Plumbing guides for cities across the Seattle area

Which Seattle-area cities does this guide cover?

Plumbing rules in the Seattle area change at the city line. The state license rules are the same everywhere in Washington, but the permit office, the water and sewer utility and the emergency numbers depend on where the property is. Each city page below explains those local details with links to official sources.

• Bellevue: Eastside King County city outside Public Health's permit area, so plumbing permits come from the city. The page covers Bellevue's water and sewer utility, its permit office and local housing factors.
• Everett: Snohomish County city north of Seattle. The page covers who supplies water and sewer service, where plumbing permits come from and what local housing stock means for pipes.
• Kent: South King County city with its own permit office. The page covers Kent's utility, permits and the local factors that affect drainage and sewer work.
• Kirkland: Lake Washington city with its own building department. The page covers the local water and sewer utilities, permits and plumbing considerations for older and newer homes.
• Lynnwood: Snohomish County city north of Seattle. The page covers Lynnwood's utility and permit offices and what its housing mix means for plumbing work.
• Redmond: Eastside King County city. The page covers Redmond's water and sewer service, plumbing permits and what to check before water heater or sewer work.
• Renton: South King County city. The page covers whom to call for water and sewer issues, where permits come from and local housing factors.
• Shoreline: City on Seattle's northern border. Because it is outside Seattle, SPU side sewer permits and Public Health's Seattle permits do not automatically apply; the page explains which utility and permit office do.

Seattle itself is covered throughout the rest of this site, starting with the home page and the services section.

What changes when you live outside Seattle?

Three things usually change when you cross the Seattle city limit:

1. The plumbing permit office. Public Health Seattle and King County issues plumbing and gas piping permits and performs inspections only in Seattle, Clyde Hill and unincorporated King County. If the property is in another King County city, Public Health says to get the permits from that city's building department, and it offers the King County Parcel Viewer to check jurisdiction. Everett and Lynnwood are in Snohomish County, so King County's program does not apply there at all.
2. The side sewer rules. Seattle's side sewer ownership rules, permit fees and inspection process come from Seattle Public Utilities and the Seattle Side Sewer Code. Other cities and sewer districts set their own rules for where owner responsibility ends and which permit applies, so a Seattle figure such as the $280 sanitary repair permit should not be assumed elsewhere.
3. The utility emergency line. SPU's Operations Response Center number is for SPU customers. If your water or sewer bill comes from another city or a water and sewer district, use the emergency number on that bill.

What stays the same across Washington?

• Contractor licensing. L&I says all plumbing contract work must be done by a licensed plumbing contractor under Chapter 18.106 RCW, and general contractors cannot offer, advertise or bid on plumbing work. That applies in every city.
• Plumber certification. The person doing paid plumbing work needs an L&I certificate, and trainees must be supervised.
• The owner exemption. RCW 18.106.150 says the plumbing chapter does not require a license for plumbing work at your own residence or on other property you own, and lets a householder get unpaid help from a friend, neighbor or relative who is not in the plumbing business. Local permits still apply.
• The license check. The L&I verify tool works statewide and shows license status, workers' comp, safety violations and bond lawsuits.

How do you find your permit office and utility?

• Check the top of your water or sewer bill for the provider's name and emergency number.
• Look up the parcel's city, as Public Health suggests, before applying for any permit.
• Ask the contractor which jurisdiction they will pull the permit in. A contractor who works across the region should know the answer without hesitation.

How does a referral request work outside Seattle?

The same way as in Seattle. Email us through the contact page with your city and ZIP code. We reply with next steps for your jurisdiction and, where we know a licensed contractor for your area, an introduction. We are an independent guide operated by SWKM GmbH, not a contractor, and we do not perform or schedule work.