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.

Check Seattle's 2026 Neighborhood Residential front, rear and side setbacks. Compare house-count rules and exceptions, then screen a property before design.

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

Find Seattle ADU and DADU size limits, permit requirements, rules for multifamily lots, and the checks that show whether a backyard cottage may fit.

Read ADU guide →Seattle zoning and setbacksSeattle Residential Setback Requirements (2026)

Check Seattle's 2026 Neighborhood Residential front, rear and side setbacks. Compare house-count rules and exceptions, then screen a property before design.

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.

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 build a quieter home before the drywall goes upLessons from our custom home: thicker subfloors, insulated interior walls, staggered studs, sealed gaps, solid doors and quieter plumbing. A pre-drywall checklist.Framing a house in the rain: what I learned during our buildWorried about wet framing? A homeowner guide to staged lumber deliveries, plywood and OSB, drying, squeaks and moisture checks before insulation and hardwood.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.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.