- How large can I build my shed without a permit?
- How high can I build my retaining wall without a permit?
- What is the difference between natural and artificial light?
- Do I need hard-wired smoke alarms for my project?
- What size window do I need to meet egress requirements?
- Do I need an architect for my project?
- Does my accessory dwelling unit (ADU) need to be separate from other parts of my home?
- What is the maximum rail spacing allowed for guard openings?
- What information do I need to provide when planning for excavation?
- How long is a permit valid for?
- When do I need a pre-submittal conference?
1 - Q. How large can I build my shed without a permit?
A. The Seattle Residential Code (SRC) Sec R105.2 allows you to build an accessory structure up to 120’, measured from eaves and overhangs, without a building permit. However, other code requirements and development standards may impact your project to the point where a permit is still required. You can contact a permit specialist by phone (see here for phone number and hours), or visit the Applicant Services Center.
2 - Q. How high can I build my retaining wall without a permit?
A. The Seattle Residential Code (SRC) Sec R105.2 (pg. 4) allows you to build a retaining or rockery wall up to 4’ high, measured from depth of footing, without a building permit. However, other code requirements and development standards may impact your project to the point where a permit is still required. You can contact a permit specialist by phone (see here for phone number and hours), or visit the Applicant Services Center.
3 - Q. What is the difference between natural and artificial light?
A. Per Seattle Residential Code Sec R303.1 (pg 44), all habitable rooms require window area glazing equal to either 8% of floor area or, as an exception, artificial light providing an average illumination of 6 footcandles over the area of the room measured at a height of 30” above floor level. Rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms do not have natural light requirements. See CAM 303A, Common Seattle Residential Code Requirements, for more information.
4 - Q. Do I need hard-wired smoke alarms for my project?
A. Smoke alarms are required to be hard wired when a project is new construction (including additions) and may be required for alterations of existing interior space. See Seattle Residential Code Sec R313.1.1 (pg. 53), and CAM 303A, Common Seattle Residential Code Requirements, for more information.
5 - Q. What size window do I need to meet egress requirements?
A. Emergency openings are required to have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft. with a minimum opening height of 24” and minimum opening width of 20”. See Seattle Residential Code Sec R310.1 (pg. 50), and CAM 303A, Common Seattle Residential Code Requirements, for more information.
6 - Q. Do I need an architect for my project?
A. A licensed design professional is generally required to prepare a set of drawings for review and approval within the city of Seattle. However, exceptions to this requirement include but are not limited to: single family residences & accessory structures and other projects whose total valuation is less then $30,000. See Seattle Residential Code Sec R105.5.2.2 (pg. 5) for residential projects and Seattle Building Code (SBC) Sec R106.5.2.2 for commercial projects.
7 - Q. Does my accessory dwelling unit (ADU) need to be separate from other parts of my home?
A. No. ADUs are not required to be separate from the remaining portions of your dwelling. They are, however, required to meet all other code and development standards criteria. See CAM 116, Establishing a New Accessory Dwelling Unit, and CAM 117, Parking Waivers for Accessory Dwelling Units, for more information.
8 - Q. What is the maximum rail spacing allowed for guard openings?
A. Guards on open sides of stairways, decks above 30”, balconies, and any raised floor areas are required to have intermediate railing narrow enough to deny passage of a 4” sphere. See Seattle Residential Code Sec 312.2 (pg. 52), and CAM 303A, Common Seattle Residential Code Requirements, for more information.
9 - Q. What information do I need to provide when planning for excavation?
A. Requirements can vary based on scope of project. DPD’s primary concern with excavation involves depth and amount of grading involved on a given project and its’ impact to surrounding properties and/or rights-of-way. Projects that border along a right-of-way or adjacent property with greater then a one horizontal to one vertical (IH:IV) slope may require one or a combination or either: a temporary excavation agreement letter, shoring drawings or geotechnical soils report. See Seattle Stormwater, Grading and Draining Code Sec 22.804.030 (pg. 25) for general requirements, 22.804.040 (pg. 27) for submittal requirements, and 22.804.100 (pg. 32) for requirements when excavation abuts neighboring properties. Visit the Applicant Services Center (ASC) during normal operating hours to discuss specific project needs and requirements.
10 - Q. How long is a permit valid for?
A. Construction permits are valid for 18 months from the date of issuance. Master Use Permits are valid for a period of up to 5 years from the approval date following the public appeals process.
11 - Q. When do I need a pre-submittal conference?
A. Pre-submittal conferences are required for high-rise or atrium projects (see CAM 313, Required Predesign Conferences for High-rise Structures and Buildings with an Atrium), and may be necessary to accommodate a single code issue, process, or complex issues spanning many disciplines, such as Land Use, Building, Energy/Mechanical, Fire, etc. See CAM 318, Building Code Pre-design/Code Interpretation Conferences, for more information.
There are five basic types of pre-submittal conferences:
- Construction Only
- Primary Construction with some Land Use components
- Land Use Only
- Primary Land Use with some Construction
- Equal parts Land Use and Construction
To see if you need or require a pre-submittal conference, please visit the Applicant Services Center (ASC) during normal operating hours.
