Eastside design-team guide
When do you need an architect?
The practical answer for Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Clyde Hill, and Bothell—and why “not legally required” is different from “not worth hiring.”
Reviewed August 9, 2026 · Based on Washington law and official city guidanceThe short answer
Most Eastside homeowners are not legally required to hire an architect.
RCW 18.08.410 exempts design work for residential buildings with up to four dwelling units, regardless of size, from Washington's architect-licensing requirement. The state also exempts many buildings up to 4,000 square feet and limited non-life-safety alterations.
The Washington Board for Architects gives a clear example: even a 5,000-square-foot single-family home does not require an architect's seal solely because of its size.
City-by-city answer
The legal baseline is the same. The permit package is not.
Bellevue
Usually optional for a one- to four-unit homeBellevue requires a complete architectural drawing set. Its residential guidance says the plans examiner may require plans stamped by a Washington architect or engineer when structural changes are made.
Bellevue architectural-plan requirements ↗Kirkland
Usually optional for a one- to four-unit homeKirkland requires project-specific plans and supporting documents for new homes, duplexes, ADUs, and cottage units. A licensed architect is useful for complex design or review, but the statewide residential exemption still applies.
Kirkland single-family and duplex process ↗Redmond
Usually optional for a one- to four-unit homeRedmond requires plans, framing information, and structural calculations when applicable. Its checklist says required structural calculations must be signed and stamped by a Washington design professional.
Redmond residential application packet ↗Clyde Hill
Usually optional for a one- to four-unit homeClyde Hill reviews permits for state and local code compliance through its own permit portal. Because hillside, drainage, height, and lot-coverage constraints can shape a project early, confirm the required design team before completing plans.
Clyde Hill permitting guidance ↗Bothell
Usually optional for a one- to four-unit homeBothell accepts residential additions, remodels, new homes, decks, and accessory-building permits through its Permit Center. Ask Building Services whether the scope requires sealed architectural or structural documents.
Bothell Permit Center ↗When an architect is likely required
- Five or more dwelling units. The residential exemption ends above four units.
- A non-residential building over 4,000 square feet. The general small-building exemption no longer applies.
- A larger-building alteration affecting life safety or structural systems. Examples include exits, fire-rated construction, occupancy changes, and structural work.
- The building official requires sealed architectural documents. Confirm this before submitting, particularly for mixed-use, commercial, multifamily, or unusually complex projects.
When you may need an engineer instead
An architect coordinates space, code, appearance, and the overall drawing set. A structural engineer designs and stamps structural elements. A straightforward house can be architect-exempt while still needing engineering for beams, foundations, retaining walls, lateral systems, unusual framing, steep slopes, or site conditions.
Redmond explicitly requires applicable structural calculations to be stamped by a Washington design professional. Bellevue likewise warns that structural changes may trigger stamped plans. “No architect required” should never be read as “no professional design required.”
When hiring an architect is still a smart decision
- A new custom home, major addition, whole-house remodel, or complex ADU.
- A tight, steep, critical-area, shoreline, or highly constrained lot.
- You need zoning analysis, option studies, consultant coordination, or help responding to corrections.
- The layout, daylight, exterior design, resale value, or construction details matter enough to justify design fees.
- You want one professional responsible for coordinating drawings among the city, engineer, energy consultant, civil engineer, and contractor.
Before hiring anyone
A three-step check
- 1
Define the scope. Write down the use, unit count, approximate size, structural changes, and whether you are changing exits or occupancy.
- 2
Ask the city in writing. Send the scope and ask whether the permit set must be prepared or stamped by an architect, engineer, or another specialist.
- 3
Choose the team for complexity, not just the legal minimum. Compare the cost of professional design with the risk of redesign, permit corrections, change orders, and a compromised layout.
Primary sources
Verify before you submit
This is general permit-planning information, not legal or professional design advice. Requirements can change and the building official decides what is required for a specific application.