Seattle / permit types
The different types of permits in Seattle
Seattle SDCI issues construction, grading, mechanical, electrical, equipment, tree, and Master Use permits. Street-use, utility, fire, and other approvals may come from a different City department.
Reviewed against official Seattle sources, August 2026Official starting point: Seattle permits. Match the full scope to the current city requirements before submitting.
One project can need more than one permit
A building permit does not automatically replace every trade, site, tree, fire, utility, right-of-way, or land-use approval. List the whole scope first, then confirm which reviews are combined and which require separate records.
Major permit families
Building, alteration, demolition, and grading permits reviewed by SDCI.
Common examples: New buildings, additions, remodels, tenant improvements, demolition, and grading.Seattle permits ↗Building-system and regulated equipment permits.
Common examples: HVAC, boilers, refrigeration, elevators, gas piping, and side sewers.Seattle permits ↗Wiring and electrical equipment, with plan-review and no-plan-review paths.
Common examples: Services, circuits, EV chargers, solar, signs, generators, and temporary power.Seattle electrical permits ↗Discretionary or zoning decisions that can precede construction issuance.
Common examples: Conditional use, ECA, plats, rezones, shoreline, SEPA, and variances.Seattle Master Use Permit overview ↗Tree removal and environmentally critical-area review.
Common examples: Protected trees, steep slopes, landslide areas, wetlands, shorelines, and drainage.Seattle permits ↗Approvals outside SDCI may be required for public or life-safety systems.
Common examples: SDOT street use, Seattle Fire systems, City Light service, and Seattle Public Utilities.Seattle permits ↗How to choose the right combination
- Write the complete scope, including structural, system, site, tree, utility, access, and public-area work.
- Open the official source for every permit family that matches the scope.
- Check whether the primary permit includes that discipline or requires a related application.
- Confirm the permit set with city staff or the design team before paying for final drawings.
- Track related permit numbers together so a smaller approval does not hold up the project.
Primary sources