Seattle residents and builders, brace yourselves for a slew of fee changes coming your way. The Seattle City Council has rolled out its 2026 budget, which includes significant adjustments to Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) fees impacting everything from construction permits to seismic retrofits, as Building Connections Seattle reports.
The majority of fees will face a 6.5 percent inflationary jump. For those keeping track, that takes the SDCI's base hourly rate to a solid $292 an hour. But the stakes are higher for those dealing with Construction Permit and Master Use Permit fees—they're seeing an 18 percent year-over-year increase. The reason behind the spike? The Council says it’s all about maintaining review times and sustaining services as the city witnesses a shift in development trends, with a surge in smaller-scale projects post-pandemic.
Don't expect a straightforward increase across the board, though. The SDCI is also noodling through some technical tweaks. These include clarifying costs for tree review when construction isn't proposed, axing special accommodations, and making it easier to understand fees for land use letters and preliminary meetings. Steering away from hikes, certain permits under the Unreinforced Masonry program will actually see a reduction in fees, incentivizing owners to make seismic improvements to their buildings.
The city isn't just focused on buildings—they're also revamping electrical permitting. After a comprehensive study, SDCI concluded it was time to update the Electrical Permit fee table to clear up confusion, cut back on redundant requests, and slash the time staff spend correcting errors. The endgame? Simpler application processes without aiming to boost revenue.
And there's more in store for landlords. The Rental Registration and Inspections Fees are due for an adjustment, intended to keep pace with the program's running costs. Curious readers with an eye for detail will find the new Director’s Rules, the updated BVD table, and more fee-related specifics on the SDCI website by the end of this month.
