Frequently Asked Questions

A demolition contractor takes down all or part of a structure and removes the debris. In Seattle that also means coordinating the asbestos survey and notice, utility shutoffs, the side sewer cap, permits, tree protection and erosion control, then hauling and sorting the material and grading the site. The machine work is often the shortest part of the job.

Yes. SDCI requires a demolition permit to remove a building, one permit per building. Exemptions include a one-story accessory structure under 120 square feet of roof area on pier blocks or a slab, and interior soft demolition during a remodel, which falls under the construction permit.

SDCI's own targets are two to three weeks for intake after a complete application, two to three weeks for initial review, about four weeks per correction cycle and about a week for final review. Add the 15 days of rat abatement and the 10-day asbestos notice, which can run alongside review if planned early.

Yes. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency requires a survey by an AHERA-certified inspector and an Asbestos/Demolition Notification for any structure over 120 square feet of roof area, whether or not asbestos is found. Demolition can start 10 days after the notice is filed.

Fixr's national guide lists $5 to $10 per square foot for mechanical demolition, or $7,500 to $15,000 for a 1,500-square-foot house on a slab. Basements, asbestos, steep access and hauling distance push it higher. Our written estimate after the walkthrough is the price.

Yes, and many of our jobs are that size. A one-story shed under 120 square feet of roof on pier blocks or a slab does not need an SDCI demolition permit, while a larger detached garage usually does unless it comes down as part of a bigger project. We check which applies before pricing.

SDCI allows housing demolition only when the building meets one of its criteria, such as being owner occupied, not used as a rental within the last six months, or having a permit already issued for the new building. Tenant relocation rules apply if there are tenants. We point you to SDCI to confirm which criterion fits.

The tear-down itself on a typical single-family house is usually a matter of days, not weeks, though basements, steep access and abatement add time. The longer part is before that: the 10-day asbestos notice, 15 days of rat abatement and SDCI review.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency puts the survey duty on the property owner or the owner's agent, and the notice and fee must be filed before demolition. We coordinate both and keep a copy of the survey on site as the agency requires.

No, but it has to be done under a side sewer permit before demolition. SDCI's next-steps sheet points to the Drainage and Sewer Review Desk at (206) 684-5362 for that permit, and we schedule it with the other shutoffs.

Sometimes. If the house is owner occupied or has not been rented in six months, it may qualify on its own. Otherwise SDCI may hold the demolition permit until the new building permit is issued.

Usually not. SDCI says soft demolition of interior finishes and non-structural partitions during an alteration needs only a construction permit, which is normally your remodel permit.

In an older home, yes. Sheet flooring, mastic, textured ceilings and pipe insulation are common places to find it, and the clean air agency regulates its removal. A test before work starts avoids a mid-job stop.

Removing a bearing wall is a structural change that needs a design and your remodel permit. We do the removal to the engineer's plan once temporary support is in place.

A typical kitchen is often cleared in a day or two once prep is done. Plaster walls, multiple floor layers and tile set in mortar add time.

Removing concrete on your own lot is often part of a larger permit, such as a new driveway, addition or ADU. Work in the curb, sidewalk or driveway approach is in the public right-of-way and involves SDOT. We check which applies to your project.

Clean concrete is hauled to a recycler that crushes it for reuse as aggregate, and rebar goes to metal recycling. Keeping it free of dirt and trash is what makes that possible.

Yes. Narrow access means smaller equipment or hand loading, which takes longer and costs more, but it is common on Seattle lots. We plan the route at the walkthrough.

Only if nothing depends on it. A wall holding back soil needs a plan for that slope first, and on steep sites the city may want a geotechnical report.

Not if it is one story, under 120 square feet of roof area and sits on pier blocks or a slab. SDCI exempts those. Larger outbuildings usually need a demolition permit unless the removal is part of a bigger project's permit.

If it has more than 120 square feet of roof area, yes. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency requires a survey and a notification for those structures, with a 10-day wait before demolition.

Yes. Some owners keep the slab as a patio or parking pad. We will tell you if it looks too cracked or thin to be worth keeping.

It is common in older neighborhoods. We take it down from the inside out to protect the neighbor's fence and yard.

A full deconstruction is not required for most projects, but SDCI requires a salvage assessment for every project that includes demolition, and projects over 750 square feet must report how their waste was diverted.

Yes. Taking a house apart by hand takes much longer than machine demolition. Salvage-first demolition is a middle ground that saves the most valuable items in a short time.

Yes. Tell us what you want to keep, such as a mantel, doors or flooring, and we will remove it carefully and set it aside.

It depends on testing. Lead paint is common in houses built before 1978, so painted material is checked before it is reused.

Usually not on its own. SDCI says soft demolition of interior finishes and non-structural partitions needs only a construction permit, which is typically the tenant improvement permit.

Yes. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency requires a survey and a notification for any structure over 120 square feet of roof area, with a 10-day wait before demolition.

When the building and the city's noise rules allow it, quiet work like hauling and cleanup can be scheduled off-hours. Loud breaking usually happens during the day.

Power, water and gas are terminated by the utilities and licensed trades. We schedule those shutoffs with Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities and Puget Sound Energy before demolition.