One thing many homeowners are not prepared for is the amount of time it takes to get a building permit in Seattle.  For example, it is not uncommon for the permitting process for a new single-family residence to take 6 months or longer.   Permits for multifamily projects  can take around 9 months to a year. The permit turnaround for additions and remodels can be considerably shorter but are still time-consuming.  With that in mind, it is worth discussing what is involved in the Seattle permitting process.  This will hopefully give you an idea of what to expect for your project.