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Permit fees - Building and land use
Fees for permits related to building and land use in unincorporated King County.
2025 permit fees
Effective January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025
Please see below for access to our detailed fee guides. Effective January 1, 2025, most permit-related fees charged by King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division increased by 49%. These changes were approved by the Metropolitan King County Council on November 19, 2024 (per ordinance 19857) and will be in effect until December 31, 2025.
School Impact Fees were also updated effective January 1, 2025 (per ordinance 19859).
2026 permit fees
Effective January 1 to December 31, 2026
Most permit-related fees charged by the King County Permitting Division will increase by about 14% on January 1, 2026. In addition, an application screening fee of $126 will be applied to most permit applications when they are submitted.
These fee changes were approved by the King County Council on November 18, 2025 (Ordinance 20021). The newly adopted fees will be in effect through December 31, 2026. Please consult the 2026 fee guides linked below for detailed fee information.
School Impact Fees will also change on January 1, 2026 (per Ordinance 20016). See under Single Family Residential Construction fees for these updated fee amounts.
Commercial or Multifamily Residential fees
- Building construction, installation, or operating permit fees:
2025 | 2026 - Land disturbance and site development fees (for clearing, grading, or site construction):
2025 | 2026 - Road construction review and inspection fees:
2025 | 2026 - Storm water engineering and facility inspection fees:
2025 | 2026
Other services fees
- Professional Occupation and Business Licenses:
2025 | 2026 - General Services and Supplies:
2025 | 2026 - Standard Building Construction Values with Engineering Complexity Level Definitions:
2025 | 2026
Septic systems
New septic systems and improvements to an existing septic system are reviewed and approved by the Public Health Department before a permit is issued.
Fee waivers
In accordance with 27.02.040 of the King County Code, fee waivers are granted at the discretion of the Permitting Division Director and are limited to the following criteria:
- If fees collected are for service not performed If fees duplicate another fee or charge for a service for which a fee has already been collected
- If fees are based on a professional error or unnecessary review by a Department of Local Services, Permitting Division employee
- If a customer has incurred additional expenses due to a process error by a Permitting Division staff member
- If fees are assessed to replace, repair, abate, or demolish a structure due to property damage caused by a natural disaster
- While the Executive's state of emergency concerning homelessness is in effect, we will not assess or collect fees for temporary use permit applications for homeless encampments in unincorporated areas.
Apply for permits online
You can apply for most King County building and land use permits online using MyBuildingPermit.com.