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School Plan Review

Instructions for K-12 schools with new construction, remodel, additions and playgrounds.

Overview

Public Health – Seattle & King County's (PHSKC) must conduct a school plan review and approve the new school sites and plans for K-12 public and private schools that will undergo:

  • New construction or remodel of school buildings (including portable classrooms)
  • New construction or remodel of permanent school kitchens
  • Adding a new pool or spa, or making changes to a current pool or spa
  • Adding, removing, or modifying a playground at the school

After the construction, remodel or addition, PHSKC must then conduct a preoccupancy inspection to ensure the school facility is built to the minimum standards required by Washington Administrative Code WAC 246-366 and conforms with the approved plans and specifications.

Before constructing a new school facility, making any addition to or major alteration of an existing facility or any of the utilities connected with the facility (including portables and playgrounds):

  1. School must submit final plans and specifications for a school plan review by PHSKC's Environmental Health Services Division. Our Plan Reviewer will provide recommendations and any required changes, in writing.
  2. Once construction is complete, schools must request a preoccupancy inspection with PHSKC. See below information for more details about the process and requirements.

New playground plans also need to be reviewed and post-installation inspections need to be completed to ensure the design and equipment meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards and guidelines and are safe for students.

In addition to School Plan Reviews for new school construction and remodel, PHSKC's Environmental Health Services Division also provides these other inspections for schools:

Plan review and pre-occupancy inspection fees

  • School Plan Review Service Fees: $402.00 base fee plus $201 per hour after two hours.
  • Preoccupancy Inspection Fees: $402.00 base fee plus $201 per hour after two hours.

Turnaround time expectations

Due to limited staff capacity, please expect at least 10 weeks lead time for first review comments. Public Health – Seattle & King County experiences a high volume of requests. Plan reviews are completed on a first come, first served basis. We cannot expedite requests.

School plan review process

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) requires the local Health Department to review your school site plans before you start school construction, additions, or remodeling to make sure there are no health and safety problems at the proposed development site.

We must review before any work 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 science labs
  • Adding a K-12 playground or moving playground equipment

What is the school plan review process?

  • School submits site, plan, and playground review application forms

    1. Site review: School submits the documents identified below, verifying the site assessment was completed and stating “no health hazards exist” for items 1-5 below. Public Health – Seattle & King County may conduct a site review when incomplete data is received, or site review documents have not been completed. All items below must be included. Documents may be submitted directly to SchoolEHS@kingcounty.gov (please note the school’s name in the email subject line). If files sizes are too large for email, please provide a link via email to the file sharing location.
      1. Key health hazards
        1. Toxic contamination, air, soil, topographic hazards, or surrounding businesses that generate pollution.
          1. Submit document stating a site assessment showed no health hazards for the above issues, or
          2. Plan reviewer will conduct site review.
        2. Site noise from traffic, airports, air conditioner or other noise sources WAC 246-366-110 (2)
          1. Submit document stating a site assessment showed no health hazards for the above issues.
          2. Provide a noise study. Must be from the last year. Noise studies need at least 1 full weekday of data. Justify monitoring locations in your report. Show hourly Leq and Lmax readings in dBA. –OR–
          3. Plan reviewer will conduct site review.
        3. Natural or topographical hazards (cliffs, water, woods, etc.)
          1. Submit document stating a site assessment showed no health hazards for the above issues, or
          2. Plan reviewer will conduct site review.
        4. Water Supply WAC 246-366-060 (2)
          1. Wells must be approved; specify approving agency, permit numbers and date of approval.
          2. Submit a Certificate of Water Availability
            1. Unincorporated King County (236 KB)
            2. Water availability certificate from water purveyor
          3. For more information about water service, refer to the King County Department of Local Services Water Service Requirements (260 KB)
        5. On Site Sewage Disposal WAC 246-366-070
          1. Public Health-Seattle & King County must approve on site disposal systems, specify permit numbers and date of approval.
            1. King County On-Site Sewage/Septic System Program
          2. Submit King County Certificate of Sewer Availability (205 KB)
    2. School Building Plan Review
      1. Schools that will undergo new construction or remodel must complete our School Plan Review Application and submit your document plans to SchoolEHS@kingcounty.gov (please note the school’s name in the email subject line).
      2. ii. If files sizes are too large for email, please provide a link via email to the file sharing location.
    3. Playground Plan Review
      1. Before adding a K-12 school playground or moving/modifying equipment, you must submit your plans to Public Health – Seattle & King County for review (see WAC 296-366-040).
      2. Complete Playground Plan Review Application (371 KB)

  • School pays base fee ($402; two hours)

  • King County Plan Reviewer works with school to obtain design documents, completes plan review, and provides comments to school

  • School responds to Plan Reviewer comments

  • PHSKC invoices the school

  • School schedules preoccupancy inspection with Plan Reviewer

  • Plan Reviewer completes preoccupancy inspection

    1. Public Health – Seattle & King County will conduct a preoccupancy inspection of the new construction and remodel, including portable classrooms and playgrounds, to determine conformity with the approved plans and specifications.
    2. Once construction is substantially complete, contact your PHSKC Plan Reviewer or email the SchoolEHS@kingcounty.gov to schedule an inspection. Preoccupancy inspections fees of$402.00 base fee covers one inspection. Additional preoccupancy inspections will be charged based on hourly fees ($201/hour).
    3. If the playground will be completed later than the school building(s), an additional inspection must be scheduled and paid for.
    4. This School Preoccupancy Inspection Checklist will help you ensure your school is ready for our inspection prior to our arrival.

  • Plan Reviewer provides inspection report

  • Final invoicing

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