What changes a remodel in Bothell.
23.5 percent of Bothell homes were built in 2010 or later
The American Community Survey for 2020 to 2024 puts Bothell's housing stock at 20,533 units, and 4,830 were built in 2010 or later, and another 4,023 in the 1980s. The median home dates from 1992, and only 306 were built before 1940. For most owners that points to a second-generation remodel: replacing builder-grade finishes, original windows and the first roof, rather than chasing the wiring and plumbing problems of a prewar house.
Wetlands, streams and slopes over 40 percent are protected in Bothell
Bothell treats wetlands, streams, slopes steeper than a 40 percent grade and shoreline areas as critical areas, and vegetation inside them and their buffers is generally protected. The city's online map, CobMap, shows these layers by address, though it notes the buffers drawn there are estimates. Removing a tree in any critical area needs city approval and an arborist report, and a hazard tree taken out of one requires a replanting plan. Check the map before planning an addition, a deck or a new patio near a creek or ravine.
Source: City of Bothell, Trees and Removal on Private Property Guide, May 2023
Bothell's historic register lists 16 local landmarks
As of May 2020 the Bothell Register of Historic Landmarks held 16 properties, among them the 1898 Dr. Elmer E. Lytle House, the 1890 William Hannan House and the 1909 Roberts House, and nine properties were on the National Register. Listing is voluntary and a building must be at least 50 years old. The city has review authority over alterations to locally designated properties, while owners of National or State Register properties using private funds may alter them under ordinary building rules. Listed properties can qualify for special tax valuation.
Source: City of Bothell, Historic Register Properties, May 2020
What a remodel costs in Bothell in 2026.
$1,964
Bothell's 2026 fee schedule gives a concrete starting point for permit costs. Declare a project at $150,000 and the building permit costs $1,964, which is $1,514 for the first $100,000 plus $9 for each added $1,000. Plan review adds 65 percent of the permit fee and covers the first review and two re-reviews. When a reroof does need a permit, because the sheathing is coming off, a single-family reroof permit is a flat $179. The median owner-occupied home in Bothell was valued at $925,100 in the latest Census survey.
Opening walls in a 1980s or 1990s house ends with drywall work: new board after rewiring, or patching where a wall came out to open up a kitchen. Drywall and ceiling tile installers in the greater Seattle area earned a median of $36.33 an hour in May 2025, compared with $28.33 nationally.
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee on a $150,000 project | $1,964 | Bothell 2026 table: $1,514 for the first $100,000 plus $9 per added $1,000; plan review adds 65% of the permit fee (City of Bothell, 2026 Fee Schedule) |
| Single-family reroof permit | $179 | Flat 2026 fee when a reroof needs a permit; in-kind reroofs that keep the sheathing are exempt (City of Bothell, 2026 Fee Schedule) |
| Median home value | $925,100 | Owner-occupied homes in Bothell, Census ACS 2020-2024 (Census ACS 2020-2024, Median Value, Bothell) |
| Homes built in 2010 or later | 23.5% | Bothell units built since 2010 as a share of all 20,533, ACS 2020-2024; the median unit dates from 1992 (Census ACS 2020-2024, Year Structure Built, Bothell) |
| Median drywall installer wage | $36.33 an hour | Drywall and ceiling tile installers across greater Seattle in May 2025, versus $28.33 for the country (BLS OEWS May 2025, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue drywall and ceiling tile installers) |
Who issues permits in Bothell.
Inside city limits, building permits come from the City of Bothell's Permit Center at City Hall, 18415 101st Avenue NE. Bothell accepts every permit and land use application online only, through MyBuildingPermit.com, and building questions go to the city's Building Services staff. Changes to a locally listed landmark also get city historic review, with the Landmark Preservation Board advising.
- City of Bothell Permit Center
Building, mechanical, plumbing, grading and land use permits and landmark review inside Bothell city limits
- In Bothell, a one-story shed or playhouse needs no permit if it stays within 200 square feet and 12 feet of height; the same goes for fences of 6 feet or less and retaining walls of 4 feet or less that hold back no extra load.
- Low decks, walks and driveways are exempt when they stay within 30 inches of the ground and do not sit over a basement.
- An in-kind reroof on a house or duplex is exempt as long as the sheathing is not removed or replaced, and so is an overlay that leaves no more than two layers of roofing.
- In-kind window replacement needs no permit when no framing changes and the new windows meet the energy code's U-value limits, a measure of how much heat passes through the glass.
- Rooftop solar panels skip the building permit if the system adds no more than 3 pounds per square foot, weighs under 1,000 pounds in total and sits no more than 18 inches above the roof.
- Replacing a concealed drain or water pipe counts as new work and needs a plumbing permit; stopping a leak does not.
- On a lot of record under 20,000 square feet, more than five years past its subdivision and with no critical areas, most tree removal needs no permit.
- Bothell's middle housing FAQ notes that state legislation requires the city to allow two ADUs on lots with a detached house.
What Bothell homeowners plan most.
Kitchen remodel
Cabinets and countertops are exempt finish work in Bothell, but moving plumbing or walls needs permits through MyBuildingPermit.com. The kitchen guide was written for Seattle; Bothell's Permit Center issues the permits.
Landscaping and tree work
Most tree removal on lots under 20,000 square feet needs no permit, unless the tree sits in a wetland, stream buffer or steep slope area.
Roofing
Bothell exempts a matching reroof when the sheathing stays, and charges a flat $179 when a single-family reroof does need a permit. The roofing guide comes from Seattle; in Bothell the city handles any permit.
Window replacement
Same-size windows are exempt in Bothell when no framing changes and the new units meet the energy code's U-value limits.
Deck building
A deck within 30 inches of the ground is exempt here, but a deck near a mapped stream or wetland buffer still needs a critical areas check. We link a Seattle deck guide; Bothell handles the permit.
Before you start.
How much does a building permit cost in Bothell?
Bothell sets building permit fees from the declared project value. Under the 2026 table, a $150,000 remodel pays $1,964, and plan review adds 65 percent of that. A single-family reroof that needs a permit is a flat $179. Mechanical, plumbing and other permits are charged separately, and all applications are filed through MyBuildingPermit.com.
When does a new roof need a permit in Bothell?
Not for an in-kind reroof on a house or duplex, as long as the sheathing stays in place, and not for an overlay that leaves two layers or fewer. If the sheathing is removed or replaced, you need a permit, and the 2026 flat fee for a single-family reroof permit is $179.
Can I take down a tree in my Bothell yard?
Generally not, if your lot is an existing lot of record under 20,000 square feet, more than five years have passed since the subdivision was created, and there are no critical areas such as wetlands, streams, slopes over 40 percent or shoreline. Trees in critical areas need city approval and an arborist report.
Can I change the outside of a historic house in Bothell?
It depends on the listing. Bothell has review authority over alterations to properties on its own Register of Historic Landmarks, which held 16 properties in May 2020. Owners of National or State Register properties using private funds may alter them under ordinary building rules. Listed properties can also qualify for special tax valuation.
How do I apply for a permit in Bothell?
Online only. Bothell accepts all permit and land use applications through MyBuildingPermit.com, a portal shared with other Eastside cities. The Permit Center at City Hall, 18415 101st Avenue NE, answers questions, and a free look at the city's CobMap tells you whether wetlands or steep slopes on your lot will add a critical areas review.
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Sources
- Census ACS 2020-2024, Year Structure Built, Bothell
- City of Bothell, Trees and Removal on Private Property Guide, May 2023
- City of Bothell, Historic Register Properties, May 2020
- City of Bothell, 2026 Fee Schedule
- Census ACS 2020-2024, Median Value, Bothell
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue drywall and ceiling tile installers
- City of Bothell, Historic Preservation and Landmarks FAQs
- City of Bothell, Landmark Preservation Board
- City of Bothell, Permit Center
- City of Bothell, Permit Exemptions (BMC 20.02.095)
- City of Bothell, Middle Housing FAQs
- BLS OEWS May 2025, national drywall and ceiling tile installers