Home Remodeling in Lynnwood

Half of Lynnwood's homes were built between 1950 and 1979

The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey counts 17,012 housing units in Lynnwood, and 8,591 of them date from 1950 through 1979. The median year built is 1979 overall and 1974 for owner-occupied homes, and 51.1 percent of homes are owner-occupied. Houses from those decades are now 47 to 76 years old. Any interior remodel still has to show energy code compliance: Lynnwood asks for energy code forms with every application.

Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, B25034 year structure built, Lynnwood

The local soil holds winter water on a hardpan of glacial till

The Alderwood soil series was described from a site in Snohomish County about 5 miles east of Lynnwood on Maltby Road, and the USDA calls the series extensive in western Washington. The USDA describes gravelly sandy loam over dense glacial till that is extremely hard and firm, starting 20 to 40 inches down. From December through April, water perches on that layer 12 to 35 inches below the surface. For an addition footing, a crawl space or a new patio, plan the drainage first, because water that soaks in during winter moves sideways instead of down.

Source: USDA NRCS, Alderwood soil series description

Most tree removals in Lynnwood need a permit

Lynnwood's tree preservation guidelines say most tree removals in the city require a permit, though many permits for single-family homes cost nothing. Pruning, shrub removal and taking out dead, diseased or hazardous trees need no permit. The code calls a tree significant once it measures 6 inches in diameter at breast height. When removal is part of a development, the Class II permit asks for replacement at a 1 to 1 ratio at minimum, with a fee for trees the lot cannot support.

Source: City of Lynnwood, Tree Preservation and Protection Guidelines

How much does a remodel cost in Lynnwood?

In the Census Bureau's 2023 housing survey, Seattle-metro owners paid a median $5,000 for hired-out improvement projects, averaging $11,580. Full kitchens and baths cost well above that. Local labor is expensive: in May 2025 the median Seattle-area carpenter earned $36.74 an hour and electricians $48.93. The median Lynnwood home was worth $686,900 in the 2020-2024 Census survey.

Do I need a permit to remodel in Lynnwood?

Usually. Lynnwood exempts small jobs such as fences under 6 feet, painting and decks of 200 square feet or less. An interior remodel requires plan review. Building, plumbing and mechanical work go on one combo permit, while electrical is a separate permit. Check first that your address is inside city limits, since many Lynnwood addresses are in unincorporated Snohomish County.

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Lynnwood?

Most of the time, yes. Lynnwood's guidelines say most tree removals need a permit, though many single-family permits are free. No permit is needed for normal pruning, removing shrubs or taking out dead, diseased or hazardous trees. The code treats a tree as significant once it reaches 6 inches in diameter, and development removals must be replaced at least one for one.

Is my house in Lynnwood city limits?

Not always. The City of Lynnwood says many properties with a Lynnwood address are outside city limits and asks owners to check the Do I Live in Lynnwood map before applying. Homes inside the city get permits from Lynnwood Development and Business Services. Homes outside it, in unincorporated Snohomish County, apply to the county's Planning and Development Services.

Can I do my own electrical work in Lynnwood?

State law lets owners wire their own home, but Lynnwood notes one limit: if the property will be sold, rented or leased within 12 months after the work is done, a licensed electrical contractor must do it. Either way, Lynnwood requires a separate electrical permit, and it asks that electrical plans be submitted before the residential plan review starts.