City of Renton, WA

Common application types

• Residential New/Addition
• Residential Interior Remodel
• Commercial/Multifamily building permit
• Civil Construction Permit
• Engineering Improvement Determination
• Critical Areas Permit
• Land Division (Short Plat or Preliminary Plat, Binding Site Plan)
• Variances
• Environmental Review
• Grade and Fill Permit

New homes and additions

Residential new and addition submittals include a signed application, site plan, erosion control plan, construction plans with the energy code checklist on the cover sheet, a landscape plan, and Engineering Improvement Determination (EID) results, plus water and sewer availability letters where the EID requires them. The EID must be completed before submittal. A geotechnical report or other critical areas study may be required near wetlands, steep slopes, coal mine hazards or creeks.

ADUs and middle housing

Renton City Council adopted HB 1110 and HB 1337 code amendments on June 24, 2025, and the City stated the new ADU rules were scheduled to take effect June 30, 2025. Residential zones allow up to 4 units per lot, or 6 units if at least two are affordable or within a quarter-mile walk of a major transit stop, unless higher densities are permitted. City staff state onsite owner occupancy is not required for ADUs and that the maximum ADU size remains 1,000 sq ft.

Decks, retaining walls and accessory structures

A deck permit is required when the deck is more than 30 inches above grade, measured including a 5 ft perimeter around the deck. General permit exemptions are listed in RMC 4-5-060E.2.

Commercial tenant improvements and change of use

Commercial submittals include a signed application, site plan, architectural plans, a full floor plan with tenant details and exits, structural plans and calculations where applicable, and a material and labor cost estimate. Restaurant tenant improvements need a grease interceptor check with Development Engineering before submittal, and food service designs need King County Public Health approval before issuance. A pre-application meeting is required for a change of use of a building or property of 4,000 sq ft or more and for new commercial buildings or additions.

Land use review

Pre-application meetings are required for Type II and III applications, including critical areas permits for residential development and ADUs, short plats, preliminary plats and binding site plans, variances, conditional use permits, rezones, environmental review and shoreline permits. Submittals include a project narrative, a dimensioned site plan, a vicinity map and critical area locations, with a minimum 2-week review before the meeting. Meetings are held on Thursdays.

Corrections and review

Renton allows about 5 days for initial application review and notifies applicants of missing items. Residential first review decisions are typically 2 to 3 weeks and revisions 1 to 2 weeks; commercial first reviews are typically 3 to 4 weeks and revisions 1 to 2 weeks. The City publishes a Building Permit Revision Form, and applications and revisions are processed first in, first out.

Tips from SASHKOV

• Obtain the Engineering Improvement Determination before submitting a residential building permit.
• An arborist report is required if the site retains less than 30% of existing trees.
• Properties on septic need a King County approval letter at building permit submittal.
• A Civil Construction Permit may be required for site or utility work outside the building and runs concurrently with the building permit application.

Where to apply

Permitting authority: Permit Services (Community and Economic Development). Online submittals: Civic Access Self-Service Portal.