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 build 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 review from an architect may cost hundreds of dollars; Build Eastside gives homeowners a useful first look for free.
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.
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.
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 help with local rules, design decisions, costs, permits, and construction.
Homeowner guidesSearch the full library by city, project stage, or question across all 15 supported cities.Bellevue homeowner guidesProperty research, home design rules, permit timing, fees, inspections, and tracking.Kirkland homeowner guidesProperty and tree rules, permit steps, real timing data, and tracking.Seattle homeowner guidesDevelopment sites, current zoning, house placement, trees, environmental conditions, and permit milestones.Clyde Hill homeowner guidesSetbacks, height, trees, views, feasibility, and local permit resources.Medina homeowner guidesZoning, trees, views, feasibility, and local permit resources.
After you submit
Keep your permit from being forgotten.
Every extra day can cost real money. On a $2 million home, carrying costs can approach $400 per day.
Architects and city reviewers manage many projects, so a missed handoff can sit longer than anyone realizes. The free tracker checks Bellevue, Kirkland, and Seattle permits every day. It alerts you when the public record changes and when nothing has changed for long enough to deserve attention, so you know when to nudge the city or your architect before the permit gets forgotten.
Using MyBuildingPermit for Bellevue or Kirkland? Learn how to read the public permit record.
Example assumes a $2 million home with 20% down: $96,000 loan interest + $24,000 opportunity cost on the down payment + $12,000 property tax + $6,000 insurance + $6,000 utilities = $144,000 per year, or about $395 per day. Actual costs vary.
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.
Feasibility study shows what is possible based on public information available through city and county sources. 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?
Build Eastside checks the public permit record every day until issuance and emails you when it changes. For Bellevue and Kirkland, it can also flag when a review appears stalled and tell you when it may be worth nudging the city or your architect so the permit does not get forgotten. Seattle alerts use reliable published status and milestone changes.
How much does Build Eastside cost?
Everything is free. Feasibility studies are limited to one per month. The unofficial price is useful feedback and a recommendation to a friend. Build Eastside's accounting department accepts both as legal tender.