Seattle ADU Screening & Routing
Screening is the short routing step after intake where Seattle assigns your application to the correct review disciplines and confirms the right permit type was opened. It is fast when the application matches the project, slow when the city has to reclassify it.
Last verified 2026-05-15
| Typical timeline | 1–2 weeks |
|---|---|
| Direct city fees | Varies |
| Reviewing department | SDCI |
| Submittal portal | https://cosaccela.seattle.gov/portal/ |
Timeline and fee ranges are project-level averages aggregated from public data and Golden State ADU project history. Authoritative current numbers live in the Seattle published fee schedule and the city's permit portal — verify before budgeting.
What screening & routing actually means in Seattle
Screening is the city's internal triage. A coordinator reviews the application package and decides which reviewers it goes to: building, land use, fire, public works/transportation, utilities, and sometimes geotech or environmental.
For an ADU, screening usually confirms the unit type (AADU, DADU, garage conversion), whether a SEPA or design review applies, and whether utility upgrades trigger a side review by Public Works or the local water/sewer district.
The applicant usually does not need to do anything during screening — but if the screener emails with questions, responding the same day matters. Each day of silence delays routing.
SEATTLE NOTE
For phased SDCI permits, Seattle publishes a dedicated help article on how to submit intake and corrections in the Seattle Services Portal — screening relies on the application matching the right phased permit type.
Why Seattle screening & routing hits the high end
- 01Whether the project obviously fits a standard ADU permit or requires reclassification
- 02Whether SEPA, design review, or shoreline review is triggered
- 03Whether the applicant responds promptly to screener questions
Where the dollars actually come from
- 01No separate fee in most jurisdictions — screening is typically rolled into the application or plan review fee
Exact dollar amounts vary by project. Use the Seattle fee schedule linked below for the current numbers.
Common homeowner mistakes
Screening pauses the clock if the city asks for clarification and you do not answer.
Filing a DADU as a generic accessory structure (or vice versa) gets flagged here and forces a restart.
Screening & Routing checklist
These are typical artifacts for an ADU project at this phase in Washington cities. Exact requirements depend on the project and the current Seattle submittal checklist — verify with the city before submitting.
- Email alerts turned on in the permit portal
- Phone number reachable during business hours
- Designer of record available to answer routing questions
When to call a pro
If Seattle screening asks whether your project triggers SEPA, design review, or a side utility review, get your designer of record on the email thread — answering wrong here can cost months downstream.
Seattle Screening & Routing questions
How long does Seattle ADU screening & routing take?
For an ADU project in Seattle, WA this phase typically runs 1–2 weeks. Complex sites, missing reports, first-time submittals, or busy permit seasons trend toward the upper end. Resubmittals reset the clock for that round. These ranges are project-level averages — verify the current published timeline with Seattle for your specific project.
What does screening & routing cost in Seattle?
Direct Seattle fees for this phase typically run Varies. That excludes designer/consultant time, impact fees, side-sewer / utility connection charges, and inspection fees that may apply separately. The authoritative current numbers live in the Seattle published fee schedule.
Which Seattle department handles screening & routing?
SDCI handles this phase; submittals and status live in https://cosaccela.seattle.gov/portal/. See Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI): https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/permits/common-projects/accessory-dwelling-units.
Go deeper: Read the Cold-weather concrete pours in the Puget Sound (2026 field guide) guide
What's the most common reason screening & routing stalls in Seattle?
Wrong file naming, missing owner authorization, and a site plan that disagrees with the underlying zoning are the usual stall causes in Seattle. We pre-screen every submittal against the current Seattle checklist before it goes to the city.
Go deeper: Read the Cold-weather concrete pours in the Puget Sound (2026 field guide) guide
Do I need a contractor or designer for Seattle screening & routing?
Not legally required for owner-applicants, but in Seattle every ADU permit eventually touches building, land use, fire, and public works review tracks. Contractor coordination is what keeps the schedule honest once the permit is in motion.
Go deeper: Read the Seattle electrical panel upgrade for ADUs: 100A to 400A (2026) guide
How do I check Seattle permit status during screening & routing?
Seattle publishes live status inside https://cosaccela.seattle.gov/portal/. The same record carries application data, review comments, fee balances, and (after issuance) inspection results.
Go deeper: Read the Seattle Design Review for ADUs: when it applies (2026) guide
Seattle permit sources we used
Every claim on this page about Seattle permits, fees, portals, or departments traces to an official city or zoning-code source. Numbers in the at-a-glance table come from our project history and public data; verify current values with the city before budgeting.
- Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) · city pageAccessory Dwelling Unit — SDCI
Defines AADU vs DADU in Seattle, lists the permit types required, and links to current standards.
Accessed 2026-06-03
- SDCI · help articleHow Do You Get a Permit?
Seattle's general permit pipeline: research, pre-app, application, intake, review, issuance, inspections.
Accessed 2026-06-03
- City of Seattle · portalSeattle Services Portal
Official submittal portal for SDCI permits, document uploads, and corrections.
Accessed 2026-06-03
- Seattle Services Portal — Help Center · help articleHow to Submit Intake and Corrections for SDCI Phased Permits
Seattle's official walkthrough for submitting a phased permit at intake and screening.
Accessed 2026-06-03