www.seattle.gov/sdci
700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000
P.O. Box 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019
(206) 684-8600
Seattle Permits
Tip
sdci
Seattle Department of Construction
and Inspections
— part of a multi-departmental City of Seattle series on getting a permit
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316
Subject-to-Field-Inspection
(STFI) Permits
Updated April 26, 2024
If you have a simple construction project that does
not require extensive plan review, you may be able to
speed up your permit application, review, and issuance
process by getting a subject-to-field-Inspection (STFI)
permit. This Tip identifies project types that qualify for
the STFI process and highlights the corresponding ap-
plication requirements.
If you are working on a single family house or duplex,
please read Tip 303A, Common Seattle Residential
Code Requirements. For electrical and over-the-counter
mechanical permits, refer to Tip 104, Getting an OTC
(Over-the-Counter) Permit.
Projects that Qualify for STFI Permits
Demolition of a building proposed on a site:
That is not located in certain environmentally critical
areas (ECAs)
Where the project does not require other land use
permits
That does not exceed 4,999 square feet of land
disturbing activity
Where excavation can be contained on the site with
all cuts at a 45-degree slope.
Other criteria must also be met for demolition
projects to qualify as an STFI. Please read Tip 337,
Demolition and Deconstruction, for specific demoli-
tion requirements.
Foundation repair and replacement where the
foundation is not designed as a retaining wall, where
its height does not exceed 4 feet from the bottom of
the footing, where there is no change in height and
location of the structure’s footprint, and where the
project is not located in an ECA. You must provide
photographs showing the extent of the damage.
(Note: we require plan review for foundation repair
and replacement with pin piles, and therefore we
cannot process that as a STFI).
Structural alterations to existing single family and du-
plex structures. We allow openings in load-bearing walls
if these walls support only one story above and roof
loads, and they have a maximum structural beam span
of 14 feet (30 feet if a manufactured truss is used).
Non-structural interior alterations in single
family and duplex structures typically qualify for
a STFI. (Note: we require plan review to convert un-
inhabited attic storage area into a livable space, and
therefore we cannot process it as a STFI.)
Non-structural interior alterations (tenant
improvements) in commercial spaces qualify for
a STFI if the area of all work is not more than 4,500
square feet. These alterations must not change
the number of exits or change the path of travel or
Special Notice Regarding Projects that
Involve Removal and Replacement of
an Illegal Portion of a Structure
We do not consider the removal and reconstruc-
tion (replacement) of a portion of an illegal (built
without a permit) structure to be a repair. We
will require proof that your structure was legally
constructed under a permit, before issuing your
STFI permit. The burden of such proof will be your
responsibility.
Prior to applying for a permit, you may want to
research previous permits issued for the site in our
Microfilm Library, [email protected].
You may need a site inspection before we issue
your permit.
SDCI Tip #316—Subject-to-Field-Inspection (STFI) Permits page 2
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This Tip should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations. The applicant is responsible for compliance
with all code and rule requirements, whether or not described in this Tip.
distance to exits. See the Multifamily/Commercial
Buildings/STFI checklist at www.seattle.gov/sdci/
permits/forms for additional eligibility requirements.
Before we can issue a STFI permit, you will be re-
quired to provide proof that the structure was legally
constructed and that you have previously established
how you will use your land. See Tip 102, Small Busi-
ness: Getting Your Use and Building Permit from
SDCI for additional requirements for Use permits.
Installation or replacement of acoustic ceiling
tile systems (ACT) of unlimited area within com-
mercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings when
the construction and seismic isolation meets indus-
try standard details and complies with the current
Seattle Building Code. Fireproofing above the ceiling
system must be maintained and repaired if damaged.
Any simultaneous tenant improvement work must
also qualify for an STFI.
Installation of industrial storage racks and free-
standing cabinetry where the height of the upper
most shelf is over 5’ – 9” and under 8’ – 0” above the
finished floor.
Repairs to damaged buildings to restore them
back to their original configuration. The value of the
repairs cannot exceed 60 percent of the building's
value if the structure is subject to the Seattle Resi-
dential Code (SRC). The value of the repairs cannot
exceed 30 percent of the estimated replacement cost
of the building if the structure is subject to the Seattle
Building Code (SBC). When the value of the repairs
exceeds 10 percent of the estimated replacement
cost of the building, the structural repairs must be
designed by a structural engineer. If the field inspector
determines that the damage is too extensive to qualify
for a STFI, we will require full plan review. We require
photographs showing the extent of the damage.
Ground level one-story additions to existing
single-family and duplex residential structures. Addi-
tions must be 750 square feet or less in area, with a
maximum structural beam span of 14 feet* (30 feet if a
manufactured truss is used). Openings in bearing walls
are limited to supporting one story above and roof
loads. Additions must meet prescriptive Energy Code
(Energy Code Chapter 4) requirements and prescrip-
tive ventilation requirements of the Mechanical Code.
*For garage door headers the limit is 16 feet.
Detached accessory structures to single-family
and duplex homes, up to 750 square feet in area,
with structural spans of less than 14 feet* (30 feet if a
manufactured truss is used).
*For garage door headers the limit is 16 feet.
Rockeries not used as a retaining wall and not in
an ECA site, designed according to our prescriptive
rockery design (refer to Tip 321, Rockeries: Prescrip-
tive Design and Installation Standards)
Dormer additions to single-family and duplex
homes when all of the following criteria are met:
The maximum dormer width is 14 feet. New
dormers must be physically separate from existing
dormers, or they will be measured based on the
combined width.
The dormer is located at an existing habitable
story.
No more than 200 square feet of new usable floor
space is added to the story.
Structural framing plans and details are prepared
and stamped by a licensed architect or engineer.
Substantial alterations to single family homes that
substantially extends the physical and/or economic
life of the building and meet the limitations described
above for structural or non-structural alterations,
ground level one-story additions and/or dormer
additions. To qualify for a STFI, you will need
to show one of the following:
Structural plans prepared and stamped by a
licensed engineer showing seismic upgrades to
strengthen foundations and cripple walls (walls
supporting the house between the concrete foun-
dation and first floor) throughout the structure
Earthquake Home Retrofit approved plans for
strengthening the connection between the house’s
framing and foundation. The Earthquake Home
Retrofit permit must be issued prior to issuance
of STFI, and work completed prior to STFI final
inspection approval
The house was built new per the 1985 UBC or a
more recent code
Substantial alteration projects require certain upgrades
throughout the structure, including in areas where altera-
tions are not planned. See SRC R107.9 and STFI Permit
Checklist - Single Family and Duplex Buildings for code
requirements.
SDCI Tip #316—Subject-to-Field-Inspection (STFI) Permits page 3
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This Tip should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations. The applicant is responsible for compliance
with all code and rule requirements, whether or not described in this Tip.
General Plan Information that May be
Required to Determine if Your Project
Qualifies as STFI
1. All STFI permit applications require a completed and
signed STFI permit checklist:
Single Family and Duplex Buildings
Multifamily and Commercial Buildings
You must comply with all applicable codes to receive a
STFI permit. For projects in a multifamily or commercial
building, mark all items that apply to your project on the
Multifamily and Commercial Building STFI checklist. In-
spectors will review the checklist and also reference the
Seattle Building Code (SBC) in order to ensure compli-
ance regardless of what your plans portray. See Your
Responsibilities with STFI Permits later in this Tip.
2. SITE PLAN
You need to submit a site plan when you change the
outside of your house or accessory structure, or when
you do exterior work on your site. Your site plan must
show the location of all structures on the site, to repre-
sentative scale, and identify the location of the work to
be performed relative to existing conditions and property
lines. You should call out the exterior dimensions of the
property and all structures and the distance from all
property lines to the structure at its closest point. (See
Tip 103, Site Plan Requirements, Tip 220, Lot Cover-
age, Height and Yard Standards for Homes in Single
Family Zones, and Tip 303, Applicant Responsibilities
and Plan Requirements for Single Family and Two-Unit
Dwellings.)
STFI Projects that Require a Site Plan:
Ground level one-story additions
Detached accessory structures
Rockeries
Dormer additions
Demolition
Foundation repair and replacement
3. LOCATION PLAN
A location plan is a simple drawing showing the location
of the proposed work. It must be drawn to a reasonable
scale with the following dimensions and details:
Include the property address, assessor's parcel num-
ber, and legal description. You can find this informa-
tion on the King County Assessor website.
Show property lines, streets, building outline, and a
north arrow. When more than one building is on the
site, show and label each building.
For projects in a building with more than one tenant,
include a plan of the entire floor that shows each ten-
ant space and the area of work.
For projects involving repair, you must submit photo-
graphs showing the location and extent of damage
(including interior and exterior views of the damage
when appropriate) with your location plan.
STFI Projects that Require a Location Plan are:
Interior Alterations
Repairs to damaged buildings
4. FLOOR PLAN
We require a floor plan when your project involves
changes to the interior space of your building. Your
floor plan must show the layout and use(s) of the interior
space of the building, with the exact location and square
footage of work to be done. This drawing must have
clear dimensions, showing the already existing structure
and proposed work.
Existing structural information, that you provide, should
include:
Direction of framing, size (e.g., 2x8), spacing (16" on
center)
Span (length between supports)
Spacing (16" on center)
Location and size of openings
The path of travel or distance to exits
Energy code (insulation R-value)
Glazing u-factor
Ventilation requirements
Your floor plan must be made available at the site to be
verified during inspection. (See Tip 303, Applicant Re-
sponsibilities and Plan Requirements for Single Family
and Two-Unit Dwellings.)
STFI Projects that Require a Floor Plan:
Interior alterations
Ground level one-story additions
Dormer additions
Detached accessory structures
Repairs to damaged buildings
SDCI Tip #316—Subject-to-Field-Inspection (STFI) Permits page 4
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This Tip should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations. The applicant is responsible for compliance
with all code and rule requirements, whether or not described in this Tip.
5. ELEVATION DRAWINGS
We require elevations when you propose changes to the
exterior envelope of your structure. An elevation shows
the height of the structure, including location of the plate
and roof ridge in relation to the existing and finished
grade. Your elevation must show the relationship of the
exterior wall to the slope of grade (sloped driveways and
ground elevations). (See Tip 303, Applicant Responsibili-
ties and Plan Requirements for Single-Family and Two-
Unit Dwellings.)
STFI Projects that Require Elevation Drawings:
Ground level one-story additions
Detached accessory structures
Rockeries
Dormer additions
6. CROSS SECTION DRAWINGS
Cross sections are required when you propose changes
within a wall or roof. A cross section is shown through a
typical wall from foundation to roof. You need to specify
materials size, spacing, and type. Show the foundation, wall
construction, insulation (for heated or air-conditioned space),
flooring, ceiling, roofing, ventilation and connections. (See
Tip 303, Applicant Responsibilities and Plan Requirements
for Single-Family and Two-Unit Dwellings, Figures 3 and 4.)
Your Responsibilities with STFI Permits
You are responsible for the knowledge of, and compli-
ance with, all applicable codes, including, but not limited
to, land use, building, mechanical, electrical, energy,
shoreline, critical areas, and grading rules. You will need
to sign a statement that acknowledges that you did not
receive a complete code review prior to getting your
permit. (If you are working on a single family house or
duplex, see Tip 303, Applicant Responsibilities and Plan
Requirements for Single-Family and Two-Unit Dwellings.)
Our building or mechanical inspector(s) can require you
to make any changes to comply with the applicable
codes. For example, new windows will need to be re-
moved or replaced if they did not meet the energy code
requirements. In addition, we may revoke your permit
at the discretion of our building or mechanical inspector
should the information provided prove to be inaccurate.
You will be required to submit new plans to us for our
review if your permit is revoked.
Applying for a STFI Permit
To apply for a STFI permit, submit your plans and
documents electronically through your Seattle Services
Portal. See the How to Submit a Construction Subject-
to-Field-Inspection Application article in the Seattle
Services Portal Help Center for step-by-step submittal
instructions at https://seattlegov.zendesk.com/hc/
en-us/articles/115001670293-How-to-Submit-a-
Construction-Subject-to-Field-Inspection-Appli-
cation. Remember to include your property’s legal
description with the King County Assessor’s parcel
number. Be ready to pay the full permit fee.
It is important that your plans clearly show all the work
you propose to do to avoid processing delays. Once we
issue a permit it will be limited to the scope defined and
illustrated in the documents you filed.
The following documents, available on our forms
website, may be used in conjunction with STFI permit
applications.
STFI Checklist – Single Family and Duplex or Multi-
family and Commercial
Rat Abatement Declaration (demolition only)
STFI Permits Requiring a Pre-Application
Site Visit
A Pre-Application Site Visit (PASV) with an STFI permit
is required only if you will disturb more than 750 square
feet of land or if you will disturb any land on a site with
an environmentally critical area (ECA).
Based upon your proposed development and the
affected ECA, we may require a reviewed or routed
review application in lieu of a STFI.
For STFI permits that do not require a PASV, a site in-
spector will perform an initial ground disturbance inspec-
tion at the start of construction AND after your permit has
been issued. You must schedule this inspection prior
to starting excavation by calling our 24-hour inspection
request line, (206) 684-8900. Calls before 7:00 a.m.
should be scheduled for an inspection within 24 hours.
When we issue your permit we charge you a fee as a
deposit toward anticipated site inspections.
STFI Permits Requiring a Salvage
Assessment
In Seattle, you must salvage or recycle asphalt paving,
brick, concrete, cardboard, metal, gypsum scrap, and
SDCI Tip #316—Subject-to-Field-Inspection (STFI) Permits page 5
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This Tip should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations. The applicant is responsible for compliance
with all code and rule requirements, whether or not described in this Tip.
unpainted and untreated wood instead of putting these
materials in a disposal container at either your job site or
a receiving facility.
For a list of facilities complying with Seattle’s facility
certification program go to www.seattle.gov/utilities/
businesses-and-key-accounts/construction/con-
struction-waste/recycling-requirements/certified-
facilities.
More information on the city’s material bans is at www.se-
attle.gov/utilities/businesses-and-key-accounts/con-
struction/construction-waste/recycling-requirements.
We require a salvage assessment for projects involv-
ing some demolition and having either an area of work
greater than 750 square feet or project value greater
than $75,000.
The salvage assessment helps identify which waste ma-
terials from your project can possibly be salvaged and
reused on your construction project or someone else’s.
If you are taking materials from one project to be used
on another project site, or if your project involves partial
building removal or alterations, then the salvage assess-
ment can be filled out by the building owner or agent.
Waste from demolishing a building is more complex so
the salvage assessment must be completed by a sal-
vage verifier meeting one of the following requirements:
An established salvage and reuse retail company
A licensed contractor specializing in deconstruction
A demolition company with the knowledge of local
and current salvage retail markets.
A list of possible verifying agents may be found through
resources such as The Northwest Building
Salvage
Network.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens if my application is rejected?
If we determine your project does not qualify for a STFI per-
mit, we will give you detailed information on how to proceed.
2. What happens if there are minor problems with
my application?
If our assessment of your application determines that we
need additional information, we will notify you on how to
resubmit your application material.
3. How long does it take to get STFI permits issued?
We typically process STFI permits within one working
day from the date of filing. This time frame varies due to
volume fluctuations associated with seasonal demands,
but we will make every effort to process your application
as soon as possible.
4. Can I do work between the time I submit my
application and when it is issued?
NO. You can only do work that requires a permit once a
permit is issued.
Post-Final Inspection Approval Documen-
tation Submittal
A waste diversion plan should be submitted directly to
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) within 60 days of our final
inspection approval for projects that are either greater
than 750 square feet or that have a project value greater
than $75,000. Your report should identify the actual
materials produced from your project, their quantity,
who the hauler was, and where the materials were taken
for reuse, recycling, and disposal. A copy of the waste
diversion report and directions for how you submit it
to SPU are found at www.seattle.gov/utilities/busi-
nesses-and-key-accounts.
For technical questions on how to fill out the waste
diversion plan or report, please contact Seattle Public
Utilities at W[email protected].
Projects that Do Not Qualify as a STFI
You cannot get a STFI for the following projects:
Second story and two-story additions to single-family
residences.
Dormer additions creating a new second floor for
habitable living space.
Additions to single-family and duplex structure in
excess of 750 square feet.
Detached structures accessory to single-family and
duplex that are more than 750 square feet.
Change of use or occupancy group, or change in
character of occupancy.
Exterior alterations and additions of any kind to com-
mercial or multifamily structures.
Structural alterations of any kind to commercial or
multifamily structures.
Deck additions to single-family residences or
duplexes greater than 8 feet above grade.
SDCI Tip #316—Subject-to-Field-Inspection (STFI) Permits page 6
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This Tip should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations. The applicant is responsible for compliance
with all code and rule requirements, whether or not described in this Tip.
Deck additions to single-family residences or
accessory structures located on a roof or above any
enclosed space such as a basement, garage, or shed.
Existing unheated attic to be converted into living/
habitable space.
Additions that do not meet the prescriptive require-
ments of the Seattle Energy Code or prescriptive
ventilation requirements of the Mechanical Code.
Initial tenant improvements for the first tenant in
the space.
Commercial tenant improvements that modify the
exits in commercial occupancies in any way (even
relocating an existing exit door).
Alterations that change the number and/or position
of plumbing fixtures (such as water closets, sinks,
urinals, and showers) in a bathroom facility in com-
mercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings except
for those within a dwelling unit.
Openings in bearing walls supporting more than
one story and roof loads, structural beam spans in
excess of 14 feet* (30 feet span for manufactured
trusses that support roof and snow load only –
trusses shall be designed by a licensed engineer
and fabricated in a WABO certified facility. Provide
the engineer’s stamped documents to the SDCI field
inspector).
*For garage door headers the limit is 16 feet.
Projects that require routing to other City departments.
Relocating a structure on your property.
Projects that require SEPA review (see
Director’s Rule 29-2015, State Environmental Policy
Act (SEPA) Exemptions From Environmental
Review Requirements When Establishing, Changing
or Expanding A Use).
Retaining walls.
All wood foundations and foundations using piles,
including pipe piles and pin piles.
Demolishing residential structures without an abate-
ment order, or removal of a residential use
requiring a Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance
(TRAO) license.
Repairs to a nonconforming structure built
without permits.
Changing the number of dwelling units in any building.
Modifying parking spaces except when accessory to
a single family dwelling.
Projects that require special inspections (structural or
geotechnical).
Projects that include new impervious surface in a
Category 1 peat settlement-prone area.
Construction using atypical materials or methods.
Using a code modification for alternate materials.
Substantial alterations to any building that is
not a single-family home (including duplexes
and townhomes).
Converting an existing structure to an Accessory
Dwelling Unit (ADU) or Detached Accessory Dwelling
Unit (DADU).
Establishing or constructing an ADU or DADU.
This Tip outlines the most common criteria for a proj-
ect to qualify as an STFI. Your project may have other
conditions that would require a plan review. These items
vary depending on the specifics of your project and site.
We will address them individually during our assessment
of your application.
Permit Processing for Projects that Do
Not Qualify as STFI
Projects that do not qualify for STFI require plan re-
view. You will need to prepare more detailed plans and
schedule an appointment to submit your plans. The time
it takes to get your permit depends on how complex
your project is, how many corrections you need to make
to your plans, and how quickly and completely you
respond to plan review comments.
For additional information on the plan review process,
please visit our website at www.seattle.gov/sdci/per-
mits, see Tip 101, Getting a Single-Family Building
Permit From SDCI and Tip 102, Small Business: Getting
Your Use and Building Permit From SDCI, or contact the
Applicant Services Center (ASC), www.seattle.gov/sdci/
about-us/who-we-are/applicant-services-center.
Helpful Tips
The following Tips, mentioned earlier in this document,
are available online at:
Tip 101, Getting a Single-Family Building Permit
From SDCI
SDCI Tip #316—Subject-to-Field-Inspection (STFI) Permits page 7
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This Tip should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations. The applicant is responsible for compliance
with all code and rule requirements, whether or not described in this Tip.
Links to electronic versions of SDCI Tips, Director's
Rules, and the Seattle Municipal Code are available
on our website at www.seattle.gov/sdci.
Access to Information
Tip 102, Small Business: Getting Your Use and Build-
ing Permit From SDCI
Tip 103, Site Plan Requirements
Tip 104, Getting an Over-the-Counter Permit
Tip 220, Lot Coverage, Height and Yard Standards
for Homes in Single-Family Zones
Tip 303, Applicant Responsibilities and Plan
Requirements for Single-Family and Two Unit Dwell-
ing Units
Tip 321, Rockeries: Prescriptive Design and Installa-
tion Standards
Tip 336, Sustainable Building and Reuse of Building
Materials
Tip 337, Demolition Permits
Code References
Seattle Building Code
Seattle Mechanical Code
Seattle Energy Code
Seattle Residential Code
Seattle Land Use and Zoning Code
