Sammamish’s Community Development Department coordinates building permits, land-use review, zoning, and environmental development requirements through the City’s Permit Center. All permit applications are processed online through MyBuildingPermit, a regional portal used to submit applications and plans, pay fees, check permit status, and request inspections. For property-specific questions before applying, the City also offers Project Guidance and an interactive Sammamish Property Tool showing zoning and sensitive-area information.
Environmental constraints are especially important in Sammamish. The City’s critical-area regulations cover wetlands, streams, habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas, critical aquifer recharge areas, and geological hazards such as steep slopes, landslide areas, and erosion hazards. Clearing or grading within a critical area or its buffer requires a permit even when similar work elsewhere might qualify for an exemption.
Waterfront properties have an additional review layer. Shorelines along Lake Sammamish, Beaver Lake, and Pine Lake are regulated under the City’s Shoreline Master Program together with applicable state and federal requirements. Construction, landscaping, docks, and other improvements near these shorelines can therefore require multiple approvals. Tree protection is another prominent local requirement: removal of significant trees requires a City Tree Removal Permit, while trees within street right-of-way require a separate Type B right-of-way permit.
Public Works separately regulates use of streets and other City right-of-way through Type A, B, C, and D right-of-way permits. Applicants can start with the City’s Permit Center and confirm zoning, critical-area, shoreline, tree, clearing-and-grading, and right-of-way requirements before beginning work.