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Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Lake Stevens, Washington

Required for new one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses in Lake Stevens, reviewed under the 2021 International Residential Code as adopted and amended by the Washington State Building Code Council.

Verified 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • “The 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code … provided, that Chapters 11 and 25 through 43 of this code are not adopted” (LSMC 14.80.010); Appendix F (Radon Control Methods) and Appendix Q (Tiny Homes) ARE included
  • A permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, move, demolish “or change occupancy” (LSMC 14.80.030(a))
  • A sewage disposal permit under Chapter 14.60 must be secured BEFORE the building permit issues (LSMC 14.80.050)
  • Design to the local table at LSMC 14.80.010: snow load 25, wind 110 mph, Seismic Design Category D2, frost line depth 12 inches, outdoor design temp 23/79
  • The permit expires if work has not begun within 180 days of issuance; “one or more 180-day extensions” are available for justifiable cause (LSMC 14.80.030(c)-(d))

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Permit fee
LSMC 14.80.040: “The City shall collect fees for all services rendered and activities performed in reviewing and issuing building permits. Show full citationLSMC 14.80.040: “The City shall collect fees for all services rendered and activities performed in reviewing and issuing building permits. Said fees shall be set by resolution.” No dollar amount appears in the code and none is asserted here. Across this Washington set the INSTRUMENT varies and is worth knowing: Edmonds and Lake Stevens use a council RESOLUTION, Lynnwood a fee ORDINANCE, and Puyallup an EXECUTIVE ORDER of the city manager. Ask the city for the current resolution.
Set by city council resolution
Appeal feeLSMC 14.80.030(e)(3): “The written appeal and the appeal fee, if any, must be received by the Department of Planning and Community Development no later than 4:00 p.m. on the fourteenth day following the date of the notice of decision.” The code says “if any” and states no amount.
Set by resolution; due with the appeal

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Residential Building Permit (New Construction) permit actually take in Lake Stevens?

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

Inspection process

    Tips

    • Two local exemptions are worth checking before you file. Lake Stevens added IRC R105.2 items 11 and 12: light-weight roof or reroof covering where the installed unit is under four pounds per square foot, and replacing exterior windows in existing openings provided the opening is not resized and the operable opening is not reduced. Both are common jobs that need no permit here.
    • Sequence the sewer permit first. LSMC 14.80.050 will not let a building permit issue for a primary use structure until you have the sewage disposal permit under Chapter 14.60, so filing them together does not help — one gates the other.
    • Frost line depth here is 12 inches, against 18 inches in both Edmonds and Lynnwood. If you are carrying a foundation detail across the county line this is the figure that changes, and it is set in the city's own amended Table R301.2(1).

    Frequently asked questions

    Lake Stevens requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: “The 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code … provided, that Chapters 11 and 25 through 43 of this code are not adopted” (LSMC 14.80.010); Appendix F (Radon Control Methods) and Appendix Q (Tiny Homes) ARE included; A permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, move, demolish “or change occupancy” (LSMC 14.80.030(a)); A sewage disposal permit under Chapter 14.60 must be secured BEFORE the building permit issues (LSMC 14.80.050); Design to the local table at LSMC 14.80.010: snow load 25, wind 110 mph, Seismic Design Category D2, frost line depth 12 inches, outdoor design temp 23/79; The permit expires if work has not begun within 180 days of issuance; “one or more 180-day extensions” are available for justifiable cause (LSMC 14.80.030(c)-(d)). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Lake Stevens – Department of Planning and Community Development at (425) 334-1012 before starting work.

    In Lake Stevens, the published Permit fee is: Set by city council resolution. Additional published fees: Appeal fee — Set by resolution; due with the appeal. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    It expires if work has not started. LSMC 14.80.030(c): “If work described in any building permit has not begun within 180 days from the date of issuance thereof, said permit shall expire.” It may then be cancelled by the Building Official with written notice to the applicant. Under subsection (d) you may request an extension in writing, and the Building Official “may approve one or more 180-day extensions if justifiable cause is demonstrated pursuant to IBC Chapter 1, Section 105” — so extensions are not capped at one.

    You'll need: Building Permit Application with Scaled Plans; Sewage Disposal Permit; Energy Code Compliance Documentation. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Lake Stevens – Department of Planning and Community Development at 1812 Main St, Lake Stevens, WA 98258. Phone: (425) 334-1012. Official information: https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/.

    The 2021 International Residential Code. LSMC 14.80.010 adopts it “as approved, adopted and amended by the State Building Code Council”, expressly excluding Chapters 11 and 25 through 43 — energy goes to Chapter 51-11R WAC, plumbing to Chapter 51-56 WAC and electrical to Chapter 296-46B WAC. Appendix F (Radon Control Methods) and Appendix Q (Tiny Homes) are included in the adoption. Unlike neighbouring Lynnwood, which adopts “the latest edition” with no year, Lake Stevens names 2021 explicitly.

    Sources & verification

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

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