DDES yearly statistics:
Permit processing performance measures
Since 1996, King County's Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) has observed guidelines setting target time periods for processing key permit applications. These targets are:
| Permit type | Target time period |
|---|---|
| New residential building permits | 90 days |
| Residential remodels | 40 days |
| Residential appurtenances, such as decks and garages | 15 days |
| Residential appurtenances requiring substantial site review | 40 days |
| SEPA exempt clearing and grading | 45 days |
| Clearing and grading requiring SEPA review | 90 days |
| All other permit applications except | 120 days |
| preliminary plats | 150 days |
King County is required by state law (RCW 36.70B.080, external links) to provide a performance report on its permit timelines.
DDES' performance on its permit targets for calendar year 2007 is provided below and past years also are available at DDES' yearly statistics archive.
Please note: DDES issues permits for property in unincorporated King County only. For information on property within a city boundary (Seattle, Issaquah, Kent, etc.) in King County, you must contact the city directly.
DDES 2007 permit processing performance summary
Building Services
| KEY PERMITS* 2007 |
Target days | Total permits | Mutually agreed time extension |
Average days | # within target | % within target | # outside target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential model homes (Basics) | 90 | 759 | 3 | 758 | 100% | 1 | |
| Residential custom homes | 90 | 629 | 60 | 527 | 84% | 102 | |
| Residential minor additions | 15 | 458 | 10 | 357 | 78% | 101 | |
| New commercial buildings | 120 | 47 | 95 | 36 | 77% | 11 | |
| Multi-family housing | 120 | 7 | 152 | 2 | 29% | 5 | |
| Commercial tenant improvements | 120 | 59 | 26 | 59 | 100% | 0 |
*Key permits are individual permit types that are considered representative of major construction groups.
| ALL PERMITS BY CLOCK TARGET* 2007 |
Total permits | Mutually agreed time extension |
Average days | # within target | % within target | # outside target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All building permits with 15 day target | 463 | 21 | 360 | 78% | 103 | |
| All building permits with 40 day target | 711 | 50 | 402 | 57% | 309 | |
| All building permits with 90 day target | 1921 | 43 | 1793 | 93% | 128 | |
| All building permits with 120 day target | 2921 | 62 | 2869 | 98% | 52 | |
| Totals | 6016 |
*Excludes less than 1% of permits that did not have targets assigned.
Land Use Services
| KEY PERMITS* 2007 |
Target days | Total permits | Mutually agreed time extension |
Average days | # within target | % within target | # outside target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional use | 120 | 17 | 96 | 15 | 88% | 2 | |
| Preliminary plats | 150 | 19 | 136 | 12 | 63% | 7 | |
| Preliminary short plats | 120 | 67 | 85 | 57 | 85% | 10 | |
| Lot line adjustments | 120 | 83 | 27 | 82 | 99% | 1 | |
| Right-of-way | 120 | 24 | 75 | 17 | 71% | 7 | |
| Clearing/Grading | 45 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 100% | 0 | |
| Clearing/Grading | 90 | 461 | 25 | 441 | 96% | 20 |
*Key permits are individual permit types that are considered representative of major construction groups.
| ALL PERMITS BY CLOCK TARGET* 2007 |
Total permits | Mutually agreed time extension |
Average days | # within target | % within target | # outside target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All land use permits with 45 day target | 3 | 14 | 3 | 100% | 0 | |
| All land use permits with 90 day target | 461 | 24.5 | 441 | 96% | 20 | |
| All land use permits with 120 day target | 498 | 84 | 418 | 84% | 80 | |
| All land use permits with 150 day target | 23 | 110 | 16 | 70% | 7 | |
| Totals | 985 |
*Excludes less than 1% of permits that did not have targets assigned.
For statistics from past years, see DDES' yearly statistics archive.
For questions or more information, please contact Tim Attebery, Public Affairs Director, at 206-296-6682 or e-mail DDESWebInquiries@kingcounty.gov.