Free Newcastle homeowner guides

Plan your Newcastle project with fewer surprises.

Newcastle rules for house size, paved areas, placement, height, and environmentally sensitive land.

Best first read

Begin with the parcel's zoning and base dimensions.

Compare Newcastle LOS/COS and R-1 through R-24 setbacks, building coverage, hard surface, impervious limits, FAR, and height.

Newcastle zoning and setbacksCompare the base rules and official sources →

Property & site

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

Newcastle ADU and DADU rulesNewcastle ADU and DADU guide

Current Newcastle ADU rules for two units, 300–1,000-square-foot size, 24-foot DADU height, five-foot rear yards, parking, utilities, and constraints.

Read ADU guide →Newcastle zoning and setbacksNewcastle residential zoning and setbacks

Compare Newcastle LOS/COS and R-1 through R-24 setbacks, building coverage, hard surface, impervious limits, FAR, and height.

Read guide →

Permit process

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

Newcastle permit typesThe different types of permits in Newcastle

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

Compare permit types →

Costs & timing

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

Newcastle permit timelinesHow long permits take in Newcastle

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

See timing guide →

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.

When do you need an architect?Compare Eastside requirements and learn when an engineer or architect is the right call.Where to find house plans by jurisdictionFind approved floor plans, permit drawings, and site records in Seattle, Eastside cities, and unincorporated King County.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.Structural choices that matter in a custom homeThe structural decisions worth resolving early in a custom-home design, before they turn into redesign, permit revisions, and expensive field changes.FAR, lot coverage, and impervious surfaceUnderstand the capacity and site terms in a preliminary property feasibility study, with simple examples.