Residential Renovation Permits in Seattle: 2,836 Permits in Twelve Months
The City of Seattle issued 2,836 permits for renovations, additions and alterations to houses and apartment buildings from October 2025 to September 2026, 675 of them in the quarter to September. Builtie reads the permits, estimates each project's stage and attaches the builder or general contractor with a verified decision maker.
The same four steps, whether the buyer is a builder, a designer, an owner or a company you want to acquire.
How many residential renovation permits Seattle issued
| Measure | Seattle |
|---|---|
| Permits issued, October 2025 to September 2026 | 2,836 |
| July to September 2026 | 675 |
| April to June 2026 | 811 |
| Share of Seattle's classified permits | 54% |
| Busiest month | June 2026 (288) |
| Rank among 21 markets | 6 of 21 |
This counts permits for renovations, additions and alterations to houses and apartment buildings that Builtie classifies as residential renovation. The quarter to September was down 17% on the quarter before.
Permits issued per month, read October 9, 2026 from Builtie's permit data.
The largest markets for residential renovation, read October 9, 2026.
Who decides on residential renovation in Seattle
The homeowner decides on most residential renovations, often through a renovation contractor or designer who then hires the trades; on apartment buildings the owner or property manager decides.
Trades these projects buy, and how many are open now
Each trade is bought at its own stage of the build. These are the trades residential renovation projects lean on, with the projects in Seattle still inside each trade's award window today:
| Trade | Projects in its award window now | Award window |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | 754 | 20% to 45% |
| Plumbing | 712 | 20% to 45% |
| HVAC and Mechanical | 759 | 20% to 45% |
| Drywall | 729 | 35% to 60% |
| Flooring | 625 | 50% to 70% |
| Tile | 582 | 45% to 65% |
| Cabinetry and Millwork | 577 | 50% to 70% |
| Countertops | 570 | 55% to 75% |
| Painting | 754 | 5% to 35% |
| Windows, Doors and Glazing | 644 | 15% to 35% |
What the Seattle data covers
Seattle's feed rarely names the builder: 1.4% of new-build permits carry one. Builtie resolves the company behind a Seattle project from other records, and does not publish a Seattle builder count because it would describe the feed rather than the market.
Other building types in Seattle: new residential construction, commercial renovation, institutional renovation, industrial renovation.
Month by month: Seattle construction permits by month. Every trade: Seattle construction leads by trade.
Plans
Builtie's Starter plan is $79 per seat per month (CAD) for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds the LinkedIn and email outreach you run yourself. Opening a project spends one credit, and the decision makers, emails, phones and AI call script inside it are included. Your monthly credits reset at each renewal, and extra credit packs are valid for 30 days. The free trial runs 7 days with 10 projects. Custom, where Builtie's team runs the outreach for you, starts from CAD $1,500 a month on top of a Growth seat.
Frequently asked questions
How many residential renovation permits were issued in Seattle in the last year?
2,836 from October 2025 to September 2026, 675 of them from July to September 2026, read October 9, 2026.
Who awards the trades on residential renovation projects?
The homeowner decides on most residential renovations, often through a renovation contractor or designer who then hires the trades; on apartment buildings the owner or property manager decides.
How do I find residential renovation projects in Seattle before they are awarded?
Work from the building permits: Builtie reads the City of Seattle's permits, estimates each project's stage and shows the ones still inside your trade's award window, with the builder or general contractor and a verified decision maker.
What does Builtie cost?
Starter is $79 per seat per month for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds LinkedIn and email outreach. There is a 7-day free trial with 10 projects.