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Roof - Snow Load and Rain-on-Snow Surcharge in Renton, Washington

Renton fixes its design roof snow load in the code and adds a mandatory rain-on-snow surcharge for shallow roofs.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Design roof snow load is twenty five (25) pounds per square foot
  • The engineer SHALL consider a rain on snow surcharge of at least five (5) pounds per square foot where the roof slope is less than five degrees
  • Whether to consider drift or sliding snow is left to the engineer's judgement
  • All remaining sections of IBC 1608 are not adopted

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit fee
NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR RENTON, BUT THE CODE TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE TO LOOK. Show full citationNO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR RENTON, BUT THE CODE TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE TO LOOK. The chapter guide to RMC Chapter 4-5 states: "Fee-related information is located in chapter 4-1 RMC." THAT CHAPTER WAS NOT OPENED FOR THIS ENTRY, so this guide gives the pointer and no figures. The same guide notes that "Related permit processes (e.g., occupancy permits, etc.) are located in chapters 4-8 and 4-9 RMC", which were also not read.
Not stated in this guide - see notes

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Roof - Snow Load and Rain-on-Snow Surcharge permit actually take in Renton?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

    Tips

    • The rain-on-snow surcharge is mandatory, not advisory - it uses "shall"
    • A 25 psf figure from another Washington city is not interchangeable: Spokane publishes a 39 psf ground snow load with a 30 psf minimum roof snow load

    Frequently asked questions

    Renton requires a roof - snow load and rain-on-snow surcharge permit for: Design roof snow load is twenty five (25) pounds per square foot; The engineer SHALL consider a rain on snow surcharge of at least five (5) pounds per square foot where the roof slope is less than five degrees; Whether to consider drift or sliding snow is left to the engineer's judgement; All remaining sections of IBC 1608 are not adopted. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Renton - Building Division at 425-430-6502 before starting work.

    In Renton, the published Building permit fee is: Not stated in this guide - see notes. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Renton does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Renton - Building Division at 425-430-6502 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Permit application as required by the City of Renton. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Renton - Building Division. Phone: 425-430-6502. Official information: https://rentonwa.gov/.

    Renton, Washington has adopted: THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, NAMED, WITHOUT ITS ADMINISTRATIVE CHAPTER. RMC 4-5-050(A)(1): "The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC), as adopted and amended by the State Building Code Council in chapter 51-50 WAC, as published by the International Code Council, excluding Chapter 1, Administration, is adopted by reference, together with the following amendments and additions."; SOMETHING REPLACES THAT MISSING CHAPTER 1, AND IT IS NOT THE MODEL CODE. RMC 4-5-050 provides that the "Construction Administrative Code, as set forth in RMC 4-5-060, shall apply in place of IBC Chapter 1, Administration." RMC 4-5-060 was NOT read for this entry.; THE 2021 WASHINGTON STATE ENERGY CODE. RMC 4-5-051(A) adopts "The 2021 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC), Commercial Provisions and Residential Provisions, as adopted by the State Building Code Council in chapters 51-11C and 51-11R WAC ... with the following additions, deletions and exceptions", excluding a list of administration sections.; RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.. Local amendments apply — see the Renton overview page for the full list.

    Twenty five pounds per square foot. Renton amends IBC Section 1608 to set the design roof snow load at 25 psf, leaves drift and sliding snow to the engineer's judgement, and requires the engineer to consider a rain-on-snow surcharge of at least 5 psf where the roof slope is under five degrees. All remaining sections of 1608 are not adopted.

    Sources & verification

    Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.

    Codes & ordinances

    Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Renton building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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    Other permits in Renton

    Building PermitVerify a Contractor Licence

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