Lake Forest Park residential permits, approved faster.
We know how the City's Community Development Department reviews residential projects, from the online permit portal through plan review, 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 permit 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 Lake Forest Park or any government agency.
Lake Forest Park's permit specialists
Evergreen Permits is a team of architectural designers and permit specialists helping Lake Forest Park 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 Lake Forest Park 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 gives about 8 weeks as the typical review time for building permits of any size. We send a complete package and checklist the first time to keep you to as few rounds as possible.
See review times →Will the City send my plans back?
A missing checklist can stop an application, and trees, slopes and impervious surface limits can add steps. We check your lot before we draw, answer every comment 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 plan review at 65% of the permit fee, a state surcharge and a 10% technology surcharge. We walk you through what applies to you before you commit.
Estimate your permit fees →How does Evergreen Permits make permitting easier?
We've taken projects through the City's review, from a patio cover with skylights to an interior remodel, and we know how the Permit Center works. Here is how we take the weight off your shoulders.
- We check your lot first for zoning, impervious surface, trees and critical areas, so surprises come before you file, not after.
- We submit a complete application with the checklist through the permit portal, so review starts as soon as possible.
- We answer every comment 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, setback and coverage checks, plus permit-ready drawings in-house.
Submit & manage
We submit through the permit portal and respond to every review comment.
Get approved
Free revisions until your permit is issued, and support through inspections.
What can Evergreen Permits help you permit in Lake Forest Park?
From a backyard cottage to a deck rebuild, we prepare the drawings, submit through the City's permit portal and manage every review round until you're approved.
What are the building permit requirements in Lake Forest Park?
What the City looks at on a residential permit, and the items that most often shape a project's scope, timeline and cost.
Online only, with a checklist
Applications can't be submitted in person with paper plans. You apply through the permit portal, upload your plans and submit a completed checklist, which is required for every building permit except over-the-counter ones.
Eight-week review
The City gives about 8 weeks as the typical review time for building permits of any size. Inspections can't be scheduled until the permit is issued, because a receipt is not a permit.
ADUs
A lot with a single-family home can have up to two ADUs of up to 1,000 sq ft each. The lot must be connected to a public sewer. Each ADU needs one parking space unless it is within a half mile of a major transit stop.
ADU placement
An ADU can be up to 25 feet tall. It must sit at least 15 feet from the rear property line, unless the lot abuts a public alley, and it must meet the zone's lot coverage, setback and tree canopy standards.
Garage conversions
The City treats a conversion like new construction: permits and plans, full insulation, egress for any bedroom and no doors or windows opening into the garage. The City may also require replacement parking.
Critical areas & slopes
Streams, wetlands, landslide hazard areas and steep slopes each have their own City checklist, and work in them can require a geotechnical report. We check your lot early.
Trees
Tree permits go through the same portal and start at $120. Major removals need an arborist report and a posted notice of application for 14 days before the permit can be issued.
Stormwater
The City uses the King County Surface Water Design Manual, and single-family building permits pay a surface water plan review fee of $300, or $600 when an engineering plan is required.
Who handles building permits in Lake Forest Park, and how long does it take?
Who issues it
Community Development
City of Lake Forest Park, 17425 Ballinger Way NE. All applications go through the online permit portal. The counter is open Monday to Thursday. Permit Coordinator: 206-957-2813.
Permit Center →Review time
About 8 weeks
The City gives 8 weeks as the typical review time for all building permits, regardless of size or scope. Mechanical, plumbing and most side sewer permits are issued over the counter.
Help topics →ADU rules
Up to two per lot
Up to 1,000 sq ft each, attached or in an accessory building, on lots connected to the public sewer.
ADU help topic →City fees
It depends
Valuation-based permit fee, plus plan review, a state surcharge and a technology surcharge.
Cost breakdown →Sources: City of Lake Forest Park Community Development Department, its help topics and its adopted 2026 user fee schedule. Figures reviewed October 2026.
A Lake Forest Park project, in detail
Patio cover with skylights · Lake Forest Park
Adding a roofed outdoor room to the back of a home
The owners wanted a 420-square-foot roof over a new patio, with skylights, on a lot of about 9,400 square feet. We prepared the permit drawings and worked with a structural engineer, and the City issued the building permit in October 2025.
Our role: zoning and impervious surface checks, permit drawings and site plan, coordination with the structural engineer and the online submittal.
What the permit set covers
Staying under the impervious surface limit
The site plan adds up the new patio roof and about 577 square feet of new paving. The total comes to 44% impervious surface, just under the 45% the zone allows, so we checked it before we drew. The images for this project are 3D renderings of the design.
What do clients say about Evergreen Permits?
Real reviews behind our 5-star Google rating.
“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 →“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 →Why do Lake Forest Park 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 Lake Forest Park
Our team specializes in permit assistance in Lake Forest Park. 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.
Call (206) 312-2992
Or Book a Free ConsultationHow much does a building permit cost in Lake Forest Park?
The City builds your fee from your project's valuation, using set costs of $170.80 per square foot for a standard home, $206.65 for a custom home and $69.64 for a utility space or garage. Plan review is 65% of the building permit fee, and the City adds a $6.50 state surcharge and a 10% technology surcharge. The easiest way to see a range for your project is our free calculator.
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 set by the City of Lake Forest Park in its adopted 2026 user fee schedule. Credit and debit card payments add 3%. 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: the City's 2026 Fee Schedule.
Do I need a building permit in Lake Forest Park?
One-story detached sheds up to 120 sq ft, fences up to 6 feet (lower in the front yard), retaining walls up to 4 feet and decks up to 200 sq ft that are no more than 30 inches above grade, aren't attached to the home and don't serve the required exit door don't need a building permit. Painting, tile, carpet, cabinets and countertops are exempt finish work. Some of these still need the planning department's approval, so check the City's exempt work list first.
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.
Lake Forest Park permit questions, answered
How long does a Lake Forest Park building permit take?
The City gives about 8 weeks as the typical review time for all building permits, regardless of size or scope. Mechanical, plumbing and most side sewer permits are issued over the counter. Applications go through the online permit portal with a completed checklist, and complete drawings are the best way to avoid extra rounds. We handle every correction for you.
Can I build an ADU or DADU on my Lake Forest Park lot?
Often, yes. A lot with a single-family home can have up to two ADUs, each up to 1,000 square feet, inside the home or in an accessory building. The lot must be connected to a public sewer, and each ADU needs one parking space unless it is within a half mile of a major transit stop. An ADU can be up to 25 feet tall and must sit at least 15 feet from the rear property line unless the lot abuts a public alley. It also has to meet the zone's lot coverage, setback and tree canopy standards. A feasibility study confirms what your property can support before you pay for full drawings.
Can I convert my garage into living space in Lake Forest Park?
Yes, with permits and plans. The City applies the same requirements as new construction: the new heated area must be fully insulated, any bedroom needs egress, and doors or windows can't open into the garage. Converting 150 square feet or more of conditioned space also needs extra energy credits, and the City may require replacement parking.
Do I need a permit for a fence or a deck in Lake Forest Park?
Fences don't need a permit if they are under 4 feet high in the front yard or within 20 feet of the front lot line, or under 6 feet high in the back yard, and they can't block sight-distance triangles. A deck needs a permit unless it is up to 200 square feet, no more than 30 inches above grade, detached from the home and not serving the required exit door, and even then planning approval may apply.
My Lake Forest Park lot is on a slope or near a stream. Does that change the permit?
It can. The City has separate checklists for streams, wetlands, landslide hazard areas and steep slopes, and work in them can require a geotechnical report. We check your lot early, so you know what to expect before you file.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Lake Forest Park?
Tree permits go through the permit portal with a $120 application fee. Major removals need an arborist report and a notice of application posted for 14 days before the permit can be issued, and the City bills its urban forest planner's review at $95 an hour. We include tree questions in our early lot check.
Is my property inside Lake Forest Park city limits?
It matters, because the City only issues permits inside its limits, and a Lake Forest Park mailing address doesn't always match the city boundary. We confirm jurisdiction first. If your address turns out to be outside the city, we'll tell you which jurisdiction to apply with.
Do I need a pre-application meeting in Lake Forest Park?
The City offers pre-application meetings, and it asks builders and developers of larger projects to contact Community Development before they start. We scope your project on a free consultation first, so you know what to expect before you file.
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 Lake Forest Park neighborhood?
Yes, we serve every part of Lake Forest Park 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.