BuildingPermitCost How Federal Way calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $89.54 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 65% of the permit fee. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $1,000 | $89.54 |
| $1,001 – $2,000 | $89.54 for the first $1,000 + $6.75 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $157.11 for the first $2,000 + $33.68 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $931.63 for the first $25,000 + $24.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $1,531.67 for the first $50,000 + $16.24 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $2,343.58 for the first $100,000 + $13.17 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $7,609.44 for the first $500,000 + $10.81 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $13,016.54 for the first $1,000,000 + $8.52 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Surcharges
- Automation fee: 5% of the permit fee, minimum $43.00
- State Building Code Council (SBCC) surcharge, residential: $6.50
- State Building Code Council (SBCC) surcharge, commercial: $25.00
- South King Fire plan review (commercial only): 15% of the permit fee, minimum $95.29
What counts as project value
ICC Building Valuation Data table. 'The value of the work shall be determined by using Building Value Data as published and further updated by the International Code Council or by submission of a written project bid subject to approval by the Building Official.'
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $2,343.58 for the first $100,000.00 + $13.17 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $5,636.08
- Plan review fee: 65% of $5,636.08 = $3,663.45
- Automation fee: 5% of $5,636.08 = $281.80
- State Building Code Council (SBCC) surcharge, residential: fixed = $6.50
- Total before trade permits: $9,587.83.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Digitizing fee, single-family plans: when single-family plans are submitted and the permit is issued ('Some building permits require a digitizing fee'); $60.00 on the standard projects.
- Work without a permit: when work commenced without a permit; $931.75 on the standard projects.
- Mechanical permit and plan review, new single-family residence: when a mechanical permit is required for the new single-family residence (separate permit); $544.00 on the standard projects.
- Plumbing permit and plan review, new single-family residence: when a plumbing permit is required for the new single-family residence (separate permit); $544.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Resubmittal of documents (second and subsequent)When: second or later resubmission | 30% of plan review fee |
| Additional plan review for changes/additions/revisionsWhen: plan changes | $94.00 per hour or portion |
| Reinspection (second and subsequent)When: reinspection | $94.00 per hour |
| Inspections outside normal business hoursWhen: after-hours inspection | $143.00 per hour, 4-hour minimum |
| Over-the-counter (OTC) permit reviewWhen: OTC permit | $96.00 each |
| Single-family solar panel/system permitWhen: solar | $390.00 each |
| Permit renewalWhen: renewal | discontinued in 2026 ($366 in 2025) |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Electrical permit fee by total installation valuation using Valuation Table B ($96.21 for $1-$1,000 up to $13,950.40 for the first $1,000,000 + $9.17 per additional $1,000); plan review 65% of the electrical permit fee. Mechanical: Valuation Table A by installation valuation; new single-family residence flat $544 (2026) including plan review. Plumbing: Valuation Table A by installation valuation; new single-family residence flat $544 (2026) including plan review.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to the city building department.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.