Permit FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to help answer any of your questions and/or assist you through the permit, land use and/or civil construction process. The City of Mercer Island Center is located at 9611 SE 36th Street Mercer Island, WA 98040 Hours: Currently City Hall is Closed

GENERAL
HOW DO I FIND PROPERTY INFORMATION SUCH AS ZONING, LOT SIZE? Launch the City of Mercer Island mapping software: Search by address or parcel number to obtain property information about parcels within the City. 
GIS MERCER ISLAND
Click on the Parcel ID for more details on the parcel. Click on Property Report to obtain King County Assessor's information that will provide the lot size, present use and year the building was constructed. By further clicking on Property Detail, you can verify jurisdiction and zoning information. 
LandUse Planning Advice and Tips
HOW CAN I OBTAIN HELP IF I’M IN THE PRELIMINARY PLANNING STAGES OF MY PROJECT? If your project is located in a sensitive or critical area, large or a new residential or commercial structure you may need to submit for a Pre-Application meeting.
Pre-Application Meeting Request
DO YOU HAVE ANY HANDOUTS TO HELP A HOMEOWNER WITH BASIC CONSTRUCTION? Yes. We recommend visiting MyBuildingPermit guides and tips for construction tip sheets and guidelines.

PERMITS

WHAT WILL MY BUILDING PERMIT COST?

 The permit fee is based on the project valuation. Download the City's fee schedule for more information. Fee Schedules
HOW DO I FIND STATUS/INFORMATION ABOUT A PERMIT WHEN PLAN REVIEW IS STILL IN PROGRESS? Check your permit status on the MyBuildingPermit website. If the information you need is not shown, please call the Permit Center for additional information.
MAY I PAY EXTRA TO EXPEDITE MY PERMIT No that option is not available.
MAY I START WORK BEFORE MY PERMIT IS ISSUED No, work on a project may not legally begin before a permit is obtained and is on the work site.
MAY I DO THE WORK MYSELF OR DO I NEED TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR

After obtaining the proper permits, a property owner may perform work on their own property or use their own employees to perform work with the waiver signed as owner as contractor. A tenant may work on a tenant space with permission from the owner. Owner as Contractor
Any work within the public right of way or on City-owned facilities shall be performed by a licensed and bonded contractor. 
IS SLIP SHEETING ALLOWED? Slip sheeting is a common industry term for inserting revised or altered pages for permit applications. The city of Mercer Island does not do Slip sheeting for applicants. Please provide a revised application with all content intended for review.

ZONING / LAND USE
HOW DO I FIND SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DIFFERENT LAND-USE PERMITS? You can find submittal requirements for different land use permits on the Land Use - Forms and Requirements Page.
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PERMIT?  An ADU permit will be required if you are wanting to create a habitable dwelling unit added to, created within, or detached from a single-family dwelling that provides basic requirements for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
(* Commonly referred to as DADU/ADU)
I THINK MY PROJECT NEEDS A CRITICAL AREA REVIEW. HOW DO I KNOW IF IT IS CRITICAL AREA 1 OR 2? Depending on the scope of your project a critical area review 2 may be needed. 
MICC 19.07.090 goes over what types of projects require a critical area review 1 vs 2.
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A FENCE IN MERCER ISLAND? 6' - 0" is the max.

HOW DO I FIND MY PROPERTY LINES/SETBACKS.

 Check to see if there are any survey markers at the corner of the property.
Unless the property was included in a division of property (such as a short plat, boundary line adjustment or subdivision) the City does not have an inventory of surveys for properties. The GIS Map provides only general locations of property lines. 

Therefore, to find the specific location of a property line, a private land surveyor, licensed by the State of Washington, will need to be hired by the property owner.

 

INSPECTIONS
WHEN DO I NEED AN INSPECTION? After your building permit is issued, a City Inspector inspects work is done according to the approved plans. Inspections

CONSTRUCTION
ARE THERE STARTING AND STOPPING TIMES FOR CONSTRUCTION? The allowed hours for construction work are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays) and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday. No work may be performed on Sunday and holidays.
Sundays: No construction.
WILL A MINOR CHANGE IN DESIGN REQUIRE A PERMIT REVISION? In most cases, the answer is “yes.” Any change in foot print, wall configuration, or roof design requires a permit revision applied for through our Permit Center. See Project Revisions for more information.
There are very few instances when the “revision” can be a field approved revision which does not require additional fees or review time for a permit “revision.”
HOW DO I GET MY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY? For Residential buildings at Mercer Island (Structures approved under the International Residential Code): the permit inspection card with the “final inspection” approval signature becomes your certificate of occupancy. 17.14.112 This is also the cover sheet issued with all approved Residential Permits.
MAY I START WORK BEFORE MY PERMIT IS ISSUED No, work on a project may not legally begin before a permit is obtained and is on the work site. 
When Is a permit required
WHO CAN MAKE CHANGES TO A PLAN?

Q: May a Washington State registered design professional make changes to filed plans prepared by another Washington registered design professional? See Project Revisions for more information.
A: Yes, but only in the following circumstances:
The changes and all other related or affected portions of the structure must be shown on separate plan sheets that are stamped by the registered design professional making the changes. The seal on these change sheets means the professional is certifying that he or she takes responsibility for all portions of the structure that are related to or affected by the changes even if some or even most of the affected work is not being changed.

Q: Can an owner or builder or contractor make changes to an architect's, engineer's, or landscape architect's sealed documents?
A: No. When plans are sealed by a Washington State registered design professional, changes including addenda and change orders must be approved by that professional or another registered design professional in the same profession who then assumes responsibility for the changes along with all affected documents.
 See also: WA State Design Professional Guidelines

The drawings as changed must meet all requirements of law. RCW 18.08.320(16).

GEOLOGY
HOW DO I KNOW IF THERE IS A REGULATED CRITICAL AREA ON A PROPERTY?

Refer to our GIS website and map your property with hazard areas turned on. GIS MERCER ISLAND
There are four hazard areas:

  • Seismic 
  • Steep Slope
  • Erosion
  • Potential slide

Additional information available here.
WHEN IS A GEOLOGICAL REPORT REQUIRED?

Geo-technical report must be provided when the following site conditions exist:

  • Proposed structure will be placed in a sensitive or critical area which may include coal mine/erosion hazards, flood hazards, landslide hazards, steep slope hazards, wetlands, streams and seismic hazard areas.
  • Provide a geo-technical report prepared by a Washington State Licensed Geo-technical, Geological or Structural Engineer to include original signature and stamp of engineer. All reports must include a statement of risk.
WHEN IS WET SEASON LIMITATION REQUIRED?

Land clearing, grading, filling, and foundation work are not permitted between October 1 and April 1 on lots considered as an Erosion, Potential Slide, or Steep Slope Hazard.  A waiver to this seasonal development limitation may be granted if compelling justification is demonstrated and supported by a geotechnical evaluation of the site and proposed construction activities. Apply here: Wet Season Work Waiver - Seasonal Development Limitation

Affected Sites:

  1. Sites subject to a Potential Slide, Erosion, or Steep Slope Hazard, or any areas with Critical Slopes and the land that extends 10 feet past the top and toe of the slope.
  2. Any site that is considered by the Building Official or City Engineer to be subject to the seasonal development limitation.

 

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