Everett residential permits, approved faster.
We know how the City's Permit Services reviews residential projects, with planning, building, fire and civil review working together, so your ADU, addition, remodel or deck gets to approval with less back and forth.
- Permit specialists who know local code and zoning
- We prepare and submit your application through the City's online permitting portal
- In-house permit drawings at a fraction of traditional firm costs
- Free revisions until your permit is approved
Call today: (206) 312-2992
Evergreen Permits is a private residential permit service, not part of the City of Everett or any government agency.
Everett's permit specialists
Evergreen Permits is a team of architectural designers and permit specialists helping homeowners, contractors and architects. We do one thing exceptionally well: permits. No upsells, no construction services, just permits done right.
200+
Projects completed
5.0
Star Google rating
10+
Years experience
99%
Approval success rate
What do Everett homeowners worry about most when getting a permit?
We hear the same three questions on almost every project. Here are straight answers.
How long will this take?
The City does not publish fixed review targets. Your plans are reviewed in the order they arrive, by planning, building, fire and civil together, and each round returns one combined correction letter. We send a complete package the first time to avoid extra rounds, and you can follow every review in the City's portal.
See how the City reviews permits →Will the City send my plans back?
The City warns that incomplete or off-standard files can lead to extensive corrections, and its new critical area rules apply to applications received after June 1, 2026. We check your lot first, file to the City's document standards, answer every correction and revise for free until you're approved.
See what the City looks at →How much are permit fees?
The City builds your fee from your project's value, then adds a 75% plan review fee, a 10% planning review fee and a state fee. By the City's formula, a $20,000 remodel comes to about $1,311 before Fire Department review and other fees. We walk you through what applies to you.
Estimate your permit fees →How does Evergreen Permits make permitting easier?
We've permitted projects across the city, and we know how its review teams work. Here is how we take the weight off your shoulders.
- We submit to the City's document standards, because incomplete or off-standard files can lead to extensive corrections.
- We check your lot first for zoning, critical areas and stormwater, so surprises come before you file, not after.
- We answer every correction letter and revise for free until your permit is approved.
Consult
A free call to scope your project and flag what the City will require.
We prepare
Zoning and critical area checks, plus permit-ready drawings in-house.
Submit & manage
We submit through the City's portal and respond to every correction letter.
Get approved
Free revisions until your permit is issued, and support through inspections.
What can Evergreen Permits help you permit in Everett?
From a backyard cottage to a deck rebuild, we prepare the drawings, submit through the City's portal and manage every review round until you're approved.
What are the building permit requirements in Everett?
What the City looks at on a residential permit, and the items that most often shape a project's scope, timeline and cost.
Zoning & land use
Planning reviews against the City's land use code, including setbacks, lot coverage and building height. We check your parcel before drawing.
Four review teams
Planning, building, fire and civil each review your plans. Every round returns one compiled correction letter, or an approval.
Critical areas
New critical area regulations apply to applications received after June 1, 2026. They cover landslide and erosion hazard areas, wetlands, floodplains, and streams and lakes. A site study may be needed.
Stormwater & site work
Every project must manage stormwater on site. Work outside the building, like paving, grading and retaining walls, goes through a Site Work permit.
ADUs & DADUs
Up to two ADUs per lot, each under 1,000 sq ft. Each unit needs its own water meter and service, and units under 1,200 sq ft need no off-street car parking.
Structural design
The City's design criteria include a 25 psf minimum snow load, a 98 mph wind speed and an 18-inch frost depth. Some projects need engineering.
Trade permits
We prepare the main building permit. Your trades handle their own mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits.
The 180-day clock
An application expires if a correction letter goes unanswered for 180 days. An issued permit expires after 180 days with no inspection.
Who handles building permits in Everett, and how long does it take?
Who issues it
Permit Services
City of Everett, 2930 Wetmore Ave, 2nd Floor. Apply through the City's online permitting portal. Phone: 425-257-8810.
Visit Permit Services →Review time
In order received
The City does not publish fixed review targets. Planning, building, fire and civil review your plans, and each round returns one combined correction letter.
How review works →Faster path
Pre-approved designs
Plans certified through the City's Residential Basics program, including DADUs, skip design review. Site-specific permitting still applies.
Pre-approved designs →City fees
It depends
Valuation-based permit fee, plus a 75% plan review fee and smaller fees.
Cost breakdown →Sources: City of Everett Permit Services. Figures reviewed October 2026.
Everett projects we've taken to approval
Porch, deck & windows
Refreshing the exterior of a home
This project recovered a front porch and deck with new decking and railings, reworked windows and updated siding. We built the site plan and drawing set, and carried the permit through the City's review and correction cycle to approval.
Our role: site plan, permit drawings, online submittal and responses to review comments.
Storage barn
A new 512 sq ft storage barn on a residential lot
A detached structure this size is well past the City's 200 sq ft exemption, so it needs a full building permit. We prepared the site plan, the plan set and the structural calculations, and answered the City's building review letters until the permit was issued.
Our role: permit drawings, structural calculations and management of the review rounds. Photo: the existing home on the property.
What do clients say about Evergreen Permits?
Real reviews behind our 5-star Google rating.
“Benjamin and his team have been an absolute pleasure to work with on the design and permitting of our custom DADU in Edmonds. Our particular style of project and site required a significant amount of creativity & thoughtfulness…”
Read full review on Google →“Sara was our main point of contact and was absolutely amazing throughout the entire process. She guided us through multiple permit applications across various projects, always staying accessible and proactive in her communication…”
Read full review on Google →“I am a general contractor and we work with Evergreen on all of our projects. They take great care of our clients, do an excellent job and have very clear communication. We recommend them to everyone!”
Read full review on Google →Why do Everett homeowners choose Evergreen Permits?
We built Evergreen Permits around a simple idea: residential permitting should be easier to understand and more affordable to navigate. Here is what that looks like in practice.
Permit specialists in Everett
Our team specializes in permit assistance in Everett. A project coordinator manages everything for you, so you do not have to worry about a thing.
Free revisions until approval
We support you through every correction and resubmittal, and revisions are free until your permit is approved.
Permits are all we do
No construction services and no upsells. Our only job is getting your permit approved.
Drawings done in-house
Permit-ready drawings and site plans from our own team, at a fraction of the cost of traditional firms.
Simple for you
We guide you through scanning your home with a simple app, then verify every detail remotely, so there is no site visit to schedule.
A track record you can check
200+ projects, 10+ years of experience, a 99% approval success rate and a 5.0 Google rating.
Where are you in your project?
Pick the step that fits. You will leave each one with a clearer picture of what to expect.
Just exploring
Check whether you need a permit
Answer a few questions about your project and see what the City will likely require.
Do I Need a Permit?Planning a budget
Get a fee range in seconds
Enter your ZIP code and project type to see a planning range for your city permit fees.
Try the Permit Cost CalculatorReady to move
Talk to a permit specialist
It is a free consultation. You will leave with an honest picture of what permitting will involve before you commit to anything.
Book a Free ConsultationOr call (206) 312-2992
How much does a building permit cost in Everett?
The City's building permit fee is based on your project's valuation. A plan review fee, a planning review fee and a state fee are added on top, and the City publishes every piece.
Get a fee estimate for your project
Our free Permit Cost Calculator gives you a planning range in seconds. Enter your ZIP code and project type.
Fee rules are as published by the City of Everett (residential building permit fees effective January 1, 2026). Only the City sets your final fee, which depends on your valuation, scope and any additional permits. City fees are separate from professional fees for drawings and permit management. Source: City of Everett permit fee schedules.
Do I need a building permit in Everett?
Decks over 200 sq ft or 30 inches above grade, or attached to the house, fences over 7 feet, sheds over 200 sq ft and retaining walls over 4 feet need a permit, and re-roofing is covered by the City's residential permit checklist. Painting, tile, carpet, cabinets and countertops are exempt finish work. See the City's exemption list.
Not sure if your project needs a permit?
Answer a few questions and our free tool will tell you what to expect before you commit to anything.
Which Everett neighborhoods do we serve?
Every neighborhood has its own zoning, lot patterns and site conditions. We handle all of them.
Everett neighborhoods
- Bayside
- Boulevard Bluffs
- Cascade View
- Delta
- Evergreen
- Glacier View
- Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven
- Holly
- Lowell
- Northwest
- Pinehurst-Beverly Park
- Port Gardner
- Riverside
- Silver Lake
- South Forest Park
- Twin Creeks
- Valley View - Sylvan Crest - Larimer Ridge
- View Ridge - Madison
- Westmont
Everett permit questions, answered
How long does an Everett building permit take?
The City does not publish fixed review targets. Permits that need plan review are reviewed by each department in the order the applications were received, and the City lets you follow every discipline's status in its online permitting portal. Each review round returns one combined correction letter, and an application expires if a correction letter goes unanswered for 180 days. Complete drawings that follow the City's document standards are the best way to avoid extra rounds, and we handle every correction for you.
Can I build an ADU or DADU on my Everett lot?
Often, yes. The City allows dwelling units in every zone except Light Industrial and Heavy Industrial, and up to two ADUs per lot, each under 1,000 square feet. Setbacks, lot coverage and height still apply, each unit needs its own water meter and service, and dwellings under 1,200 square feet need no off-street car parking. The City also reduces some fees for ADUs: school impact fees are waived, transportation impact fees are waived for one ADU, and park impact fees are cut by 50%. Pre-approved DADU designs can shorten the process further.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Everett?
Possibly. The City says no Public Works permit is needed to remove the tree itself, but you should always check with the Planning Division first. In some cases you may need an assessment, or the tree may be required landscaping that has to be replaced. Work in the public right-of-way, like closing a sidewalk, needs its own permit. We screen for trees as part of every Everett permit.
Is my property inside Everett city limits?
It matters, because properties outside the city are permitted by Snohomish County instead. The City's permit technicians screen every application to confirm it is in the City's jurisdiction, and the City offers an Everett City Limits Tool to check an address. We confirm jurisdiction before we draw anything.
Do I need an architect or engineer for an Everett permit?
Not always. The City says plans for most small residential projects, additions, garages and remodels can be prepared by the homeowner if they meet the code's prescriptive requirements. Engineering calculations are required when a plan does not meet those requirements, has an unusual shape or has complex site conditions. A licensed Washington architect is required for buildings that require engineering, exceed four residential units or exceed 4,000 square feet. We tell you early which applies to your project.
Why use a permit service instead of my contractor or doing it myself?
Permits are the only thing we do, so we know what the City asks for and how to answer corrections. Our team specializes in permits, a project coordinator manages everything for you, our drawings are done in-house at a fraction of traditional firm cost, and revisions are free until approval. You stay in control, and your contractor can build from the approved permit.
Do you provide the drawings, or just the paperwork?
Both. Our in-house team produces permit drawings and site plans when your project needs them, and manages the full submission and approval process, so you don't need to coordinate with a separate draftsperson.
Do you work in my Everett neighborhood?
Yes, we serve every neighborhood as well as surrounding cities across the Puget Sound region.
Ready to get your permit approved faster?
Tell us about your project and we'll tell you exactly what the City will require, what it will cost and how the review should go.