Building inspections

• Building inspection process
• Scheduling building and new construction fire inspections
  - Online at http://inspections.kingcounty.gov
  - By phone at 1-888-5-INSPCT (1-888-546-7728)
  Note: For building and new construction fire inspections only.   Other agencies do plumbing and electrical inspections.
• How to contact a building inspector
• For more information

Building inspection process

March 2009 notice to all residential building permit holders:  DDES is re-implementing inspection for energy conservation and ventilation and indoor air quality (VIAQ) measures.  See Energy and Ventilation Required Inspections (PDF*, 26KB) for more information.

• Permit approval notification. DDES permit customers are notified via U.S. mail when their building permit has been approved. The notification includes information about any outstanding fees or other conditions that may be required prior to issuance.

• Permit issued. Once all of the requirements specified in the notification have been met, the permit may be picked up at DDES. A map and directions to DDES are available online.

• Schedule inspection. After receiving the permit, customers will need to request a building inspection or, if required, a preconstruction conference.

  Preconstruction conferences. A preconstruction conference is required for all commercial and multifamily projects.

  A preconstruction conference also may be required for projects with significant site and building issues such as wetlands, shorelines, floodplain, geotechnical, steep-slope, erosion hazard, drainage, excavation near a property line, etc.

  A notice and condition will be added to the permit package if a preconstruction conference is required.

  When requesting a preconstruction conference online or by phone, please allow up to two working days for the conference to be scheduled.

Scheduling building and new construction fire inspections

Building inspection requests for unincorporated King County can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days per week by either of the two following options.  Note:  For building and new construction fire inspections only.  Other agencies do plumbing and electrical inspections.

• Online: Go to http://inspections.kingcounty.gov for online scheduling of building and fire inspections for new construction. Be sure to have your permit number on hand.

• By phone at 1-888-5-INSPCT (1-888-546-7728): Call this automated 24-hour inspection request line to schedule or cancel building inspections, fire inspections or preconstruction conferences.

  The DDES Voice Inspection Line User's Guide (PDF*, 43KB) gives detailed instructions.

Inspection requests received before 3 p.m. on a workday can be scheduled for inspection the following workday.

Approved plans must be on-site. It is the responsibility of the applicant and contractor to have the approved plans on the job site and to make inspection requests at the appropriate time and after any required approvals - such as plumbing and electrical inspections - have been completed.

How to contact a building inspector

DDES building inspectors are available via telephone from 7 to 8:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday, and can be reached by calling 206-296-6630.

If you already know the building inspector assigned to your project, a list of inspectors' direct phone numbers is available from the King County Online Directory (scroll to view).

For more information

For general building inspection questions, call DDES Building Inspection Section administrative staff at 206-296-6630 during normal business hours.

For other building and land use questions, call DDES customer service at 206-296-6600.

*Note: To view PDFs, free software from Adobe is required. See helpful hints for assistance.

To request information in alternate formats for people with disabilities, call 206-296-6600 or TTY Relay:  711.