Tukwila building permits
Department contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Tukwila, Washington.
Last verified 2026-09-16 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 6300 Southcenter Blvd., #100, Tukwila, WA 98188
- Phone
- (206) 431-3670
- Office hours
- Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
- 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.
- 2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE AND 2021 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, both "with statewide amendments". TMC 16.04.020(A) adopts the model codes "Effective on the date established by the State Building Code Council... as numerated in Chapter 19.27 RCW".
- THE ELECTRICAL CODE IS TWO YEARS NEWER THAN THE REST. TMC 16.04.020(A) lists the "2023 National Electrical Code with statewide amendments" alongside 2021 editions of the building, residential, mechanical, plumbing and energy codes. TMC 16.04.020(E) repeats it: "The 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) is adopted by reference as if fully set forth."
The full list at TMC 16.04.020(A) also carries ICC/ANSI A117.1-09 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, the 2021 International Mechanical Code, the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, the 2020 Liquefied Petroleum… Show full textShow less
The full list at TMC 16.04.020(A) also carries ICC/ANSI A117.1-09 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, the 2021 International Mechanical Code, the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, the 2020 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (NFPA 58), the 2021 National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) for LP gas only, the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, the 2021 Washington State Energy 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.
Permit types & fees
Building Permit
Required for construction in Tukwila under the 2021 IBC and 2021 IRC as adopted at TMC 16.04.020, with locally adopted exemptions for small sheds and low fences.
See fee scheduleShed or Detached Accessory Structure
Tukwila exempts the smallest detached accessory structures from a building permit, but all three conditions in the exemption have to be met.
See fee scheduleAffordable Housing Permit Fee Reduction
Tukwila publishes a fee reduction for dwelling units built or substantially improved to affordability targets. The reduction covers building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits.
See fee scheduleVerify a Contractor Licence
Washington contractors register with the Department of Labor & Industries. Registration is a STATE record; Tukwila does not issue it.
See fee schedule
Tukwila's permit history isn't searchable here yet
This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Tukwila 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 Tukwila 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
- 11units
8 of 12 months reported · #26 in Washington coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-07)
- 18units
18 buildings · $7.8M valuation
6 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 18units
18 buildings · $8.7M 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
- THE PERMIT CENTER IS CLOSED FRIDAYS. It runs Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm - a four-day week, which catches people who plan a Friday counter visit.
- Pre-application meetings are Tuesdays at 1:30 and 2:30 PM, and are required for some permit types.
- Inspection requests made online by 5 PM are scheduled for the next day.
- Fences 6 feet high or less are exempt from a building permit in Tukwila. That is a LOCAL amendment - the neighbouring-city answer may be the opposite.
- A detached shed of 120 square feet or less is exempt, but only if it is one story AND entirely separated from any existing building.
- Starting work before the permit issues doubles the fee under TMC 16.04.250(D).
- If you are building affordable units, ask for the TMC 16.04.260 fee reduction IN WRITING BEFORE you submit - it is worth 40 to 80 percent and it cannot be claimed afterwards.
- The 180-day expiry in Chapter 16.04 belongs to the RELOCATION permit, not the building permit. Do not plan a build schedule around it.
- The city has warned about fraudulent permit fee payment emails. Confirm any payment demand against the Permit Center's published number before paying.
- Tukwila is switching to a SmartGov permit system on 6 October 2026; portal details in this entry may change on that date.