Seattle hikes building permit fees amid shift in development patterns
The city of Seattle is hiking building permit fees by 18% next year, a move prompted by shifting development patterns. The City Council's budget committee adopted the increase Nov. 17 on a 5-3 vote, with the majority deeming it necessary to sustain permitting services.
A post-pandemic shift from high-value developments to small and midsize projects, coupled with new limits on design and environmental reviews, has reduced revenue at the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. SDCI is primarily fee-supported.
SDCI's funding includes a $750,000 investment in artificial intelligence tools. It's an extension of a pilot program that started this fall to help permit applicants catch and correct common errors before submitting applications. The AI tools will also alert staff to "unclear or overly complex regulations" to help the city improve.
The new building permit fees align with those in Bellevue, Tacoma and King County, according to SDCI.
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2025/11/25/seattle-hikes-permit-fees-development-trend-shifts.html