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Residential Building Permit in Sammamish, Washington

Residential work in Sammamish follows the 2021 IRC with city design criteria, and Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) is adopted.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Built to the 2021 IRC as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-51 WAC
  • Appendix Q, Tiny Houses, is adopted
  • Design criteria in SMC 16.05.080 amend IRC Table R301.2(1)
  • Ground and roof snow load 25 PSF, with a 5 psf rain-on-snow surcharge below 5 degrees

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit fee (set by council fee resolution)
SAMMAMISH DOES NOT PUBLISH ITS PERMIT FEE AMOUNTS IN THE CODE - THIS ENTRY DECLINES TO STATE A FIGURE RATHER THAN INVENT ONE. Show full citationSAMMAMISH DOES NOT PUBLISH ITS PERMIT FEE AMOUNTS IN THE CODE - THIS ENTRY DECLINES TO STATE A FIGURE RATHER THAN INVENT ONE. SMC 16.20.340 directs the reader to "the fee schedule as established in the City of Sammamish fee resolution", which is a separate council instrument not read for this entry. WHAT THE CODE DOES FIX IS A FLOOR, AND IT IS AN UNUSUAL ONE: "In no case shall the building permit fee be less than the City's hourly inspection fee multiplied by the number of inspections expected to be performed for work authorized by the permit." The minimum is therefore tied to an expected inspection COUNT, not to a dollar amount - which matters here because the city publishes twelve required inspection stages. Plan review is a SEPARATE and ADDITIONAL fee (SMC 16.20.345), payable when submittal documents are lodged; the permit centre may take a deposit in lieu where the full amount is not yet known, applied against the total. Incomplete or changed submittals, and deferred submittal items, draw a further plan review fee. A reinspection fee may be assessed where work is not complete or previous corrections were not made (SMC 16.20.450).
Set by council fee resolution; see notes

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Residential Building Permit permit actually take in Sammamish?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Temporary erosion and sediment control inspection

    Made after all required silt fencing, construction fencing, straw bales, storm drain catch basin inserts (socks), entrance rocking and other required elements are in place, and prior to commencement of work (SMC 16.20.393).

  2. 2

    Footing and foundation inspection

    Made after poles or piers are set, trenches or basement areas are excavated, or excavations for footings are complete, any forms erected, and all required hold-down anchor bolts, hold-down straps and any required reinforcing steel are in place (SMC 16.20.395).

  3. 3

    Concrete slab and under-floor inspection

    Made after in-slab or under-floor reinforcing steel and building service equipment, conduit, slab insulation, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is placed (SMC 16.20.400).

  4. 4

    Exterior wall sheathing inspection

    Made after all wall framing is complete and strapping and nailing are properly installed, but prior to being covered (SMC 16.20.410).

  5. 5

    Roof sheathing inspection

    Made after all roof framing is complete. No roof coverings may be installed until the inspection is made and approved (SMC 16.20.415).

  6. 6

    IMC/IPC/Gas/NEC/IFC rough-in inspection

    Rough-in mechanical, gas piping, plumbing and fire suppression systems are inspected when the rough-in work is complete and, if required, under test (SMC 16.20.420).

  7. 7

    Electrical rough-in inspection

    Made after the roof, framing, fireblocking and bracing are in place and all wiring and other components to be concealed are complete, and prior to covering (SMC 16.20.423).

  8. 8

    Frame inspection

    Made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete, and the rough electrical and plumbing are in place (SMC 16.20.425).

  9. 9

    Flashing and exterior weather barrier inspection

    Made after flashing and weather barrier materials have been installed, but prior to any of that work being covered (SMC 16.20.430).

  10. 10

    Lath and gypsum board inspection

    Made after lathing and gypsum board, interior and exterior, are in place, but before any plastering is applied or gypsum board joints and fasteners are treated (SMC 16.20.435).

  11. 11

    Energy efficiency inspection

    Covers envelope items including wall insulation, to be made after exterior wall weather protection and all wall insulation and air vapor retarder, sheet or film materials are in place (SMC 16.20.445).

  12. 12

    Final inspection

    Made after all work required by the building permit is completed (SMC 16.20.465).

See the full Sammamish inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Wind speed depends on Risk Category here - 95 mph for Risk Category II, not a single citywide number
  • Seismic Design Category D2; frost line depth 12 inches; assumed soil bearing 1500 PSF
  • Ice shield underlayment is NOT required; flood hazards are handled under SMC 15.10
  • Sammamish adopts Appendix Q for tiny houses - neighbouring Marysville does not

Frequently asked questions

Sammamish requires a residential building permit for: Built to the 2021 IRC as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-51 WAC; Appendix Q, Tiny Houses, is adopted; Design criteria in SMC 16.05.080 amend IRC Table R301.2(1); Ground and roof snow load 25 PSF, with a 5 psf rain-on-snow surcharge below 5 degrees. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Sammamish at (425) 295-0500 before starting work.

In Sammamish, the published Building permit fee (set by council fee resolution) is: Set by council fee resolution; see notes. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Sammamish does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Sammamish at (425) 295-0500 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Submittal documents for plan review. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Sammamish requires 12 inspection(s) for a residential building permit, in order: Temporary erosion and sediment control inspection, Footing and foundation inspection, Concrete slab and under-floor inspection, Exterior wall sheathing inspection, Roof sheathing inspection, IMC/IPC/Gas/NEC/IFC rough-in inspection, Electrical rough-in inspection, Frame inspection, Flashing and exterior weather barrier inspection, Lath and gypsum board inspection, Energy efficiency inspection, Final inspection. Schedule each through City of Sammamish ((425) 295-0500).

Apply through City of Sammamish at 801 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075. Phone: (425) 295-0500. Official information: https://www.sammamish.us/.

Sammamish, Washington has adopted: THE 2021 IBC, NAMED, AND TIED TO THE STATE'S OWN ADOPTION. SMC 16.05.070: "The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-50 WAC, as published by the International Code Council, including Appendix Chapter E (Accessibility), ICC A117.1-2017 (Accessible Standards), and Appendix Chapter H (Signs), excluding Chapter 1, Administration, is hereby adopted by the City of Sammamish".; THE 2021 IRC, WITH TINY HOUSES IN. SMC 16.05.080: "The 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code, as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-51 WAC, as published by the International Code Council, including Appendix Q, Tiny Houses, and excluding Chapters 1, 11 and 25 through 43, is hereby adopted by the City of Sammamish". Appendix Q IS adopted here, as in Camas and Yakima - and NOT as in Marysville, which excludes IRC Appendices AF, AQ and AU.; ADMINISTRATION COMES FROM THE CITY, NOT THE MODEL CODE. Both adoptions exclude Chapter 1, Administration; SMC Chapter 16.20 is the city's own Construction Administrative Code and supplies permits, inspections, fees and enforcement in its place.; A SCOPED ROLLING ADOPTION FOR ONE STATE CHAPTER ONLY. SMC 16.05.180 adopts by reference, "as presently existing and as may be subsequently amended", the single chapter "Chapter 51-19 WAC, Washington State Historic Building Code". That rolling language does NOT extend to the building or residential codes.; Other codes named in Chapter 16.05: the mechanical code, NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code, NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, the International Fuel Gas Code, the International Fire Code, the Uniform Plumbing Code, the Washington State Energy Code, the Washington Cities Electrical Code, the 2021 International Existing Building Code and the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.; RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.. Local amendments apply — see the Sammamish overview page for the full list.

SMC 16.05.080 amends IRC Table R301.2(1) and publishes them as a full set: ground and roof snow load 25 PSF (with a 5 psf rain-on-snow surcharge for roof slopes under 5 degrees); basic wind speed by Risk Category at 90, 95, 105 and 110 mph for Categories I to IV; topographic effects yes; Seismic Design Category D2; weathering moderate; frost line depth 12 inches; termite and decay slight to moderate; winter design temperature 26 F; ice shield underlayment not required; air freezing index 145 F-days; mean annual temperature 50 F; and assumed soil bearing 1500 PSF.

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 Sammamish building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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