Kent building permits
Department contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Kent, Washington.
Last verified 2026-09-16 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 220 Fourth Ave. S., Kent, WA 98032
- Phone
- 253-856-5200
- Website
- Official site
Codes adopted
The State Building Code is in effect in every county and city in Washington, and its minimum performance standards may not be diminished locally. A local amendment that affects single-family or multifamily residential buildings is not effective unless the State Building Code Council approves it; amendments to non-residential provisions carry no such approval requirement.
KENT NAMES THE 2021 EDITIONS AND TAKES FUTURE STATE AMENDMENTS IN THE SAME BREATH. Show full textShow less
KENT NAMES THE 2021 EDITIONS AND TAKES FUTURE STATE AMENDMENTS IN THE SAME BREATH. KCC 14.01.010: "In accordance with Chapter 19.27 RCW, the following codes (collectively, the "building codes"), together with any additions, deletions, and exceptions currently enacted or as may be amended from time to time by the state of Washington through its Building Code Council pursuant to the Washington Administrative Code ("WAC"), and as further amended in this chapter, are adopted by reference".
THE NAMED EDITIONS: "The International Building Code, 2021 Edition ... Show full textShow less
THE NAMED EDITIONS: "The International Building Code, 2021 Edition ... as amended pursuant to Chapter 51-50 WAC"; "The International Existing Building Code, 2021 Edition"; "The International Residential Code, 2021 Edition ... as amended pursuant to Chapter 51-51 WAC"; "The International Mechanical Code, 2021 Edition ... as amended pursuant to Chapter 51-52 WAC"; "The Uniform Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition ... including the Uniform Plumbing Code Standards (Appendices A, B, and I ...) as amended pursuant to Chapter 51-56 WAC"; and "The International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Edition ... as amended pursuant to Chapters 51-11C and 51-11R WAC".
- Kent amends each adopted code in its own section: KCC 14.01.030 (IBC), 14.01.040 (IEBC), 14.01.050 (IRC), 14.01.060 (UPC), 14.01.070 (IMC), 14.01.080 (IECC) and 14.01.090 (IPMC).
- RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.
Permit types & fees
Building Permit
Required for construction in Kent under KCC Title 14. The city names the 2021 code editions but also adopts future state amendments as they are made.
See fee scheduleAppeal a Building Code Decision
Kent designates its hearing examiner as the board of appeals for building code matters, with a short and strictly defined filing window.
See fee scheduleVerify a Contractor Licence
Washington contractors register with the Department of Labor & Industries. Registration is a STATE record; Kent does not issue it.
See fee schedule
Kent's permit history isn't searchable here yet
This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Kent yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.
Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Kent lands. Privacy.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-07)
- No data reported
- Trailing 12 months
- 51units
7 of 12 months reported · #19 in Washington coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-07)
- 54units
54 buildings · $26.5M valuation
6 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 117units
117 buildings · $61.8M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-07 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Washington building activity
Tips & gotchas
- VESTING IN KENT COVERS LAND USE REGULATIONS ONLY. KCC 14.11.010 uses the word "only". A complete application does not, on that wording, freeze the building code edition.
- And the building code here is the rolling kind - it takes state amendments "from time to time" - so the edition is exactly what can move during a long project.
- Vesting starts when the building official DETERMINES your application is complete, not when you hand it in.
- Appeals are 14 CALENDAR days, due by 5:00 p.m., with a filing fee.
- The hearing examiner cannot waive a building code requirement.
- In the online code, "Amended" means an UNCODIFIED ordinance already affects that section - the text you are reading is not the whole law.
- Kent's code really is on codepublishing - unlike several Washington cities whose codepublishing address now redirects to ecode360.
- Fee amounts are a council resolution, not part of the code.