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City of Bellevue, WA Development Services
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FAQs

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  5. Permits
  6. FAQs
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    Permits

    • Getting Started
    • Virtual Permit Center
    • FAQs
      • Contractor Registration Requirements
      • Landscape Assurance Devices
      • Oil Filled Transformer Vault Requirements
      • Online Permitting Services
      • Pedestrian Protection Requirements
      • Permit Cancellations and Expirations
      • Permit Requirements
      • Permit and Energy Code Requirements for Roofing Projects
      • Plan Review Resources
      • Work Requiring Commercial and Residential Permits
    • Plan Submittal Resources
    • Forms and Publications
    • Permit Fees
    • Commercial Building Permits
      • Detention Vault for Stormwater
      • Major Commercial Project
      • Medium Commercial Project
      • Minor Commercial Project
      • Portable Building Foundation
      • Shoring Permit
      • Tenant Improvement
    • Residential Building Permits
      • Addition less than 3000 square feet
      • Adult Family Home Requirements
      • Earthquake Home Retrofit Program
      • New House Construction or Large Addition
      • Remodel with Structural Work
      • Remodel without Structural Work
    • Demolition Permits
    • Clearing and Grading Permits
      • Clearing and Grading in Critical Areas
      • Commercial Clearing and Grading
      • Minor Clearing and Grading
      • Nonresidential Landscape and Vegetation Clearing and Grading
      • Plat Infrastructure Permit
      • Tree Removal Only Clearing and Grading Permit
    • Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Permits
      • Electrical Permits
      • Mechanical Permits
      • Plumbing Permits
      • Solar Panel Permits
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    • Land Use Permits
      • Boundary Line Adjustment
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      • Comprehensive Plan Amendment
      • Conditional Use/Administrative Conditional Use
      • Critical Areas Land Use Permit
      • Current Zoning Status of Property
      • Design Review
      • Environmental Impact Statement
      • Final Plat
      • Final Short Plat or Binding Site Plan
      • Home Occupation Permit
      • Land Use Approval Amendment
      • Land Use Code Exemption
      • Land Use Code Interpretation
      • Land Use Code Variance
      • Master Development Plan
      • Noise Permit
      • Noise Variance
      • Planned Unit Development Permit
      • Plat Amendment
      • Preapplication Conference for Critical Areas
      • Preapplication Conference for Master Development Plan or Design Review
      • Preapplication Conferences
      • Predevelopment Services
      • Preliminary Plat
      • Preliminary SEPA
      • Preliminary Short Plat
      • Request for Reasonable Accommodation
      • Rezone
      • Shoreline Exemption
      • Shoreline Management Conditional Use
      • Shoreline Substantial Development Permit
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      • Temporary Encampment
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      • Vendor Cart Permit
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    • Permit Process Overview
    Header Image
    Aerial image of downtown building under construction

    Below are frequently asked permitting questions with brief answers and links to learn more. 

    Contact Permit Processing if you have additional questions or need more information.

    Why are permits and inspections necessary?

    It’s a health and safety issue.

    • Permit review allows code experts to reduce potential hazards from unsafe construction.
    • Mandatory inspections act as a system of checks and balances focused on complying with city codes.

    It’s also a money issue.

    • Proper permitting helps protect property values.
    • More and more, property insurers aren’t covering damages caused by work done without permits and inspections.
    • Disclosure of any improvements or repairs is required at sale, whether or not permits and inspections were obtained.
    • Many financial institutions won’t finance a purchase without proof of a final inspection.
    • Without a permit, work may be subject to removal or other costly remedies.

    So, before you start a project, see if a permit is required.

    Do I need a permit for my project?

    In general, new construction and alterations or repairs to existing structures or systems require a permit. Review our requirements for commercial and residential building permits. Contact permit processing to determine if your project requires a permit.

    Other projects that may require a permit include:

    • removing trees
    • replacing a water heater or furnace
    • working in the right of way
    • modifying or changing a tenant space 

    How do I get started?

    Visit our Permits page to:

    • Learn about the different types of permits we review and inspect.
    • Understand the difference between permits that require plan review and those that don't.
    • Become familiar with the paperless permitting process.
    • Find inspection and contractor information.

    How much will my permit cost?

    Permit fees depend on your project's scope of work. Some permit fees are flat rates while other permit fees are deposits. Building, electrical and some mechanical permit fees are based on fair market value of the work. Access our permit fee schedules and learn more about our billing process.

    When do I pay my permit fees?

    Permit fees come in two categories:

    1. Submittal Fees: These are fees you pay when you apply for your permit and cover plan review and administrative services.
       
    2. Issuance Fees: These are fees you pay when your permit and approved plans are issued. These fees generally cover inspection and administrative services, and may include impact fees, where applicable.

    Submittal and issuance fees can be a flat fee or a deposit.

    What is the timeline for getting a permit issued?

    Review our Permit Processing Timelines report for average processing days by permit type.

    How do I apply for a permit?

    All permit applications will be submitted online at MyBuildingPermit.com. This regional portal offers 24/7 online permitting services where you can:

    • Apply for your permit
    • Upload plans and documents
    • Pay online
    • Check your permit status
    • Request and cancel inspections

    What information should be on my plans?

    Your project's scope and complexity will determine which permit (or permits) you need and what type of plans and documents are required for that scope of work. Visit our Forms and Publications page to find plan review resources and permit submittal forms.

    How do I check the status of my permit?

    Check the status of your permit and find permit history at MyBuildingPermit. Learn how to search for permit status and history. 

    What is an expired or cancelled permit?

    Submitting the required application is the first step in the permitting process. The goal for Development Services staff is to complete our work within timeline targets and decide whether or not the application can be approved. We have expiration and cancellation code provisions to ensure that applications actively progress through the permitting process. It is important for you to know that a submitted application has a limited life. Learn more about expired and cancelled permit applications.

    Do I need to hire a licensed architect for my project?

    Construction documents shall be prepared by a registered design professional where required by the State of Washington (BCC 23.05.105). RCW 18.08.410 requires that Architects prepare construction contract documents for the following project types:

    1. Construction of residential buildings with greater than 4 dwelling units.
    2. Construction of, or additions to buildings, greater than 4,000 square feet.
    3. Alterations of repairs greater than 4,000 square feet.
    4. Alterations or repairs, regardless of size, that impact the life safety or structural systems of a building. 

    Note: The City of Bellevue may require construction documents be prepared by a registered design professional for other project types if deemed necessary. 

    What are contractor registration requirements?

    Under state law, the City of Bellevue is obligated to provide written notification to all homeowners regarding the contractor registration requirements set forth in the Revised Codes of Washington (RCW), Chapter 18.27 and to advise homeowners of the risks associated with using an unregistered contractor. Any contractor conducting business in the city must be licensed by the State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries. Learn more about contractor registration requirements. You may wish to read the noted sections in RCW Chapter 18.27 for the exact language.

    What are construction hours?

    Under the Bellevue City Code, noise emanating from construction sites that exceeds allowed noise levels is prohibited outside of the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. No construction site noise is permitted on Sundays and legal holidays. If after-hours sounds from a construction site are clearly audible across a real property boundary or at least 75 feet from their source, it will be considered a noise disturbance (BCC 9.18.040.A.4). Learn more about construction noise guidelines.

    What is right of way?

    Right of way – all public streets and property dedicated to public use for streets, together with public property reserved for public utilities, transmission lines and extensions, walkways, sidewalks, bikeways or equestrian trails. Learn about right of way boundaries and find answers to more questions about right of way.

    When do I schedule an inspection?

    Our Inspections page provides an overview of the inspections process and outlines your responsibilities regarding inspections and re-inspections. Inspections can be scheduled online at MyBuildingPermit or via phone by calling 425-452-6875.

    Where can I find zoning and land use maps?

    Explore our Maps and GIS gallery. Also, refer to our Bellevue map viewer that uses interactive layers to view zoning and property information, community infrastructure, parks and trails, capital projects and more.

    How do I request copies of project plans?

    We keep a copy of all approved plans and project documents for the lifetime of a building plus six years. To request copies of plans and project documents, submit a public records request online to the City Clerk's Office.

    What is a landscape assurance device?

    A landscape assurance device provides the city with monetary recourse in case all landscaping work required under a permit or land use approval is not satisfactorily completed in accordance with the conditions of the approval. The most common type of assurance device accepted by the city is an assignment of savings. An assignment of savings gives the city permission to access a special account set up at your bank in your name containing the required amount of the landscape assurance device. The city can accept other types of assurance devices—letters of credit, bonds or other accessible sources of funds—on a case-by-case basis.

    Reasonable Accommodation

    For alternate formats, interpreters, or reasonable modification requests please phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-6800 (voice) or email servicefirst@bellevuewa.gov. For complaints regarding modifications, contact the City of Bellevue ADA, Title VI, and Equal Opportunity Officer at ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov.

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