Permit Review Timelines

The permit review timelines below outline the city’s established timeframes for reviewing permit applications. This information provides the community with greater transparency and predictability, while also helping Development Services identify patterns and trends that guide ongoing improvements.

The process of obtaining a plan review permit requires applicant and reviewer interaction. The length of time leading up to permit issuance depends on several factors:

Completeness, accuracy and clarity of the plans and application from the individual applying for the permit.
Parcel, property issues and building site conditions.
Responsiveness of the property owner, permit applicant or acting delegate such as an architect, engineer or contractor to answer plan reviewer comments.
Existing permit volume or workload of city staff at the time of the application's submission.
The level of complexity or extent of work proposed, like projects requiring a SEPA determination, projects requiring a third-party structural review, etc.

Permitting Review Timelines

The city and its representatives provide review timelines for the following permit disciplines, folder types and descriptions along with supporting information. Actual review times will vary.

Discipline: Development Services permitting divisions overseeing plan review for Building (BLDG), Clear & Grade (C&G), Fire, Land Use (LU), Right-of-Way (ROW), Transportation (TRAN), Utilities (UTIL).
Folder Type: A two-letter designation used by staff to classify permits. The first letter reflects the review discipline, with some exceptions. The second letter is for identification of the folder type or the application's scope or work.
Folder Description: Describes the Folder Type in the city's permitting database and provided as a way for applicants to discuss permit questions with city Development Service staff.
Type: Further describes or delineates application work when it results in different permit review timelines.
First Review Decision (FRD): Describes the duration in number of days in which the reviewer should complete their first review of the project. Applications are either approved or revisions are requested.
Permit Revision Cycles (REV): May be necessary after the first review decision where the applicant must revise or respond to questions and resubmit permit documents. Revisions may be shorter in duration but will continue until the application meets all requirements and project review is complete.
Over-the-Counter (OTC): Permitting for projects that do not need plan review and can typically be turned around within one day. OTC permits are excluded from the list of proposed permit review timelines.
Without Major Project: The permit application exists independent of a larger project or without a known relationship to other permits in review.
With Major Project: The permit application exists as part of a major or medium commercial project. Due to the project scope and complexity of submitted plans, longer permit review timelines are anticipated.

Building

The following permitting review timeline targets relate to applications associated with building permits.

Folder Type	Folder Description	First Review Decision Days	Revision Cycle Days
BB	Major Commercial Project	56	21
BE	Demolition	14	10
BG	Electrical Plan Review Without Major Project	14	10
BG	Electrical Plan Review With Major Project	35	14
BH	Detention Vault	28	14
BL	Mechanical Plan Review Without Major Project	14	10
BL	Mechanical Plan Review With Major Project	35	14
BM	Medium Commercial Project	28	14
BO	Plumbing Plan Review Without Major Project	14	10
BO	Plumbing Plan Review With Major Project	35	14
BR	Single Family Addition	14	10
BS	Single Family	21	14
BU	Single Family Remodel Plan Review	14	10
BV	Shoring Permit	28	14
BW	Minor Commercial Project	14	10
BY	Tenant Improvement - New Use	21	14
BZ	Tenant Improvement Plan Review	14	10
MH	Middle Housing New	21	21

Clearing and Grading

The following permitting review timeline targets relate to applications associated with clearing and grading permits.

Folder Type	Folder Description	First Review Decision Days	Revision Cycle Days
GA	Minor Clearing & Grading	14	10
GB	Landscape Vegetation	21	14
GD	Clearing & Grading	42	21
GE	Plat Infrastructure	42	21
GT	Tree Removal Only	10	7

Fire

The following permitting review timelines relate to applications associated with fire permits.

Folder Type	Folder Description	First Review Decision Days	Revision Cycle Days
FA	Electrical Fire Alarm Without Major Project	14	10
FA	Electrical Fire Alarm With Major Project	35	14
FB	Fire Sprinkler Systems Without Major Project	14	10
FB	Fire Sprinkler Systems With Major Project	35	14
FC	Single Family Fire Sprinklers	14	10
FD	Underground Sprinkler Mains Without Major Project	14	10
FD	Underground Sprinkler Mains With Major Project	35	14
FE	Fire Service Systems Without Major Project	14	10
FE	Fire Service Systems With Major Project	35	14
FF	Fixed Fire Suppression Systems Without Major Project	14	10
FF	Fixed Fire Suppression Systems With Major Project	35	14
FH	Smoke Control System	56	21

Land Use

The following permitting review timeline targets relate to applications associated with land use permits.

Folder Type	Folder Description	First Review Decision Days	Revision Cycle Days
CD	Wireless Communication Facility on Private or Public Property	28	14
DA	Land Use Interpretation	42	21
DB	Preapplication Conference	42	14
DC	Predevelopment Services	14	10
DD	Reasonable Accommodation	14	10
DG	Zoning Status	10	7
GJ	Clearing & Grading in Critical Areas	35	14
LA	Administrative Conditional Use	28	14
LB	Conditional Use	56	21
LD	Design Review	56	21
LE	Environmental Impact Statement	42	21
LF	Final Short Plat	21	14
LG	Final Plat	21	14
LH	Home Occupation	21	14
LI	Land Use Approval Amendment	35	14
LJ	Land Use Exemption	21	14
LK	Planned Unit Development	56	21
LL	Preliminary Plat	56	21
LM	Preliminary SEPA Review	35	21
LN	Preliminary Short Plat	42	21
LO	Critical Areas	42	21
LP	Master Development Plan	56	21
LQ	Rezone	56	21
LR	Temporary Use	14	10
LS	Variance	35	21
LT	Vendor Cart	14	10
LV	Child Care Registration	14	10
LW	Boundary Line Adjustment	28	14
LY	Noise	10	7
LZ	Temporary Encampment	21	14
SA	Permanent Sign	14	10
SC	Temporary Sign	14	10
WA	Conditional Use Shoreline Management	42	21
WD	Shoreline Exemption	28	14
WE	Shoreline Exemption with SEPA	35	14
WG	Substantial Shoreline Development	21	35

Right of Way (ROW)

The following permitting review timeline targets relate to applications associated with right of way. There are no type designations for this discipline.

Folder Type	Folder Description	First Review Decision Days	Revision Cycle Days
TE	ROW Street Use	14	10
TG	ROW Single Family	14	10
TJ	ROW Franchise	14	10
TK	ROW Government	14	10
TN	ROW Commercial Development	14	10

Utilities

The following permitting review timeline targets relate to applications associated with utilities permits.

Folder Type	Folder Description	First Review Decision Days	Revision Cycle Days
UA	Side Sewer Connection	7	7
UB	Storm connection	7	7
UC	Water Service	7	7
UE	Utility Extensions	42	21