Services at DDES

Apply for a permit, schedule an inspection, search permits online and more

• Online services 
• Permit Center customer service initiatives 
• Services and key staff contacts

Online services

Apply for a permit online

• Free fire hazard reduction permits
  Apply online for a permit for vegetation removal to reduce fire hazards.
• Free blackberry clearing permits
  Apply online for a Blackberry Clearing Permit (only required for 7,000 sq. ft. or more).
• Right-of-Way use permit extensions
  Apply online for a Right-of-Way Use Permit (Limited) Extension.
• Business licenses 
  Apply online for Amusement Devices, Charitable Solicitation, Secondhand Dealer licenses.

Send a request or search online

• Building inspections
  Schedule, cancel, or check status of building & fire inspections for new construction online.
• Permit search
  Search online for DDES pending and issued permits dating back to 1996.
• Records Center
  Request DDES records by e-mail and learn how to locate building and land use records.
• Code Enforcement complaints
  Submit a non-emergency code enforcement complaint online.
• Dockets
  Suggest King County Comprehensive Plan or Development Regulations changes online.

Other online features

• Workshops and events
  View streaming video of DDES workshops and, when applicable, register online.
• DDES mailing list
  Subscribe to DDES' e-mail news service online.

Permit Center customer service initiatives

• Critical areas issues 
• Generalized technical support
• DDES Web site resources

Staff at DDES are working to provide technical assistance to customers and help as much as possible to clarify requirements and procedures for the permit review process.

Listed below are the major information sources available to you, our customer. Please keep in mind that these resources do not replace mandatory pre-application meetings or field visits, both of which could be required to process a permit application.

Critical areas issues

Like other DDES review disciplines, critical areas staff can assist you with your questions and/or project planning issues between the hours of 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. each day.

DDES also has two full time staff persons dedicated to assisting customers with critical areas questions and issues both in the field and at our Renton offices. These staff are available by appointment at other times by special arrangement. If you are unable to visit the permit center between 7:30 and 9:30, Monday through Friday, please call Trudy Hintz in the Critical Areas section at 206-296-7273, and she will assist you in scheduling an appointment at another time.

Finally, customers can also call for critical areas information at 206-296-6600. A customer service assistant will log your critical areas question and you can expect a call back within 3 business days.

Generalized technical support

Customers often need specialized information from specific permit review disciplines such as Plan Review, Critical Areas, Site Review or Clearing and Grading. We now offer a full range of technical support to customers between the hours of 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. each day. This assistance is intended for both walk-in customers and customers with specific questions and/or issues during the permit intake process.

DDES Web site resources

Log on to the DDES Web site at www.kingcounty.gov/permits to review a wide range of customer assistance materials, including permit application materials, customer assistance bulletins on over 50 topics pertaining to building and land use, frequently asked questions on the permit review process, and property research tools showing a variety of parcel-specific zoning and district information.

Our Web site also lists upcoming workshops and seminars on topics pertinent to the development and environmental communities. The DDES Permit Center offers computer workstations that we encourage you to use in order to browse through our Web site.

Services and key contacts