Land use inspections

Before You Begin Construction

• Keep approved plans and permits posted on‑site at all times. Maintaining these records is the responsibility of the applicant and/or contractor.
• All projects require a pre-construction conference before any land clearing or grading.
• A Notice of Construction Activity sign may be required for subdivisions, commercial permits, or grading permits subject to SEPA. An Erosion Control Supervisor sign must be posted per the Surface Water Design Manual.

Pre‑Construction Conference

A pre-construction conference is required before any land clearing or grading on a site that requires permit approval. This includes:

• Subdivisions and short plats
• Clearing and grading permits
• Right‑of‑way use permits
• Some commercial and large residential projects

To request a conference, contact your assigned inspector directly to schedule inspections. If you do not know who your assigned inspector(s) are, contact King County Permitting Customer Service at 206‑296‑6600 for assistance.

Inspection Overview

This section gives an overview of the inspections your project may require and helps you understand who performs them and how they fit into the overall permitting and construction process.

Types of Inspections

Land Use / Site Inspections

A land use / site inspector will be assigned to your project after permit approval and the required preconstruction conference.

• Contact your assigned inspector directly to schedule inspections. Land use inspections cannot be scheduled online or using the automated phone system used for building permits.
• Refer to the County’s required lead times for each activity (typically 1–3 business days; longer for final inspections).
• Please reference your permit number (for example, LUIS26‑0001) with all inspection requests.

Critical Areas Inspections

• Projects involving critical areas or critical area buffers may require additional inspections.
• These inspections must be scheduled directly with the Permitting Division Ecologist and/or Geologist.

Coordination With Other Inspectors

Permitting Land Use Inspectors serve as the primary point of contact for your project; however, some inspection types require coordination with Roads Division and/or Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) inspectors. Your assigned Land Use Inspector will help facilitate this coordination as needed.

How to Schedule Inspections

Scheduling

• Contact your assigned inspector directly to schedule inspections.
• Land use inspections cannot be scheduled online or using the automated phone system used for building permits.
• Refer to the County’s required lead times for each activity (typically 1–3 business days; longer for final inspections).
• Please reference your permit number (for example, LUIS26‑0001) with all inspection requests.

If You Don’t Know Who Your Inspector Is

• Contact King County Permitting Customer Service at 206‑296‑6600 for assistance.
• Customer service can confirm your assigned inspector(s), help you understand inspection requirements, and direct you to the correct reviewer for technical inspections.

Required Lead Times for Land Use Inspections

The following inspections are required under the King County Road Design and Construction Standards. Before beginning any applicable activity, you must schedule the corresponding inspection and follow the required lead time.