How long does a building permit take in Seattle?
Updated November 11, 2026 · Built from official fee schedules and city permit records
Seattle is one of the slower big cities for new homes and ADUs, because they go through full plan review and often land use review too. Smaller alterations are much quicker.
Wait time by permit type
| Permit | Permits measured | Fastest 25% | Median | Slowest 25% start at | Slowest 10% start at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remodel or addition | 2,362 | 1 day | 13 days | 64 days | 138 days |
| Deck or porch | 207 | 2 days | 29 days | 75 days | 213 days |
| New house | 878 | 115 days | 159 days | 212 days | 276 days |
| Adu / backyard cottage | 509 | 107 days | 183 days | 294 days | 554 days |
| Demolition | 270 | 29 days | 70 days | 138 days | 223 days |
Figures cover every building permit the city issued from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026, measured from application date to issue date. The median is the middle permit: half were faster, half slower. The slowest 25% usually had plan corrections or a full plan review.
How to get your permit faster
- Submit complete plans the first time. Each correction cycle sends the file back to the end of the reviewer's queue.
- Check whether your project qualifies for the city's simpler or over-the-counter path (listed below for each permit type).
- Answer reviewer comments the same week. Clock time while the city waits on you counts in these numbers.
More Seattle permit guides
- Building permit cost in Seattle
- New house permit cost
- 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 long does it take to get a building permit in Seattle?
The median residential permit took 62 days. Remodels took a median 13 days; new houses 159 days.
Why do Seattle ADU permits take so long?
ADUs usually need full plan review and correction cycles. The median ADU permit took 183 days.