Frequently Asked Questions

Building permit fees are available here.

If you are having issues with or have questions about the portal, please visit our Permit Portal FAQ page:
Sequim Permitting Portal | Sequim, WA - Official Website

If you are still having issues, please reach out to Staff!

Yes, a permit is required for both residential and commercial re-roofs. Our application is available on our portal. We require a site plan with the structure marked and the specifications of the materials being used.

Manufactured home re-roofs are permitted through Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Yes, if the wall is over 4 feet high, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall.  A permit is required if the wall is less than 4 feet high but supports a surcharge (heavy load). 
 You can include details of the retaining wall in your application.

You can request an inspection for an issued permit via our portal: https://cityofsequimwa-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/home.

Inspection requests must be made by 1pm the day prior to the requested date of inspection, and you must have an account and be listed on the permit in order to request one.

Contact Staff if you have any issues making a request.

The City does not perform inspections on Mondays.

Setbacks vary for a number of reasons, most notably zoning regulations. View your zone table to determine setbacks for your lot.

There are several ways to confirm the status of a permit and whether or not one has been issued.

You can call us at 360-683-4908, text us at 360-912-4432, email us at buildingdept@sequimwa.gov, or search on our permitting portal: Sequim Permitting Portal.

As a reminder, it is the joint responsibility of the property owner and the contractor(s) to ensure that all required permits have been issued before work begins. Work commenced without a permit may subject the property owner to enforcement action and penalty fees applied to the building permit.

No. Staff reviews permits in the order they come in once plan review fees are paid, regardless of the project scope.

View our zoning map. For information on what is allowed in your zone, see SMC 18.20 or contact Staff.

Yes, a residential building permit would be required for the new structure. An alteration permit may also be required from the Department of Labor & Industries.

No. Currently, tiny homes/park models are vehicles titled and licensed as travel trailers (built to ANSI standards). Park models are currently regulated as recreational vehicles per the Sequim Municipal Code (SMC) and are not allowed to be used as a dwelling or sleeping unit other than in an RV Park. Park models are also not allowed to be used as a satellite office per the SMC.

We do allow manufactured homes (built to HUD standards) to be placed (with a permit) on lots in city limits as a primary dwelling or as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).

Any structure on a lot must meet the currently adopted building code standards.

Fences over 7' require a permit. Fences over 8' also require engineering. The fence still must meet the sight triangle requirements for corner lots and not be built in the right of way. For state laws regarding fences, see RCW Chapter 16.60. For more information, see our handout on fences.

Visit our Residential Permit Activity Page for more information.

Only residential decks not more than thirty (30") inches above grade (ground level). They still need to be built to the current building code and meet all setbacks.

For further guidance, please see Chapter R507 of the International Residential Code (IRC) or the deck guide at AWC.org. *Please note that this guide is based on the 2015 code, so everything would need to meet the 2021 IRC.

For residential, one-story detached accessory structures, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. The structure needs to meet all setbacks and be built to the current building code.

For commercial, the maximum is 120 square feet.

The City does not provide surveying services. In order to accurately determine where your property lines are, please contact a certified surveyor of your choosing.

You can search for any recorded documents on the Clallam County Assessor's Page.
Alternatively, you can view the City of Sequim's Public Records Portal for potential violations on your property (or request records).

If your property is commercial, yes, through a Binding Site Plan.

If your property is residential, maybe. All lots created must be within 5,400-14,500 square feet for single-family residential lots. Contact the planning department for more information.

See our Design Criteria worksheet.

The City went live with our electronic permitting software in late 2024. We no longer accept paper submittals, but we do have a kiosk available for the public to use if they do not have access to a computer. You can also use the Sequim Public Library's resources.

Yes. These would all be over-the-counter permits, however, the requirements vary for manufactured homes. In manufactured homes, permits are required for water heaters, HVAC equipment, and gas lines from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Propane tanks installed for manufactured homes require a permit from the City of Sequim.

Water heaters need seismic strapping, an expansion tank, and the pressure relief valve needs to be plumbed directly to the outside. Additionally, the drain pan needs to be plumbed directly to the outside, unless it is installed in a garage.

Propane tanks require seismic strapping and a seismic shut-off valve.

The homeowner does not need to be present for a ductless heat pump inspection  as long as there is access to the outdoor unit.

The Building Department generally takes around 6-8 weeks from the time plan review fees are paid until the plans are approved. Most plans are also reviewed by Planning and Engineering. Applicants can check the status of their permit on their portal dashboard. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received after plan review fees are paid.

In addition to the City of Sequim business license endorsement purchased through the Department of Revenue, the City of Sequim requires a Certificate of Occupancy for every business operating within City limits. Whether you are brand new to the area or have operated here for years, it is important to ensure you have a current Certificate of Occupancy for several reasons:

Legal requirements:
 Ensures a building meets building and zoning code requirements prior to occupancy.
Safety assurance:
 Ensures all plumbing, fire safety, and structural features meet all the relevant safety standards prior to occupancy.
Zoning compliance:
 Ensures the business is allowed in the zone the building resides in and that it meets all other zoning stipulations set forth by the Sequim Municipal Code.
Insurance requirements:
 Some insurance companies may require proof of occupancy from a local jurisdiction, as this would ensure compliance with local requirements.
Possible occupancy restrictions:
This defines the occupancy limit in correlation with the business type, as outlined in Chapter 3 of the International Building Code (IBC). The maximum occupancy designation is entered on the official copy of the certificate.

How to apply for a Certificate of Occupancy permit:

If you are only applying for the Certificate of Occupancy due to a change in occupancy classification or a change in use and are not doing any work that would otherwise require a building permit, the process is straightforward. Go to our online permit portal and apply. Once the application is reviewed, we can typically issue the Certificate of Occupancy after an inspection is requested from our Building Official.

If you need a replacement Certificate of Occupancy due to it being lost, a change of ownership, a change of tenant, a business name change, or any other information that needs to be updated, we ask that you apply online, and there is no fee associated with this. The revised Certificate of Occupancy can typically be issued within two business days of application.

This and more how to's related to our portal can be found on our "Permitting and Land Use Resources and Checklists" page.

No, you do not need a permit from the City for a home alarm system installation from a company like SimpliSafe.