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Residential construction
Click the tabs below to learn more about residential construction.
Overview
Residential construction consists of any work on single family, duplex, or townhome buildings constructed under the provisions of the International Residential Code (IRC) or their related sites. A permit is required for most work including but not limited to the following, except as exempted by code:
Building permits:
- New construction of single family homes (SFR), duplexes, or townhomes
- Additions, remodels, or repairs to single family homes (SFR), duplexes, or townhomes.
- Accessory structures (garages, sheds, carports)
- Accessory dwelling units (ADUs & DADUs), mother-in-law units
- Infill dwelling units
- Adult family homes
- Mobile/Manufactured homes
- Swimming pools, hot tubs, & spas
- Decks, porches, or exterior stairs
- Residential re-roof
- Solar panel installation (solar panel permit)
- Demolition of buildings on a residential property (demolition permit)
Trade permits:
- Mechanical equipment/fixtures on a residential property
- Plumbing fixtures in a residential property
- Electrical work in a residential property
- Residential sprinkler systems for fire suppression (inside building)
For residential site work (outside of the building), see our site development page.
For multi-family or mixed-use residential, see our commercial construction page.
Permit applications
Paper applications:
The below permit types are only available as paper applications at this time and must be submitted in hard copy:
Paper submittal instructions: Please reference the Permit application submittal & re-submittal Instructions (PDF) for instructions on dropping off hard copy permit applications to our lobby drop box.
Online applications:
Visit the online permitting portal to apply for the below listed permits types online:
- Building Online: re-roofing for SFR and duplex only
- Demolition Permit
- Electrical Permit
- Fire Suppression Permit
- Mechanical Permit
- Plumbing Permit
- Public Works Permit: for site development/civil work
- Water/Sewer Utility Permit: for services, not utility mains
- Tank Permit
Online submittal instructions: Please follow the permit document upload standards & instructions (PDF) for submitting digital documents on the online permitting portal for all permit types that require plan review and/or documents to be included.
City of Everett business license required:
Contractors working in the city limits of Everett need a current City of Everett business license. For more information visit the Business License web page or email the City Clerk’s Office for business license numbers or account status information.
Checklists & handouts
The following list contains informational handouts and submittal checklists that are applicable to residential construction. Click on the link to open the document that best fits the type of project you are proposing or information you are seeking.
- Residential construction submittal checklist (PDF)
- Residential basic review checklist (PDF)
- Accessory structures (PDF)
- Accessory dwelling units (ADU & DADU) webpage
- Building height (PDF)
- Adult family home checklist (PDF)
- Adult family home WABO inspections (PDF)
- Family home childcare (PDF)
- Heat pump installation (PDF)
- Water heater replacement (PDF)
- Propane (PDF)
- Construction codes (PDF)
- Fence Handout (PDF)
- Typical Order of Residential Inspections (PDF)
- Permit Services self-serve resource guide (PDF)
Permit fees
The following list contains fee schedules that are applicable to residential construction and their associated impact fees.
- SRF, townhouse & duplex permit fees (PDF)
- Impact Fees - Traffic, School, Parks (PDF)
- Utility & system development fees (PDF)
- Public Works permit fees (PDF)
- Electrical permit fees (PDF)
- Mechanical & plumbing permit fees (PDF)
- Fire Dept review & inspection fees (PDF)
A 2.3% credit card convenience fee will be applied to all credit and debit card transactions, effective July 1, 2019.
Please reference the Building Official’s Administrative Guidelines (PDF) for administrative fees and the Permit Services refund policy.