"We hired MNBE to build our ADU in Bellevue, and the entire experience was amazing. They handled everything from foundations and framing to kitchen, siding, windows and HVAC."
Zena Heywood
Bellevue, WA · Attached ADU
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Plan-Check Submittal Service in Seattle
MNBE assembles the submittal package, calculates the fees, and files with Seattle DCI or your Eastside city. First pass acceptance is the standard, not the exception, across King, Snohomish & Pierce County.
First pass acceptance
Fees included in the bid
Founder filed every week
What Submittal Is
Getting the package over the line on the first try.
A permit submittal is the moment your project crosses from your computer into the city's review queue. The reviewer's first job is intake: confirm the package is complete, the fees are paid, the contractor of record is licensed, and the supporting documents are present. If anything is missing, the package is kicked back before the substantive review even starts. We file permit submittals across Seattle and the Eastside, through Seattle DCI and Eastside cities from Bellevue to Kirkland and Redmond.
First pass kickbacks add 1 to 2 weeks to the timeline. We submit dozens of permits a year, so we know the SDCI portal, the Bellevue intake checklist, and the Kirkland upload format. The intake reviewer wants a code compliant drawing set with the city specific declarations attached, the owner occupancy affidavit on owner builder filings, and the off street parking note when the parcel requires one. Submittal sits between permit ready floor plan design and plan check shepherding, the two stages on either side of it in the permits and design process. Because submittal is included in every design build engagement, the savings on getting it right the first time compound over the whole project.
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Permit Submittal · By The Numbers
What a clean submittal looks like.
Submittal is Step Three in the permit phase. See the full permits and design process →
5-10business days
Intake window
Typical time for Seattle DCI to accept a complete package.
1first pass
Acceptance goal
Accepted on the first try the vast majority of the time.
5
Steps to accepted
Assembly, sign off, upload, intake, then plan check begins.
1-2weeks saved
Per avoided kickback
The delay a missing document adds before review even starts.
What does permit submittal cost?
Fees included in the bid.
City permit fees are calculated by project valuation and include base permit fees, plan check fees, and impact fees, with Eastside cities applying their own city specific multipliers. What moves the work is the package itself: the size of the drawing set, the supporting studies your parcel requires, and which office you file with. We calculate the actual fee line and roll it into your fixed price construction contract, so the cost is locked before we file and you never get a surprise at intake.
Every MNBE submittal includes
- Drawing set exported to PDF at the correct page size
- Completed application and fee calculation
- Supporting documents: geotech, critical area, tree, energy
- Portal upload and fee payment to the right city
- Intake handled, with any kickback resubmitted by us
How It Works
From design complete to accepted, in five steps.
No guesswork at the counter. Here is exactly how your package moves from finished drawings to an accepted submittal.
01
Package assembly
Drawings exported to PDF at the correct page size, application completed, fees calculated, and supporting documents organized: geotech, critical area, tree plan, energy.
Day 1
02
Owner sign-off
You review the application before submission. We confirm owner information, contractor of record, fee math, and any city specific declarations.
Day 1 to 2
03
Portal upload
We upload to the Seattle SDCI portal or your Eastside city's intake system, pay the base and plan check fees, and send the confirmation receipt.
Day 2
04
Intake review
The city confirms the package is complete and routes it to the queue. If accepted, the plan check clock starts. If not, we get the list and resubmit.
Days 3 to 10
05
Plan-check begins
Architectural, structural, MEP, energy, and drainage reviewers work the package in parallel. Plan check shepherding handles corrections from here.
Day 10+
Reviews
What Seattle homeowners say about building with MNBE.
Verified five star reviews from owners who designed, permitted, and built with us.
"We hired MNBE for a full renovation of our 100 year old home and the results exceeded expectations, structural upgrades, new insulation, a luxury bathroom, a high end kitchen, a new roof and mini split AC."
Dave Gierok
Sammamish, WA · Whole home renovation
"We hired MNBE for a major exterior renovation: a 900 sq ft custom deck with metal railings, full exterior painting and new siding. From start to finish the experience was exceptional, responsive, meticulous and patient."
Santosh S.
Redmond, WA · Deck & exterior
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FAQs · What Clients Ask Us
Permit submittal questions Seattle homeowners ask before they sign.
Six practical answers from a builder who files permits every week. If yours is not here, call us. We answer the phone Monday through Saturday.
Seattle DCI requires a complete drawing set in PDF, the application, project description, owner information, a contractor of record with an active WA L&I license, permit and impact fees, and any pre submittal documents like geotech reports, critical area studies, or a tree retention plan. Everything goes through the SDCI portal, and mistakes trigger a kickback that adds 1 to 2 weeks.
Seattle ADU permit fees are calculated by valuation and include base permit fees, plan check fees, and impact fees. The total varies by the size and finish valuation of a standard DADU, and Eastside cities have similar fee structures with city specific multipliers. We include the actual permit fee line item in your fixed price construction contract so the cost is locked.
Owner information, a current property survey if you have one, any HOA covenants, photos of existing site conditions, and any prior city correspondence about the parcel. We pull everything else from city parcel records and our own design and engineering work. Most homeowners provide what we ask for in a single email.
Seattle DCI typically accepts a complete submittal within 5 to 10 business days. The clock for plan check review starts when intake confirms the package is complete. If something is missing, the package is kicked back without the review starting. Our submittals get accepted on the first try the vast majority of the time because we know what each office wants.
Yes. Homeowners can submit owner builder permits and contractor of record permits directly. Most homeowners we work with prefer to delegate the submittal to us because the process has many small mistakes that cost weeks to recover from. The submittal service is included in our design and build engagements.
We publish every question Seattle homeowners ask us about permitting, submittal, and construction. Browse the full FAQ library for expert guidance.
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Contact Us · Free Estimate
Tell us about your project.
We'll get back to you within one business day with a clear next step.
Contact information
Thank you for considering MNBE for your project. We respond within one business day, Monday through Saturday.
(206) 637 0044
info@mnbe-wa.com
2014 Fairview Ave Unit 2308, Seattle, WA 98121