedules and city permit records
How Seattle figures the fee
Seattle prices building permits from the project's value. SDCI turns the value into a development fee index using Table D-1 of the 2026 Fee Subtitle (for example, $325 for the first $1,000, then $1.60 per extra $100 up to $25,000). You pay that amount once as the permit fee and once more as the plan review fee. Projects that qualify as subject to field inspection (smaller work reviewed in the field instead of in full plan review) pay only 40% of the index for plan review. Fees went up about 18% on January 1, 2026.
Example fees at typical new house values
| Project value | Development fee index | Permit + plan review fee |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $2,984.00 | $5,968 |
| $381,536 | $3,974.00 | $7,948 |
| $500,000 | $4,859.00 | $9,718 |
| $750,000 | $6,609.00 | $13,218 |
How long it takes
Across 878 new house permits Seattle issued in the last 12 months, the median wait was 159 days. A quarter took 115 days or less, and a quarter took 212 days or more.
The project value declared on these permits had a median of $381,536; the middle half ran from $301,811 to $567,028. Many fees are figured from this number, so it is the best guide to what a similar project will pay.
What else you will pay
- SDCI values new homes with its own building valuation table (Director's Rule 5-2025), so the fee can be based on a higher figure than your contract price.
- Land use review, energy code review, drainage and side sewer permits, and street use permits are billed separately, often at the $292/hour SDCI rate.
- Seattle's 2026 example: a 1,500 sq ft house with garage valued at $308,307 pays $6,853 in plan review and permit fees.
More Seattle permit guides
- Building permit cost in Seattle
- How long permits take in Seattle
- Remodel and addition permit cost
- ADU / DADU permit cost
- Deck permit cost
Sources
- Fees: SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (Table D-1 and D-2)
- Permit data: Seattle Building Permits (data.seattle.gov), permits issued November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026. Processing time is measured from application date to issue date.
This is an independent guide built from public records. It is not affiliated with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI). Fees change, and the city calculates your final fee when you apply; confirm the amount with the city before you budget.
Common questions
How much is a new house permit in Seattle?
At the median project value of $381,536, the 2026 SDCI permit and plan review fees come to about $7,948. The fee rises with project value.
How long does a new house permit take in Seattle?
The median new house permit issued in the last 12 months took 159 days from application to issue.
Did Seattle permit fees go up in 2026?
Yes. SDCI raised construction permit fees about 18% on January 1, 2026, and most other fees 6.5%.