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School plan review
Instructions for K-12 schools with new construction, remodel, additions and playgrounds.
Does my school need a plan review?
The local health department must review and approve all K-12 school construction plans before you can start the building or playground construction project (see Washington Administrative Code [WAC] 246-366-040). In King County, the local health department is Public Health—Seattle & King County (Public Health). When the construction is completed, Public Health must conduct a pre-occupancy inspection before students can use the new or remodeled facilities (including classroom portables and playgrounds).
We must review and approve K-12 school plans before any construction can begin on:
- Building a new school
- Remodeling an existing school
- Adding or moving portables
- Changing an existing building into a school
- Changing sports fields
- Moving or installing specialty classrooms (e.g., science labs)
- Adding a K-12 playground or moving playground equipment
Apply for a school building plan review
We will review your project plans to ensure it complies with health and safety standards and guidance for K-12 school facilities. Turnaround time is approximately 4-5 weeks.
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Before you apply, take these steps
- Contact local building, planning and zoning departments to determine any additional requirements.
- Get your Washington State Business License online.
- If the facility is connected to a well or septic system, obtain a Certificate of Sewer Availability, or reach out to the King County On-Site Sewage/Septic System Program.
- Conduct a noise study for new construction locations (not necessary for additions or replacements). Include the noise study report in your application packet.
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Submit a complete application packet with all required documents
Email a complete application packet to SchoolEHS@kingcounty.gov. Below is a list of the required documents for your application packet. Some documents are only required for New Site Construction Projects (i.e., new school facility on undeveloped site or site developed for other purposes; or converting an existing structure for a school facility).
- Water Verification (for new site construction)
- Sewer/Septic Verification (for new site construction)
- School Plan Review Application Form
- Noise Study (for new site construction)
- Plans: one full size set of all drawings (except structural) for the entire facility, including a site plan and vicinity map. Do not submit structural drawings; they will be discarded.
- Specifications Manual
- Additional Applications (as necessary)
- Safe Walking Routes Map (for new site construction)
For more information, see the checklist in K-12 School Building Plan Review Application (306 KB).
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Pay for the plan review fees
After Public Health has received your application packet, we will email you payment instructions. The plan review application base fee is $486 that includes the first two hours, and any additional hours will be billed at the end at an hourly rate of $243.
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Receive approval and pay additional fees (if any)
Notification of approval or a request for additional information will be sent by email to all contacts listed on the application. If there are any additional hours, you will receive a final invoice to pay.
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Construct project
After you have constructed your project, we must conduct a pre-occupancy inspection before students can use the facility (see the next section: Request a school building pre-occupancy inspection).
Request a school building pre-occupancy inspection
After you have received the approved school plan review and constructed the project, you are ready for a preoccupancy inspection from Public Health. The preoccupancy inspection is required before students may use any newly constructed or remodeled space at the school. The inspection ensures that construction conforms to the approved plans.
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Review the K-12 School Pre-Occupancy Inspection Checklist
Review the School Preoccupancy Checklist (310 KB) to ensure that your site is ready for our inspection. If the site is not ready when we arrive, we will need to schedule a revisit. This can delay the approval process and result in additional fees.
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Schedule a pre-occupancy inspection
Contact SchoolEHS@kingcounty.gov to schedule a preoccupancy inspection. Please contact us at least 1 week before the preoccupancy inspection is needed. If anything changes with building readiness for the preoccupancy inspection after reaching out to us, please contact us to reschedule. -
Pay for the inspection fees
After we have received your request, we will email you payment instructions. The preoccupancy inspection base fee is $486 that includes the first two hours, and any additional hours (including for revisits) will be billed at the end at on an hourly rate of $243.
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Receive approval and pay additional fees (if any)
An inspection report will be sent by email to all contacts listed on the application. If there are any additional hours, you will be billed a final invoice.
Apply for a school playground plan review
Before adding a K-12 school playground or moving/modifying equipment, you must submit your plans to Public Health for review and approval. We review plans to ensure they comply with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards and guidelines and are safe for students.
Notification of approval or a request for additional information will be sent by email to all contacts listed on the school plan review application. Turnaround time is approximately 4-5 weeks.
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Submit a complete application packet with all required documents
Complete the Playground Plan Review Application (472 KB). Email your application packet to SchoolEHS@kingcounty.gov. We recommend you submit your plans before ordering equipment.
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Pay for the plan review fees
After we have received your application packet, we will email you payment instructions. The preoccupancy inspection base fee is $486 that includes the first two hours, and any additional hours (including for revisits) will be billed at an hourly rate of $243.
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Receive approval and pay additional fees (if any)
Notification of approval or a request for additional information will be sent by email to all contacts listed on the application. If there are any additional hours, you will receive a final invoice to pay.
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Construct playground after approval
After you have constructed your playground, we must conduct a pre-occupancy inspection before students can use the facility. See the next section, Request a school playground pre-occupancy inspection.
Request a playground pre-occupancy inspection
Before the new playground is used, please request a preoccupancy inspection from us. A preoccupancy inspection is required before students may use the new playground at the school. The inspection ensures that construction conforms to the approved plans.
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Schedule a pre-occupancy inspection
Contact SchoolEHS@kingcounty.gov to schedule a preoccupancy inspection. Please contact us at least 1 week before the preoccupancy inspection is needed. If anything changes with playground readiness for the preoccupancy inspection after reaching out to us, please contact us to reschedule the preoccupancy inspection.
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Pay for the inspection fees
After we have received your request, we will email you payment instructions. The preoccupancy inspection base fee is $486 that includes the first two hours, and any additional hours (including for revisits) will be billed at an hourly rate of $243.
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Receive approval and pay additional fees (if any)
An inspection report will be sent by email to all contacts listed on the application. If there are any additional hours, you will be billed a final invoice.
Other types of reviews and inspections your school may need
- Private school certification inspections to meet the approval requirements by the Washington State Board of Education or Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for Non-Public Agency schools
- Food Protection Program inspects permitted food facilities at K-12 schools, Public Health
- Application for Permanent Food Plan Review, Public Health
- Water Recreation Facility Plan Review, Public Health
- Plumbing and gas piping applications and permits, Public Health
- Guidance on Operating a Licensed Child Care Program, WA State Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families
- Current Nonpublic Agencies, WA Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction