Renton Highlands, Kennydale and the lake
Architect in Renton, WA
Custom homes, additions, remodels and ADUs in Renton, from the Highlands and Talbot Hill to lakefront lots in Kennydale on the south end of Lake Washington.
The first feasibility check is free and usually takes about a day. You speak to the architect, not a salesperson.
Why local matters
Valley floor, hills and lakefront
Renton has three very different kinds of site: flat neighborhoods on the valley floor, the Highlands with views toward the lake and the Cascades, and lakefront lots at the south end of Lake Washington.
Each one leads to a different design and a different permit path. Lakefront work adds shoreline review on top of the building permit.
Permits go through the City of Renton Community and Economic Development Department.
What gets designed here
Work in Renton
Renton work falls into four kinds.
- Custom homes. From infill lots in builder subdivisions to premium lakefront sites near Kennydale and Coulon Beach.
- Additions and renovations. Homes from the 1950s to the 1980s in the Highlands and near downtown, on generous lots with solid construction.
- ADUs. Detached cottages work well on larger Highlands lots, and rental demand is strong.
- Commercial work. Tenant improvements and small buildings downtown, at The Landing and along the airport corridor.
On the water
On Lake Washington
Lakefront lots from Kennydale through Coulon Beach fall under the Shoreline Management Act, with setbacks, vegetation buffers and, for larger projects, a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit.
That review is planned before the design is, because it sets where the house can go.
Permits
Renton permit timelines
| Project | Typical review |
|---|---|
| Residential addition | 6 to 10 weeks |
| New single family home | 10 to 16 weeks |
| ADU | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Commercial tenant improvement | 4 to 8 weeks |
Typical City of Renton review times for a complete application. Shoreline permits on lakefront lots run in addition.
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 | 8% to 15% of construction | 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
Renton neighborhoods
Renton Highlands, Talbot Hill, Kennydale, the Coulon Beach waterfront and the older neighborhoods near downtown.
Questions
Building in Renton, answered
Do you work in Renton?
Yes. Piper Cole Architects is based in Kirkland and Renton is part of the regular work. Work ranges from Highlands additions to lakefront homes.
How long does a permit take in Renton?
Allow 6 to 10 weeks for an addition or ADU and 10 to 16 weeks for a new house. Lakefront projects add shoreline review.
What does an architect cost in Renton?
Typically 8% to 15% of construction for full service, toward the top of that range on waterfront, steep or otherwise constrained lots because they take more design time. The architect fees page has a calculator for your own budget.
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.
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 Renton projects
- Lakefront home designDesigning on Lake Washington frontage
- Washington ADU laws in 2026What state law now allows on almost every lot
- ADU cost, Seattle and the EastsideAttached, detached and garage conversions, in real numbers
- Architect in Maple ValleyCustom homes on rural lots to the south
Nearby
Nearby cities
- Architect in Newcastle, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Bellevue, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Mercer Island, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Issaquah, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Seattle, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
- Architect in Kirkland, WALocal permits, costs and the kind of work done there
Next step
Talk about your Renton property
Describe the lot and what you want to do with it. You speak to David Meade directly, not a salesperson, and the first feasibility check is free and usually takes about a day.
Our Architecture Services
Full-service architecture for Renton Architect: Custom Homes, Additions, Lakefront and the greater Seattle area: