Compare your plans with local rules, property records, and mapped issues before you make an expensive commitment.
Free help for Eastside homeowners, now including Seattle
Plan your home project with fewer surprises.
See what may be possible on a lot before you buy or design, learn what to expect, and keep a submitted permit from being forgotten.
Free to useBuilt for homeownersNo account to start
Learn about design choices, project costs, city rules, permit preparation, and issues that can cause rework.
Free daily monitoring alerts you when the public record changes or the permit may need a follow-up.
Before you buy or pay for design
Find out whether the lot may work for your plans.
The free study compares what you hope to build with public property information and local rules. A similar early review from an architect may cost hundreds of dollars; Build Eastside gives homeowners a useful first look for free.
Detailed local research is available for Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue, Bothell, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kirkland, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Sammamish, Seattle, Yarrow Point, and Woodinville.
This is an early screening, not a survey, legal opinion, or city approval. Confirm important findings with the city and the professionals working on your project.
What you receive
- What the lot appears to allow
- Whether your target home may fit
- Maps of setbacks and site conditions
- Questions to take to the city or your architect
- Links to the official sources
Free homeowner guides
Learn what can surprise you during design and permitting.
Choose a city or search the full library for plain-English help with local rules, design decisions, costs, permits, and construction.
BellevueProperty research, home design rules, permit timing, fees, inspections, and tracking.KirklandProperty and tree rules, permit steps, real timing data, and tracking.Clyde HillHouse placement, size, height, views, trees, and early city questions.MedinaHouse size, paved areas, height, trees, views, and early city review.Mercer IslandHouse size and placement, including special limits for sloped properties.RedmondHouse size, placement, trees, and early property questions.BothellHouse size, height, trees, views, and questions to ask before design.Beaux Arts VillageHouse size, lot coverage, placement, height, and early Town review.Hunts PointHouse size, waterfront placement, height, trees, and site review.IssaquahHouse size, paved areas, trees, height, and adding more than one home.NewcastleHouse size, paved areas, placement, height, and sensitive land.SammamishHouse size, paved areas, placement, height, and trees.SeattleDevelopment sites, current zoning, house size, placement, trees, and mapped environmental conditions.Yarrow PointHouse size, paved areas, height, street access, and shoreline property.WoodinvilleHouse size, placement, height, landscaping, and trees.All homeowner guidesSearch the full library by city, project stage, or question.
After you submit
Keep your permit from being forgotten.
The free tracker checks Bellevue, Kirkland, and Seattle permits every day and emails you when the public record changes.
- See published status and milestones
- Get review and follow-up guidance where the city publishes dependable detail
- Get an alert when something changes
Check your permit for free
Understand your permit status
Free lookupNo sign-upCity data
Want to see how tracking works?Try an example below.
Where the free tools work
Local information you can trace back to the source.
Each study shows what is preliminary and links to the city or county source for confirmation. Permit monitoring is currently available where the public record supports a reliable explanation.
Common questions
Know what the tools can and cannot answer.
What does a feasibility study tell me?
It shows what may fit on the lot, what could limit your plans, and what you should confirm before buying the property or paying for design.
Is the study an official city answer?
No. It is an early review of public information. A survey, title records, site studies, your project team, or the city may change the answer.
What does permit monitoring do?
It checks Bellevue, Kirkland, and Seattle permits daily and alerts you to public-record changes. Bellevue and Kirkland also include published review activity and follow-up guidance; Seattle uses reliable status and milestone data only.
How much does Build Eastside cost?
The feasibility study, guides, permit lookup, and permit monitoring are free. You only need a free account if you want monitoring and email alerts.