Seattle Building Permit Search & History Reports

Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) manages all building permits for Seattle city properties. The Seattle Services Portal provides online records from 2005–present — pre-2000 records are primarily paper and gradually being digitized in the SDCI Permit and Property Records library (not yet fully online). A new Permit and Site History Research Tool launched mid-2025 that aggregates SDCI portal data plus older systems in one search. Pre-1972 tax records are held at the Washington State Archives in Bellevue: (425) 564-3940. Seattle ADU/DADU rules were liberalized under HB 1337 and Mayor PACT reforms in 2025, making Seattle one of the most ADU-permissive jurisdictions in the US.

Records available

What's included in a Seattle permit search.

SDCI portal records (2005–present), ADU/DADU permits, South Lake Union biotech lab TI permits, historic preservation reviews, and major utility upgrades. Live Socrata lookup available via our system.

Source: Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) https://www.seattle.gov/sdci

Permit type and scope of work Full description of the work covered by each permit
Issue date, final date, current status Track open vs. finaled vs. expired permits
Contractor name & license Where recorded — required for WA permits
Original PDF document (Premium tier) Certified copy from Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI)

Coverage limits

What this search does not include.

Pre-2000 paper records (partial — contact SDCI library); King County records (separate jurisdiction — Seattle is entirely within King County, but city and county records are separate); permits still in active review.

Outside Seattle, WA jurisdiction Adjacent counties and municipalities use separate systems
Pending / in-review permits Not yet issued — not in the public records database
Unpermitted work Not in the records — flagged via history gaps, not direct data
Voided / expired (cleared) records Seattle may clear old records from public view after a retention period

Common questions

Frequently asked about Seattle permits.

How far back do SDCI records go?

Online records via the Seattle Services Portal go back to 2005. Pre-2000 records are primarily paper and accessible through the SDCI Permit and Property Records library — not fully digitized. The new Permit and Site History Research Tool (2025) aggregates more data but paper records may still need direct inquiry.

Are pre-1972 records available?

Pre-1972 tax records are held at the Washington State Archives in Bellevue at (425) 564-3940. Contact them directly for historical property research before 1972.

What is the ADU/DADU situation in Seattle?

HB 1337 and the Mayor's PACT reforms (2025) significantly liberalized ADU rules. Seattle now allows 1 ADU + 1 DADU per single-family lot in most residential zones. Our search covers ADU/DADU permit history to confirm legal status.

How do historic preservation reviews work?

Properties in designated historic districts (Pioneer Square, Columbia City, etc.) require Historic Preservation review before permit issuance. SDCI flags these in their records — our report includes any HP application status.

Are contractor license numbers included?

Yes — Washington State requires contractor registration. Contractor name and registration number are included where recorded in SDCI permit data.

Seattle Building Permit Search & History Reports

What's included in a Seattle permit search.

What this search does not include.

Frequently asked about Seattle permits.

Get permit data for Seattle, WA.