Start designing before you have a lot
How to find house floor plans for design inspiration in Seattle and the Eastside
See a house you like? Its public permit file may contain floor plans, elevations and site drawings that show how the design works. You can use them to discover what you want in your own home, even before choosing a lot or hiring an architect.
On this page8 sections
Use the city and county links below to find the current permit record or submit a focused records request. Availability varies by jurisdiction, project date, and document type.
Choose homes worth learning from
Use homes you have toured, public listings or completed projects you admire to identify addresses. A beautiful exterior is a starting point, not proof that the layout suits your life. Compare a few homes with similar size, lot width, slope, garage approach and bedroom needs. Include one that solves a difficult constraint particularly well.
No lot yet? Compare the same design idea on different sites. Notice what a narrow lot does to the garage and entry, how a sloping lot uses lower levels, or how a home balances a view with privacy. This helps you decide which property characteristics matter before you buy.
For each example, record the address, jurisdiction, permit number, approximate project year and the design question you want to answer. Confirm the city boundary. A mailing city may not be the agency that holds the permit.
Find plans by city
Choose a city for search links and request instructions.
Plans are not always available online. You may need to request retained records.
Bellevue
Find the permit, then request its plans from Development Services.
Kirkland
Check the permit's documents first. Request building records if the plans are missing.
Seattle
Approved plans may need a separate Microfilm Library request.
Jurisdiction directory
Download or search first
Jurisdiction directory
Search, then request
Jurisdiction directory
Ask the local records office
A request that staff can fulfill
Ask for a useful plan set
- 1
Confirm the regulating jurisdiction. A mailing city is not proof that the property is inside that city's limits.
- 2
Search by both address and parcel number. Save every relevant permit number, project description, applicant, and year.
- 3
Request specific identifiable records: the final approved architectural and structural plan set, approved revisions, site plan, inspection history, and final approval for the named permit.
- 4
Include prior addresses when known, a reasonable date range, the parcel number, and a request for electronic delivery. Avoid asking for every record about a property unless you truly need it.
- 5
Index the files by permit and date, then have the existing conditions field-verified before design or construction decisions.
For early design research, prioritize architectural plans and the site plan. Add structural or civil records when you have a specific question. This keeps the request focused and the resulting files easier to use.
Subject: Electronic building plans for [address], permit [number if known]
Please provide the retained final approved architectural plan set, site plan and approved revisions for [address, parcel number, approximate project year]. Please also include the permit's final inspection or approval record if available. Electronic delivery is preferred.
If these records are not retained or are held by another agency, please let me know. Please advise of any fees before processing chargeable copies. If clarification would narrow the request, I am happy to help.
Kirkland describes an initial response within five business days, which may include a delivery estimate or request for clarification. It is not a five-day promise to deliver the drawings. See Kirkland's request process.
Read the drawings in this order
Start with the sheet index. Sheet numbers vary by designer, so use the sheet titles rather than assuming every A-sheet is a floor plan. Check approval stamps and revision dates before comparing two versions.
| Drawing | What to notice | Question for your design |
|---|---|---|
| Site plan | North arrow, footprint, access, grades and outdoor space. | Would this approach work with my sun, slope and driveway? |
| Floor plans | Room dimensions, stairs, doors, circulation and storage. | How would groceries, guests, children and laundry move through the house? |
| Exterior elevations | Window placement, roof form and the relationship to grade. | Where does the home gain light, privacy or a view? |
| Building sections | Floor-to-floor relationships, ceiling heights and stepped levels. | Is the spacious feeling from area, height or connection between rooms? |
| Structural and civil sheets | Spans, support locations, retaining work and drainage concepts. | Which design choices need early engineering and cost input? |
Use written dimensions before measuring a scaled image. Scans and printing can change scale. For an existing home, drawings are a clue to investigate, not authority to remove a wall or assume a utility location.
Turn examples into your design brief
For each home, write three things you would keep, one thing you would change and the site assumption behind the idea. Compare room relationships and everyday use, not just total square footage.
Example: instead of asking to copy a kitchen plan, write: “I want to bring groceries from the garage to the pantry without crossing the living room. I like morning light in the kitchen, but I do not want direct views into the neighbor's windows.” That gives your architect a clear problem to solve in an original design.
Keep a short comparison document with the source link, sheet and revision date, observation, why it matters and question for your team. Separate essential needs from preferences. A lower-level bedroom, for example, might work beautifully on a slope but poorly for someone avoiding stairs.
Turn those notes into an architect brief · Check the complete project budget
If the plans are missing
- Try the parcel number, prior address and related permits. Records may be filed under a demolition, addition or earlier project.
- Ask which agency held the records at the time. Annexation or incorporation can put older files with the county.
- Ask the owner or original design team what they can lawfully share. Public access and permission to reuse drawings are different questions.
- For your own existing house, ask a qualified professional about measured drawings when records are incomplete. Site measurements still need verification.
Retention varies. Bothell explicitly warns that it may no longer have a single-family construction plan more than 90 days after final building inspection. A missing plan does not, by itself, prove that the home was unpermitted. Bothell records guidance.
Approved does not mean as-built
A permit plan shows what was approved. It may not capture later changes or the home as it exists today. It also reflects the rules and engineering assumptions of its own project, not your lot or today's requirements.
Public access does not erase copyright. Both architectural design and drawings can be protected. Use examples to explain needs and ask better questions. Do not republish or reuse protected drawings or a protected design without the necessary permission. U.S. Copyright Office guidance on architectural works.
Common questions
Can I research a house I do not own?
Public permit records can be useful for researching other homes, but access to specific drawings depends on the agency, record and any restrictions. Use the official search or request process. Do not claim ownership or authorization you do not have.
Are the floor plans free?
Some electronic documents are available to download without charge. Requests, scanning, oversized copies or certified records may have fees. Ask for electronic delivery and a cost estimate before chargeable work. A records request does not guarantee the city retained the drawings.
Can I build the same house from these drawings?
Public access is not a license to reuse a protected design or drawing set. Learn from the design questions, then have your own team develop and verify a design for your site. Seek permission and professional advice before reusing another designer's work.
Design workflow updated September 12, 2026. Bellevue, Kirkland, Seattle and Bothell access instructions were rechecked. Other city links remain starting points to confirm with the agency.
Put this guide to work
- Choose two or three homes and one design question for each.
- Use the city links and request template to find the available approved drawings.
- Bring a short list of observations and priorities to your architect. Have your own site and existing conditions verified.