Deck cost in Seattle, WA
Typical cost: $17,907 (range $12,156 to $23,765)
Typical all-in
$17,907
Job cost plus the local permit fee at this size.
- Low
- $12,156
- Typical
- $17,907
- High
- $23,765
Walking surface only. A 16 by 20 deck is 320 sqft.
Breakdown
| Labor (allocated) | $8,424 |
|---|---|
| Materials (allocated) | $8,424 |
| Job subtotal | $16,848 |
| Permit | $1,059 |
| All-in typical | $17,907 |
Labor is adjusted for construction wages in this metro. Materials stay at the national figure. This is an estimate, not a contractor quote.
A typical attached deck we price is 16×20 (320 sf).
A typical deck in Seattle, WA is about $17,907, including a permit fee of $1,059.
What we assumed
For the permit line we assumed the Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review path (100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI), plus the 5% technology fee and the WA State Building Code Council fee, at the official $12,000 typical valuation, so listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $924.20, typical $1,058.60, and high $1,300.52. The DFI walk and the STFI and under-30-inch alternates are in the calculation note on this page.
Typical job we price for Deck in Seattle, WA
- Typical scope
- 16×20 = 320 sf
- Low scope
- 200 sf
- High scope
- 400 sf
- Project value for permit formula (typical)
- $12,000
- Project value range for permit formula
- $8,000 to $19,200
An attached deck, not a roof deck or a second story.
Mid-range 2026 job band for a typical 16×20 attached deck
Typical job sizes and assumed values from our published sources. Assumed values feed the permit formula. They are not the city's assessed value.
Local context
City facts
- County
- King County
- Population
- 784,777
- Estimate year
- 2025
- Source
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 city estimates (July 1, 2025)
Census and county figures. These are estimates, not a permit requirement.
Why deck costs differ in Seattle, WA
Labor for deck in Seattle, WA is adjusted for local construction wages. Materials stay at the national figure.
The official typical permit fee for deck in Seattle, WA is $1,058.60, the Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review path (100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI) at the official $12,000 typical valuation. Listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $924.20, typical $1,058.60, and high $1,300.52. Band arithmetic is in the calculation note on this page.
STFI, simple-prescriptive, or ground-level decks at ~140% of DFI, and decks under 30 inches above grade that may not need a building permit, are not used in the official totals. Those alternates are in the calculation note on this page.
Building and trade permits for Seattle, WA run through Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) under the official 2026 fee schedule. The cited schedule is Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2 (source retrieved 2026-08-13). This deck row uses the full plan-review path (100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI) plus the 5% technology fee and the WA BCC fee. The DFI walk stays in the calculation note on this page. Peer listed typical permit fees in this cluster include Charlotte, NC $182.41, Denver, CO $172.50, Nashville, TN $91, Atlanta, GA $175, Austin, TX $577.39, Phoenix, AZ $646, Tucson, AZ $337.49, Portland, OR $102.69, Raleigh, NC $248, Tacoma, WA $521, St. Louis, MO $145. We only use fees extracted from the official schedule.
Uses the city fee schedule and BLS wage data. If a fee is not published, that line stays blank.
Cost details
Cost by size
| Size | All-in typical | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| 200 sf | $11,589 | $1,059 |
| 16×20 = 320 sf (typical) | $17,907 | $1,059 |
| 400 sf | $22,119 | $1,059 |
All-in at this size, adjusted for local wages. The permit is the city fee when the schedule lists one.
Labor vs materials
- Labor share
- 50%
- Materials share
- 50%
Labor $15–$35 per sq ft vs $30–$60 installed. We split labor and materials 50/50 to adjust labor for local wages.
Our labor and materials split for this estimate. It is for the local wage adjustment, not a surveyed contractor split.
What moves the price
What changes the total
- Size is the deck surface area. The size table lists the low, typical, and high.
- Labor for Deck in Seattle, WA is adjusted for local construction wages.
- The permit fee on the typical job is $1,058.60. The permit section on this page has the schedule detail.
Metro wage index
- Metro
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Metro construction mean hourly
- $42.11/hr
- Metro OEWS vintage
- May 2025
- National construction mean hourly
- $31.42/hr
- National OEWS vintage
- May 2025
- Labor wage multiplier
- 1.340× labor
- Method
- BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to the labor share only. Not a city-specific bid survey.
- Metro source
- BLS OEWS metro release
- National source
- BLS OEWS national release
For this metro the whole job is 1.17 times the national typical, because only the labor portion is adjusted for local wages.
Compare deck across metros
| City | All-in typical | Permit | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $13,704 | $182.41 | Open |
| Seattle, WA | $17,907 | $1,059 | This page |
| Denver, CO | $14,933 | $172.50 | Open |
| Nashville, TN | $13,843 | $91 | Open |
| Atlanta, GA | $13,855 | $175 | Open |
| Austin, TX | $14,041 | $577.39 | Open |
| Phoenix, AZ | $14,585 | $646 | Open |
| Tucson, AZ | $13,657 | $337.49 | Open |
| Portland, OR | $16,332 | $102.69 | Open |
| Raleigh, NC | $13,784 | $248 | Open |
| Tacoma, WA | $17,369 | $521 | Open |
| St. Louis, MO | $15,467 | $145 | Open |
Other home projects in Seattle, WA
| Job | All-in typical | Permit | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | $12,147 | $742.97 | Open |
| HVAC replacement | $8,392 | $126.73 | Open |
| Deck | $17,907 | $1,059 | This page |
| Kitchen remodel | $34,371 | $1,821 | Open |
Questions about this estimate
- How much does deck cost in Seattle, WA?
- Typical all-in is about $17,907. The official SDCI permit fee of $1,058.60 on the Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review path is included in the all-in.
- Is a permit required for Deck in Seattle, WA?
- Yes. Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) requires a permit for a typical Deck in Seattle, WA. The typical listed fee is $1,058.60. The official path is the Seattle SDCI Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan review (100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI). Listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $924.20, typical $1,058.60, and high $1,300.52.
- What is included in this Deck estimate for Seattle, WA?
- The estimate is labor adjusted for local wages in Seattle, WA, plus materials at the national figure, at the typical size in the table above. The official typical permit fee of $1,058.60 is included in the all-in typical. That fee is the official full plan-review path: building permit at 100% of DFI, plan review at 100% of DFI, the 5% technology fee, and the WA State Building Code Council fee. The STFI / ground-level path and decks under 30 inches above grade are not included in the typical.
- Why might the Seattle permit fee differ from this typical figure?
- The official Seattle, WA fee comes from Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2 (valuation). Listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $924.20, typical $1,058.60, and high $1,300.52. Band arithmetic and the STFI and under-30-inch alternates are in the calculation note on this page. Verify deck height and the plan-review path with Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI).
- How is the typical permit fee calculated for Deck in Seattle, WA?
- Listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $924.20, typical $1,058.60, and high $1,300.52. Full arithmetic is in the calculation note on this page.
- What project value is this Deck permit fee based on in Seattle, WA?
- The official typical project value is $12,000. Project values used only for the permit formula (not your total cost): low $8,000, typical $12,000, and high $19,200. This permit fee is the Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review valuation path. Listed fees are low $924.20, typical $1,058.60, and high $1,300.52. The walk is in the calculation note on this page.
Permit in Seattle
Fee schedule retrieved Aug 13, 2026
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) lists a typical permit fee of $1,059 for this Deck in Seattle, WA (range $924.20 to $1,301). Source: Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2.
Decks over 30 inches above grade generally need a building permit. Building-permit portion only (200% of DFI + 5% technology SMC 22.900A.100 + $6.50 WA BCC RCW 19.27.085) using Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle Tables D-1 and D-2 (retrieved 2026-08-13). Listed bands: low valuation $8,000 → $924.2; typical $12,000 → $1058.6; high $19,200 → $1300.52. Totals assume full plan review (200% of DFI), not STFI/ground-level (~140% of DFI) – that alternate path is not included in the official typical/low/high. Decks under 30 inches above grade may not need a building permit (no published amount).
Fee model
- Fee model
- Valuation-based
Typical $12,000: Tables D-1 and D-2 set DFI at $501.0 (Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle, SMC 22.900; source retrieved 2026-08-13). On the official path the building permit is 100% of DFI and plan review is 100% of DFI. That is the full plan-review path: 100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI, or 200% of DFI. Building plus plan review is the $1,002 building+plan subtotal. The technology fee is 5% of that $1,002. The WA State Building Code Council fee is a flat $6.50 when a building permit is issued, at low, typical, and high. Add the official pieces: DFI $501.0, building permit $501.0 + plan review $501.0 (100% of DFI) + technology $50.1 (5%, SMC 22.900A.100) + WA BCC $6.50 (RCW 19.27.085) = $1058.6. That is the official typical fee at the $12,000 typical project value. Low $8,000 valuation = $924.2 total ($437.0 building + $437.0 plan + $43.7 tech + $6.50 WA BCC). At $8,000 the DFI is $437.0. Building permit $437.0 plus plan review $437.0 is $874. Technology is 5% of $874, which is $43.7. Add the flat $6.50 WA BCC and the low total is $924.2. The high $19,200 valuation = $1300.52 total ($616.2 building + $616.2 plan + $61.62 tech + $6.50 WA BCC). At $19,200 the DFI is $616.2. Building permit $616.2 plus plan review $616.2 is $1,232.4. Technology is 5% of $1,232.4, which is $61.62. Add the flat $6.50 WA BCC and the high total is $1300.52. Listed totals use that full plan review (200% of DFI), not the STFI 40% plan-review / ~140% of DFI path. Simple, prescriptive, or ground-level decks may qualify as STFI with ~140% of DFI (100% building permit + 40% plan review) instead of 200% of DFI. Alternate paths not used in listed totals: STFI / simple-prescriptive / ground-level decks at ~140% of DFI (no published amount); decks under 30 inches above grade that may not need a building permit (no published amount). No separate STFI dollar total is listed. Decks over 30 inches above grade generally need a building permit. A deck under 30 inches above grade may not need a building permit, and that path is not assumed in the official bands. These figures are the building-permit portion only. Confirm deck height, STFI eligibility, and current SDCI fees with SDCI before filing.
Official permit schedule figures. Check the city's calculator before you apply.
Fee schedule
- Schedule year
- 2026
- Official schedule
- Official fee schedule
- Cited source
- Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2
- Retrieved
- Aug 13, 2026
- Department
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
City permit office figures. Confirm current fees with Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) before you apply.
Portal
- Department
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
- Apply online
- Official permit portal
City permit office figures. Confirm current requirements with Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) before you apply.
Line items
| Line item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building permit (100% of DFI) | $501 |
| Plan review (100% of DFI) | $501 |
| Technology fee (5%) | $50.10 |
| WA State Building Code Council fee | $6.50 |
| STFI / simple-prescriptive / ground-level deck path (~140% of DFI) | Blank |
| Decks under 30 inches above grade / no building permit | Blank |
Assumed project value
| Band | Assumed project value |
|---|---|
| Low | $8,000 |
| Typical | $12,000 |
| High | $19,200 |
Process
- Does a typical Deck in Seattle, WA need a permit?
- A typical Deck in Seattle, WA is listed as requiring a permit. Decks over 30 inches above grade generally need a building permit.
- Who issues the permit in Seattle, WA, and where do I apply?
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) issues permits for Deck in Seattle, WA. Apply at https://cosaccela.seattle.gov/portal/.
- Are any permit exemptions listed for Deck in Seattle, WA?
- Decks over 30 inches above grade generally need a building permit; lower/ground-level decks may not. No amount is listed because that exemption path is not assumed in the official bands.
- What extra fees or surcharges are listed for Deck in Seattle, WA?
- The official permit lists these extra line items for Deck in Seattle, WA: Building permit (100% of DFI): $501; Plan review (100% of DFI): $501; Technology fee (5%): $50.10; WA State Building Code Council fee: $6.50; STFI / simple-prescriptive / ground-level deck path (~140% of DFI): not published in the fee schedule; Decks under 30 inches above grade / no building permit: not published in the fee schedule.
Schedule FAQ
- Which official schedule is this Deck fee based on in Seattle, WA?
- The official typical for Deck in Seattle, WA cites Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2 (retrieved Aug 13, 2026). Fee model: valuation.
- What local fee-schedule notes are on file for Deck in Seattle, WA?
- 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC Ch. 22.900) effective Jan 1, 2026. 5% technology fee (22.900A.100).
- Why does the Deck permit fee in Seattle, WA show a low-to-high range?
- Listed permit fees for Deck in Seattle, WA are $924.20 low, $1,058.60 typical, and $1,300.52 high. These are the Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review fee bands. Full arithmetic is in the calculation note on this page.
Citations
- How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck? [2026 Data] Retrieved Aug 13, 2026. Average $8,316; $4,340–$12,652; $30–$60/sf; labor $15–$35/sf.
- Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2 Retrieved Aug 13, 2026.
- BLS OEWS construction wages – Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to the labor share only. Not a city-specific bid survey.
Cite this page
Fee schedule retrieved Aug 13, 2026
CostInMyCity. "Deck cost in Seattle, WA." https://costinmycity.com/cost/deck/seattle-wa/. Fee schedule retrieved Aug 13, 2026. Source: Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2.
Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2
Related
In Seattle
- Roof replacement in Seattle, WA, ~$12,147
- HVAC replacement in Seattle, WA, ~$8,392
- Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA, ~$34,371
Related decks
- Deck in Charlotte, NC, ~$13,704
- Deck in Denver, CO, ~$14,933
- Deck in Nashville, TN, ~$13,843
- Deck in Atlanta, GA, ~$13,855
- Deck in Austin, TX, ~$14,041
- Deck in Phoenix, AZ, ~$14,585
- Deck in Tucson, AZ, ~$13,657
- Deck in Portland, OR, ~$16,332
- Deck in Raleigh, NC, ~$13,784
- Deck in Tacoma, WA, ~$17,369
- Deck in St. Louis, MO, ~$15,467