Free Medina homeowner guides

Plan your Medina project with fewer surprises.

Medina rules for house size, paved areas, height, trees, views, and early city review.

Best first read

Begin with the parcel's zoning and base dimensions.

Compare Medina R-16, R-20, R-30, and SR-30 lot standards and understand the lot-area and lot-width formulas used for setbacks.

Medina zoning and setbacksCompare the base rules and official sources →

Still choosing where to build?

Compare Medina with other Eastside cities.

See the differences that matter for a custom home before choosing a lot.

Property & site

See what may fit on the lot and what property issues need a closer look.

Medina ADU and DADU rulesMedina ADU and DADU guide

Medina ADU rules explained: conversion options, public-alley setbacks, coverage limits, and the shoreline, critical-area, and sewer checks to do first.

Read ADU guide →Medina tree rulesMedina tree permits: what to check before removal

Understand Medina significant-tree permits, development tree density, right-of-way and shoreline trees, hearing-examiner review, emergencies, and replacement planting.

Read guide →Medina residential height rulesHow Medina measures residential building height

Understand why Medina residential height depends on zoning, overlays, shoreline location, and survey-based grade information.

Read guide →Medina views and developmentDoes Medina protect a homeowner's private view?

Understand Medina private-view expectations, zoning and overlays, shoreline and tree rules, covenants, easements, and due diligence.

Read guide →Medina zoning and setbacksMedina residential zoning and setbacks by zone and lot size

Compare Medina R-16, R-20, R-30, and SR-30 lot standards and understand the lot-area and lot-width formulas used for setbacks.

Read guide →

Permit process

Understand what to prepare, what the city reviews, and who responds to corrections.

Medina permit typesThe different types of permits in Medina

Understand the main Medina permit families, when several approvals may be needed, and where to find the official requirements.

Compare permit types →Before you submit in MedinaHow to schedule a Medina predevelopment meeting before you apply

Schedule Medina's online predevelopment or feasibility meeting, use the correct request form and portal, and contact Development Services.

Get city help →

Costs & timing

Use city targets and real permit data to plan a more realistic schedule and budget.

Medina permit timelinesHow long permits take in Medina

Use Medina's published targets or observed results where available, with clear notes about what the numbers include.

See timing guide →

Construction

Prepare for trade permits, inspections, demolition, site work, and final approval.

Medina residential fire sprinklersDoes a Medina home need fire sprinklers?

A detailed homeowner guide to Medina residential sprinkler decisions, Bellevue Fire review, access, water service, permits, inspections, and design coordination.

Check sprinkler rules →

Useful across the Eastside

Guides for decisions every homeowner faces.

These explain common terms and choices. Your city's rules still control what is allowed on the property.

My building permit is stuck. What should I do?Find who owns the next permit step, verify a resubmittal, follow up with clear email templates, and escalate a stalled Bellevue, Kirkland or Seattle permit.Easements, HOA rules and recorded restrictions before you buildFind recorded easements, CC&Rs and HOA documents for an Eastside property. Learn what to map, what architectural review may require, and what to confirm before buying or designing.The site costs a custom-home quote often leaves outBuild a complete Eastside custom-home site budget covering utilities, drainage, grading, retaining walls, frontage, fire access, permits and construction logistics.Teardown, addition or major remodel? How to compare the optionsCompare rebuilding and major remodeling on an Eastside lot. Evaluate retained structure, nonconformities, site rules, investigations, scope changes and complete project budgets.How to choose a custom-home builder beyond priceCompare custom-home builders on relevant experience, site supervision, communication, subcontractors and references. Use practical interview and job-site questions.How to compare builder bids and control change ordersCompare custom-home builder bids on equal scope. Understand allowances, exclusions, fixed-price and cost-plus terms, payment checkpoints and written change orders in WA.Building a custom home on Seattle's Eastside: from lot to move-inAn Eastside homeowner's roadmap to choosing land, testing feasibility, budgeting, hiring a team, managing permits and getting ready to move in.When do you need an architect?Compare Eastside requirements and learn when an engineer or architect is the right call.Find house floor plans and learn from real designsSearch public drawings by city, request the right sheets and turn floor plan examples into your own custom home design brief.Before hiring a custom-home architect: what homeowners should prepareCreate an architect interview packet with a property screen, ownership-horizon strategy, homeowner brief, budget, title and HOA records, and a clear responsibility matrix.Custom-home design choices that drive construction costsHow roof shape, parapets, decks, open rooms, large windows, basements and ceiling heights affect a custom-home budget before you choose finishes.FAR, lot coverage, and impervious surfaceUnderstand the capacity and site terms in a preliminary property feasibility study, with simple examples.