ReadyDocs
READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESWASHINGTONKING COUNTY
FILE 53033 · COUNTY OF KINGSEAT · SEATTLEPOPULATION · 2.3MVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

King.

King County in Washington. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Seattle
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

King County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatSeattle
Population (est.)2.3M
FIPS53033
Building departmentKing County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division
Permit portalKing County Permitting Portal (ACA)
Fire marshalKing County Fire Marshal's Office
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
King
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 53033
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

King County enforces the 2021 International Building Code and International Residential Code with local amendments.

King County Permitting Division manages development only for unincorporated areas of the county. Incorporated cities, such as Seattle, Bellevue, and Kent, maintain their own independent building departments and permit portals. Development in unincorporated areas is subject to specific critical area overlays, including flood hazard zones, seismic hazard areas, and steep slope restrictions.

King County enforces a strict Critical Areas Ordinance that requires specialized reports and buffers for development near wetlands, streams, and wildlife habitat conservation areas.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is Washington Department of Labor & Industries. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · King County Department of Local Services, Permitting DivisionLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors are not required to register locally, provided they hold a valid Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contractor registration.

Building

King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

King County Permitting Portal (ACA)

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

King County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What King County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
L&I workers' comp required with employees
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
$30k general / $15k specialty contractor bond
State or county
County overlayContractors must maintain state-mandated liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage, with no additional county-specific bond requirements beyond standard state licensing.
Verify
Varies
King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division
Source · King County Department of Local Services, Permitting DivisionVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN KING COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in King County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

SeattleKing County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN KING COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in King County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

Washington Department of Labor & Industries

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/washington
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

King County Permitting Portal (ACA)
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

King County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in King County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through Washington Department of Labor & Industries. King County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · Washington Department of Labor & Industries
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

King County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←