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Legal lots - Land use permit process
Citizens may also perform their own property research and determine the history of a lot and/or legal status by contacting the various agencies included in the Property Research Guide (182KB).
For more information about legal lots, refer to the Permitting customer information Legal Lot checklist (239KB) and Legal Lot Determination Application.
Cost and timeline
Check our current fee schedule for an estimate
The timeline varies depending on workload and resources available.
Application
Find these forms on our permit application materials webpage:
- Legal Lot Determination Application
- Subdivision Exemption Request Form
- Innocent Purchaser Instructions & Affidavit
Check our online permits page to see if you can submit these forms through MyBuildingPermit
Schedule a land use inspection
King County inspects work to ensure code compliance and safety requirements.
Learn more about scheduling inspections
Legal authority
Title 19A of the King County Code
Frequently Asked Questions
Before a property owner can build or subdivide, a lot must meet the requirements of a legal lot, as defined in Title 19A.08.070 of the King County Code (KCC), in order for an application to be deemed complete.
The burden of proving that a lot had been legally established, and still exists as a legal lot, is the responsibility of the person claiming legal lot status.
If research for evidence of a legal lot proves that a lot was not created legally, customers should see KCC Title 19A.08.090, "Determining Innocent Purchaser Status."
The legal lot determination process may be used to provide a one time exemption to the subdivision requirements for an Innocent Purchaser. An exemption to the subdivision code may be requested to establish a new legal lot that is consistent with KCC Title 19A.08.040.