Free Seattle homeowner guides

Plan your Seattle project with fewer surprises.

Seattle development sites, current zoning, house size, placement, trees, mapped environmental conditions, and permit milestone tracking.

Check a property for free Check a Seattle permit

Best first read

Begin with the parcel's zoning and base dimensions.

Understand Seattle Neighborhood Residential floor area, setbacks, building coverage, height, housing configuration, trees, and mapped environmental limits.

Seattle 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.

Seattle ADU and DADU rulesSeattle ADU and DADU guide

Current Seattle ADU and DADU rules for two units, bedroom-based size, NR density and FAR, setbacks, height, trees, ECAs, utilities, rentals, and permits.

Read ADU guide →Seattle zoning and setbacksSeattle residential zoning and setbacks

Understand Seattle Neighborhood Residential floor area, setbacks, building coverage, height, housing configuration, trees, and mapped environmental limits.

Read guide →

Permit process

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

Seattle permit typesThe different types of permits in Seattle

Understand the main Seattle 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.

Seattle permit timelinesHow long permits take in Seattle

Use Seattle'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.