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Affordable Housing Permit Fee Reduction in Tukwila, Washington

Tukwila publishes a fee reduction for dwelling units built or substantially improved to affordability targets. The reduction covers building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • The property owner must request the reduction IN WRITING and BEFORE permit submittal
  • Two or more bedrooms at an 80% affordability target: 40% fee reduction
  • Two or more bedrooms at a 60% affordability target: 60% fee reduction
  • Any size unit at a 50% affordability target: 80% fee reduction
  • The affordability target is a percentage of King County median family income, adjusted for family size, as reported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • "Substantial improvement" means repair, reconstruction or rehabilitation costing more than 50 percent of the building's assessed value

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit fee
TUKWILA'S PERMIT FEE AMOUNTS ARE NOT IN ITS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND THE CODE SAYS SO. Show full citationTUKWILA'S PERMIT FEE AMOUNTS ARE NOT IN ITS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND THE CODE SAYS SO. TMC 16.04.250(A) provides that "Permit and plan review fees applicable to all development permits shall be in accordance with the permit fee schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council." So no amount is printed here - the schedule is a Council resolution, published separately and changed separately. Ask the Permit Center for the current schedule. THREE FEE RULES ARE IN THE CODE AND DO APPLY: work begun before the necessary permits are obtained is "charged double the fee established in accordance with the permit fee schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council"; the Building Official may refund "not more than 80% of the permit fee when no work has been done under a permit"; and a re-inspection fee may be charged at an hourly rate where work was covered without inspection or was not ready.
Not stated in this guide - see notes

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Affordable Housing Permit Fee Reduction permit actually take in Tukwila?

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Inspection process

    Tips

    • Asking after submittal does not qualify - the request has to come first and in writing
    • The reduction is discretionary: the code says fees "may be reduced by the DCD Director"
    • Inspections scheduled online; the Permit Center states that requests made by 5 PM are scheduled for the next day
    • Work covered without inspection, or not ready at the time of inspection, may be charged a re-inspection fee at an hourly rate

    Frequently asked questions

    Tukwila requires an affordable housing permit fee reduction for: The property owner must request the reduction IN WRITING and BEFORE permit submittal; Two or more bedrooms at an 80% affordability target: 40% fee reduction; Two or more bedrooms at a 60% affordability target: 60% fee reduction; Any size unit at a 50% affordability target: 80% fee reduction; The affordability target is a percentage of King County median family income, adjusted for family size, as reported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; "Substantial improvement" means repair, reconstruction or rehabilitation costing more than 50 percent of the building's assessed value. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Tukwila - Permit Center at (206) 431-3670 before starting work.

    TMC 16.04.260 publishes three steps: 40% off for units of two or more bedrooms at an 80% affordability target, 60% off for two or more bedrooms at 60%, and 80% off for a unit of any size at 50%. Targets are percentages of King County median family income as reported by HUD. You must request the reduction in writing before you submit the permit application.

    Tukwila does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Tukwila - Permit Center at (206) 431-3670 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: A written request for the fee reduction. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Tukwila - Permit Center at 6300 Southcenter Blvd., #100, Tukwila, WA 98188. Phone: (206) 431-3670, email: Permits@TukwilaWA.gov. Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. Official information: https://www.tukwilawa.gov/departments/permit-center/.

    Tukwila, Washington has adopted: 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 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.. Local amendments apply — see the Tukwila overview page for the full list.

    Sources & verification

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

    Codes & ordinances

    Department & other records

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

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