The widest range of housing we work in
Renton spans more construction eras than any other city on our list. There are pre-war houses near downtown, a great deal of post-war and 1950s–60s housing through the Highlands and Talbot Hill, 1980s and 90s development across Benson Hill, and new construction near The Landing. A remodeling company that only knows one era gets into trouble here.
Renton homeowners also tend to be sharper about value than average, and we like that. The question is usually not "what is the most we can spend" but "where does the money actually show." Our answer is generally: structure and systems first, then the surfaces people touch every day — and no invented line items to pad the total.
Neighborhoods we work in
Kennydale · Renton Highlands · Talbot Hill · Benson Hill · Cascade · Earlington · The Landing · Maplewood · Fairwood area
Permits and inspections in Renton
The City of Renton permits work within its limits; areas such as Fairwood and parts of East Renton are unincorporated King County with a different process, so the jurisdiction question is worth settling first. Slopes above Kennydale and along the Cedar River corridor can bring critical-area or drainage review into play, and older neighborhoods sometimes reveal earlier unpermitted work — a converted garage, a finished basement — that has to be resolved as part of a new permit.
That last one is uncomfortable but better handled now than at resale. We tell you what we find and what the realistic options are.
What we build in Renton
- Kitchen remodels in post-war and 1960s houses, including structural wall removal
- Bathroom rebuilds replacing failed surrounds and hidden water damage
- Additions and garage conversions for growing households
- Legalizing and rebuilding earlier unpermitted conversions
- Whole-house renovations with electrical, plumbing and insulation brought current
- Decks, fences and outdoor space built to last in Northwest weather
Renton at a glance
- Based in Kirkland — Renton is a core service area
- We pull the permits and meet the inspectors
- Written, itemized estimates — no verbal numbers
- Bonded and insured in Washington
- Free walkthrough, written estimate
What Renton lets you build in the back yard, in 2026
Washington rewrote the accessory dwelling unit rules statewide, and Renton rewrote its code to match. Most of what homeowners here believe about ADUs is two or three years out of date.
| What people ask | Renton, 2026 |
|---|---|
| How many you can build | Two per legal lot — two attached, two detached, or one of each |
| Biggest detached unit | 1,000 sq ft. Above 1,250 sq ft it stops being an ADU and becomes an attached dwelling |
| Height | 24 ft to the highest point of a flat roof or the ridge of a pitched roof |
| Parking | One space per unit, and none at all within half a mile walking distance of a major transit stop |
| Owner occupancy | Not required. Washington abolished it statewide under RCW 36.70A.681 — you do not have to live on the lot to have an ADU, and you may rent both units |
| Who issues the permit | City of Renton Community and Economic Development |
Worth knowing in Renton
Renton requires no public street improvements or sidewalks for an ADU — a line item that costs real money elsewhere. Detached rear setback is 5 ft; side setback runs from 4 ft in R-10 and R-14 to 25 ft in RC and R-1.
Ready-made plans
Renton's Permit Ready ADU programme gives you eight plans, completely free, with expedited review. Along with Kitsap County and Tacoma, it is one of only three free catalogues in the region.
Source: Renton Municipal Code 4-2-110C, amended June 2025, current through Ord. 6168, plus RCW 36.70A.681. Checked 4 September 2026. Codes in this region are being rewritten faster than any web page keeps up with — we verify your parcel against the code in force on the day we submit, not against a summary.
Four ways to add a unit — a new detached building, the garage, the basement or a suite inside the house — with a calculator that takes your own numbers: see all four and what each returns →
What it costs: a new detached unit on the Eastside runs roughly $325,000 to $550,000 all in, and advertised "starting at" prices leave out $120,000 to $180,000 of site, utility and permit work. Here is the whole number, line by line →
Building in Renton: what works in your favor
- Renton runs its own permit center — a separate system from the Eastside portal, and we file there directly.
- Many “Renton” addresses are actually unincorporated King County — County permits go through MyBuildingPermit. We determine your jurisdiction first, because the rules differ.
Statewide, Washington law (HB 1337) is on your side in Renton: up to two ADUs are allowed on most residential lots, a detached ADU may be up to 24 ft tall with side and rear setbacks of no more than 5 ft, units up to 1,000 sq ft must be permitted, there is no owner-occupancy requirement, and no parking can be required near major transit.
Rules change and every lot is different — we verify your exact address with the city before any design work. This page is information, not legal advice.
Renton questions we get asked
Am I in Renton or unincorporated King County?
The previous owner finished the basement without a permit. What now?
Do you work as far south as Renton regularly?
Nearby areas we serve
Building in Renton? Let's talk.
Tell us about your project — we'll listen, come out, and give you an honest number.
Get a Free EstimateGet a free estimate in Renton
Tell us about your project — we'll come out, listen, and give you an honest number.
Call or text(425) 866-3940Email: office@nwhomesremodel.com
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Sat by appointment
Based in Kirkland, WA — serving the Eastside and Greater Seattle