Seattle Backyard Office On-Site Consultation

Seattle, WA

Steep bluff slope above Puget Sound in Seattle

Image:

U.S. Geological Survey, Landslide Hazards Program, public domain

Owners walked the site with the permit consultant and elected to proceed.

Phase 2 of the Seattle permit takeover: a consultant-led site meeting with the owners on a landslide-prone lot, and the field documentation the resubmittal needs.

Site & Location

The same northwest Seattle lot, mapped within the Potential Slide Area with a steep bank, existing pool, decks, shed and mature trees near the proposed office.

Challenge

SDCI confirmed in writing that it does not visit sites during plan review. The owners still wanted to walk the slope with the consultant running the permit before choosing an engineering path, and the resubmittal needed an existing conditions plan built from the site itself.

Approach

Led a three-hour site meeting with the owners and their design-build contractor Walked the SDCI record on the ground: corrections by reviewer, ECA mapping, the steep slope relief, the geotechnical report requirement, the landslide area covenant and the wet-season window Laid out the office footprint for discussion from the 2014 survey monuments, with the terrace alternative for comparison Documented the site for the existing conditions plan: pool, decks, shed, garage, fences, top of bank, trees with root zones and spot grades Issued a written record of questions, answers, decisions and open items, with an updated existing conditions site plan

Result

Written record and updated site plan issued the same day as the visit, with cost by discipline, scope by discipline and a timeline to permit and construction start. The owners elected to proceed.

Project facts

Jurisdiction

City of Seattle, WA

County

King County

Permit type

SDCI construction permit, detached accessory structure

Scope

On-site consultation, existing conditions documentation, written record

SASHKOV status

Completed

Project stage

Complete

Engaged

November 8, 2026

Documents delivered

November 11, 2026

Business days to delivery

Completed

November 11, 2026

Markets

Residential & Middle Housing

Services

Site Investigation & Due Diligence

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you tell me whether my project is permittable before I invest in a plan set?

Yes, and we recommend it. A feasibility study is a site visit, a zoning and land use review, a code review against the specific jurisdiction, and a written determination of whether the project as described can be permitted, what it would require, and what would have to change.

Can you tell me whether my project is permittable before I invest in a plan set?

The seller told me it was already approved for this. Should I rely on that?

Not without verification. Prior approvals expire, get conditioned, or apply to a use different from yours. We check what is actually on record with the jurisdiction and tell you what carries forward.

The seller told me it was already approved for this. Should I rely on that?

Not without verification. Prior approvals expire, get conditioned, or apply to a use different from yours. We check what is actually on record with the jurisdiction and tell you what carries forward.

What does a due diligence package include?

The parcel record and recorded documents, zoning and land use, utilities, access, critical areas and any reports the site needs, delivered as a written determination before your purchase or lease deadline.