Do I need a permit for a driveway or patio in Seattle, WA?

Short answer: No, a permit is not required for a driveway or patio in Seattle, WA.

Last verified: 2026-10-19 · Confidence: high · Status: Verified from official source

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.

No permit required Confidence: high

No permit for patios and slabs on grade, or for walks and driveways less than 18 in above grade and not over a basement. Environmentally critical areas may differ.

What changes the answer

18 in or higher: permit
Environmentally critical areas: check

Cost

Fee not extracted; see SDCI fees. Unverified, confirm locally

Fee source: https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/permits/do-you-need-a-permit · All verified Seattle permit fees

Where to apply

Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (Seattle Services Portal)

Permitting authority: Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI); plumbing permits by Public Health – Seattle & King County. Rules differ in environmentally critical areas (steep slopes, wetlands, flood-prone areas). Plumbing and gas piping permits, including water heaters, are issued by Public Health – Seattle & King County, not SDCI. See also: how to apply for a building permit.

Official sources

“Patio and concrete slabs on the ground (on grade)”

Source: https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/permits/do-you-need-a-permit

“Platforms, walks, and driveways. You do not need a permit for these if they are less than 18 inches above grade and not over a basement or other building story.”

Source: https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/permits/do-you-need-a-permit

Verified: 2026-10-19 · Status: verified · Confidence: high

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