Bothell, King and Snohomish counties
Architect in Bothell, WA
Custom homes, additions, remodels and ADUs across Bothell, from mid century neighborhoods to newer homes on the north end. Bothell spans two counties, so the first step is confirming who permits your lot.
The first feasibility check is free and usually takes about a day.
Free feasibility check
Send the address and what you have in mind. David replies within one business day with what the site and the code are likely to allow.
- 1996Licensed architect since 1996
- 1992AIA member since 1992
- 20 to 30Projects designed each year
- 3Masonry Excellence Awards
- AIAAIA · NCARB · Washington licensed
Why local matters
A city in two counties
Bothell straddles King and Snohomish counties and has grown quickly around UW Bothell, Canyon Park and the SR-522 and I-405 corridors.
Inside city limits, permits go through the City of Bothell. Lots just outside can fall under King County or Snohomish County, and the rules differ, including for ADUs.
Jurisdiction is confirmed before any design work starts.
What gets designed here
Work in Bothell
Bothell work falls into four kinds.
- Custom homes. On lots near Lake Washington at the Kenmore line, along the North Creek corridor and on the rural edges of the city.
- Mid century renovations. Older homes with good bones and dated plans, opened up and brought up to current energy code.
- Upgrades to newer production homes. Houses on the north end that need better kitchens, suites and finishes than they were built with.
- ADUs and commercial work. Accessory units under state law, and tenant improvements around Canyon Park and downtown Bothell.
Projects
Recent work on the Eastside
Real houses, real constraints. Photographs and drawings from the practice.
Permits
Bothell permit timelines
City of Bothell Community Development reviews permits inside city limits. Outside them, King County or Snohomish County applies.
| Project | Typical review |
|---|---|
| Residential addition | 6 to 10 weeks |
| New single family home | 8 to 14 weeks |
| ADU | 6 to 10 weeks |
Typical review times for a complete application inside the city.
Site constraints
North Creek and critical areas
The North Creek watershed runs through Bothell and sets buffers on many residential lots.
- Lots near North Creek need critical area review before design is settled.
- Buffers can shrink the buildable envelope, so they are mapped at feasibility.
- Stormwater and grading shape where a house can sit on sloped lots.
Budget
What projects cost, in round numbers
These are the same figures used everywhere on this site. The estimators on the linked pages turn them into a number for your size and scope.
| Project | Typical range | Estimator |
|---|---|---|
| Architect led custom home | $500 to $800 per sq ft | cost to build page |
| High end custom or waterfront | $800 to $1,200 and up per sq ft | cost to build page |
| Whole house remodel | $300 to $550 per sq ft | whole house remodel page |
| Home addition | $350 to $650 per sq ft | home addition cost page |
| Detached ADU | $200,000 to $400,000 | ADU cost guide |
| Architecture fee | Fixed fee, about ,000 to 0,000 | architect fees page |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column
Eastside figures from the cost pages on this site, each of which has an estimator that gives you your own number. Land, site work and permits sit on top of construction.
Where
Bothell neighborhoods
North Creek, Canyon Park, the Wayne Golf Course area, downtown Bothell and the neighborhoods toward Kenmore and Lake Washington.
Questions
Building in Bothell, answered
Not answered here? Call David, most calls are answered the same day.
Do you work in Bothell?
Yes. Piper Cole Architects is based in Kirkland and Bothell is part of the regular work. Work runs from mid century remodels to new houses and ADUs.
How long does a permit take in Bothell?
Inside the city, allow 6 to 10 weeks for an addition or ADU and 8 to 14 weeks for a new house. County lots follow county timelines.
What does an architect cost in Bothell?
Piper Cole Architects quotes a fixed fee for design and permit, set by the project budget and location, from about ,000 to 0,000 depending on scope. The first feasibility check is free and usually takes about a day; an in-depth analysis is ,500.
Do I need an architect for a house in Washington?
Not by law. RCW 18.08.410 exempts single family homes and buildings of four units or fewer from the stamp requirement. You will need permitted drawings and usually structural engineering. People hire an architect because the lot, the code or the design is complicated, not because the law requires one.
What happens on the first call?
You describe the property and what you want to do. David Meade tells you what the site and the code are likely to allow, what it tends to cost and what to check first. The first feasibility check is free and usually takes about a day.
Is my Bothell lot in King County or Snohomish County?
Bothell covers both. It matters for which rules apply outside city limits, and it is checked on every project before design begins.
Plan the project
Cost and service pages
- Cost to build a house in SeattleNew build cost by tier, with an estimator
- Architect feesWhat the design work costs, with a calculator
- Home addition costEvery addition type, with an estimator
- Whole house remodel costCost by depth, and the code trigger that moves budgets
- Custom home designNew houses on the lakes and on difficult lots
- Home additionsOut or up, and what it costs
- ADU and DADU designGarage conversions to backyard cottages
- Waterfront and lakefront homesShoreline lots and teardown rebuilds on the lakes
Read next
Guides for Bothell projects
- Washington ADU laws in 2026What state law now allows on almost every lot
- HB 1110 middle housingWhat the new state law lets you build on a single family lot
- Second story additionsGoing up instead of out, and what it involves
- Architect or contractor for an additionWhen a contractor alone is enough
Nearby
Nearby cities
- Architect in Kenmore, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Woodinville, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Kirkland, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Lynnwood, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Lake Forest Park, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Redmond, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
Our Architecture Services
Full-service architecture for Bothell Architect: Custom Homes, Additions, ADUs and the greater Seattle area:
Service area
Other cities we work in
Based in Kirkland. Each city page covers local permits, zoning, shoreline rules and costs.
Studio, KirklandEastsideSeattle and the NorthSouth King and Pierce
Next step
Talk about your Bothell property
Describe the lot and what you want to do with it. You speak to David Meade directly, and the first feasibility check is free and usually takes about a day.
Free feasibility check
Send the address and what you have in mind. David replies within one business day with what the site and the code are likely to allow.