22 asphalt contractors serving Seattle, WA

Seattle Asphalt Paving Guide: Costs, Permits, and Timing

Seattle's long wet season and short dry summer shape when asphalt work can happen, and SDOT and SDCI permits cover curb cuts and driveways that meet a public street. This guide covers published local price ranges, Seattle's curb cut and driveway permit paths, and how to time paving around the rain. The contractor list above shows paving pros who serve Seattle on Main Street.

What asphalt work costs in Seattle

We only list numbers from published sources that name Seattle, and we only show line items that have a current Seattle-named source. The new-driveway and overlay rows below come from 2024 and 2025 Seattle contractor guides plus Angi's Seattle page (updated Mar 11, 2026). Sealcoating is left out until we find a current Seattle source for it. Treat figures as a starting point, not a quote.

Seattle published ranges disagree because scope differs (thickness, drainage, tear-out). Economy Asphalts and Lee's are Seattle-area contractors; Angi is a city cost page. Compare line items, not totals alone.

City permits and the public right-of-way

Curbs and the street edge are City right-of-way, so the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) oversees curb cut and driveway work there, with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) reviewing its part. Paving that stays entirely on your own lot does not touch the right-of-way.

Curb cut permit. SDCI's Curb Cut Permit page says you need a curb cut permit when you make a new driveway in an existing sidewalk curb. It is often part of a building permit, but can be a stand-alone permit applied for through SDOT. SDCI confirms the width, location, and number of allowable curb cuts.

Existing curb or no curb. SDOT's Streets Illustrated construction permits page explains that where there is an existing curb, a Curb Cut Permit is issued by SDCI and inspected by SDOT. Where there is no existing curb, the City requires a Street Use Driveway Permit for a driveway that joins a public street, which SDOT issues and inspects. The same page lists a new asphalt driveway among Group 2 construction permits that SDOT must review and approve before work starts.

The City's Services Portal help article, How Do I Apply for a Concrete Curb Cut/Driveway Permit?, walks through the Street Use ROW Construction application.

Seattle weather and the best time to pave

NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport show about 39.3 inches of rain a year, with roughly 29.7 inches falling from October through March. July and August are the driest months, averaging about 1.6 inches combined.

July highs average about 77 degrees, and the station averages only about 4 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter. It also averages about 25 nights a year at freezing or colder and about 6.3 inches of snow a year.

Our tip for Seattle homeowners: book paving and sealcoating for the drier stretch from late June through early September, and finish before October rains return. Ask your crew how they handle drainage and a dry forecast window, since sealcoat needs dry pavement and time to cure.

Seattle asphalt FAQ

How much does a new asphalt driveway cost in Seattle?

Economy Asphalts' Seattle guide (updated Sep 11, 2025) lists asphalt driveway installation around $7 to $13 per square foot. Lee's General Landscaping (Sep 19, 2024) cites $3 to $6 per square foot depending on complexity. Angi's Seattle page (updated Mar 11, 2026) lists asphalt at about $3 to $4.70 per square foot. Ranges differ with thickness and scope — get written apples-to-apples quotes.

How much does driveway sealcoating cost in Seattle?

We do not have a solid current Seattle-named sealcoating price per square foot on file, so we are not publishing a figure. Ask contractors for a written quote with sealcoating as its own line item, and plan around Seattle's dry-weather window.

Do I need a Seattle permit for a new driveway curb cut?

Yes. SDCI says you need a curb cut permit when you make a new driveway in an existing sidewalk curb. Where there is no existing curb, SDOT requires a Street Use Driveway Permit for a driveway that joins a public street.

Who inspects curb cut and driveway work in Seattle?

SDOT's Streets Illustrated guide says a Curb Cut Permit for an existing curb is issued by SDCI and inspected by SDOT, and a Street Use Driveway Permit where there is no curb is issued and inspected by SDOT.

When is the best time to pave in Seattle?

NOAA normals for Sea-Tac show about 39.3 inches of rain a year, with most of it from October through March, and July and August as the driest months. Midsummer is the most reliable window for paving and sealcoating.

How do I hire an asphalt contractor in Seattle?

Start with the 22 listings on this page. Filter by the job type you need (driveway, parking lot, sealcoat, overlay, patching, striping). For each shortlist, ask for proof of license/insurance appropriate to your job, a written scope that includes base prep and drainage, and who will pull any city right-of-way permit. In Seattle, ROW/apron work follows the rules already summarized in this hub's permit section — have the contractor confirm they will handle filings when the job touches the public street. Compare at least three written quotes before you sign. Do not rely on a phone estimate alone.

What should I ask before signing a paving contract in Seattle?

Ask for: (1) thickness of asphalt and base in inches; (2) whether the bid is overlay or full remove-and-replace; (3) how drainage and soft spots will be handled; (4) whether the driveway apron / curb cut in the public right-of-way is included and permitted; (5) traffic control if the street is affected; (6) payment schedule tied to milestones; (7) warranty language in writing. Cross-check the permit path already described on this Seattle guide so the contract names who files with the City.

How many asphalt paving quotes should I get in Seattle?

Plan on at least three comparable written quotes. Same square footage, same thickness, and the same overlay-vs-replace assumption. If one bid is far lower, ask what was left out — base repair, haul-off, apron rebuild, or permits often explain the gap. Use this directory's quote requests to gather apples-to-apples proposals, then compare line items rather than totals alone.

Should my Seattle asphalt contractor be licensed, insured, and bonded?

Yes — treat license, insurance, and (when required) bonding as a checklist item before work starts. Requirements differ by job location: work that stays on private property may follow one path, while work in the public right-of-way follows the City rules already listed on this hub. For Seattle, review the permit section above and ask each pro to show current insurance certificates and any ROW-related credentials the City requires for your specific curb or apron scope. Main Street lists businesses for comparison; verify credentials directly with the contractor and the City.

What is the difference between driveway and parking lot paving in Seattle?

Residential driveways are smaller, often use thinner structural sections than commercial lots, and may involve a curb cut or apron in the City right-of-way (see this page's permit notes). Parking lots usually need thicker sections for truck loads, more attention to drainage and slopes, striping after paving, and sometimes phased work so tenants keep access. Cost per square foot for a parking lot is driven by thickness, haul distance, night work, and striping. We do not publish a Seattle parking-lot $/sq ft until we have a current sourced figure, so ask contractors for lot-specific line items rather than extrapolating from the driveway table.

Crack sealing vs sealcoating vs overlay — which do I need in Seattle?

Crack sealing fills individual cracks to keep water out of the base. Sealcoating is a thin protective surface coat that restores appearance and slows oxidation — it does not fix structural failure. An overlay adds a new asphalt layer over a sound existing pavement; full remove-and-replace is for failed base, widespread alligator cracking, or poor drainage. A good contractor will walk the pavement with you and recommend the lightest treatment that actually solves the failure mode. If the base is pumping or soft, sealcoat alone will not last.

Compare Seattle paving contractors

Contractors listed on the Seattle hub, from Main Street listings data. Claimed profiles are shown first. Full cards are in the list above.

• Compton Builders, Seattle
• Creative Paving & Masonry LLC, Seattle
• Northwest Sealcoating Solutions LLC, SeaTac
• Superior Asphalt Maintenance, Burien
• AC Paving Northwest Inc, Renton

Own one of these businesses? Claim your free listing to add photos, services, and contact details.

Nearby city hubs

• Bellevue, WA asphalt contractors
• Tacoma, WA asphalt contractors
• Vancouver, WA asphalt contractors

Prices above come from the dated third-party sources named in the table and are not quotes from Main Street or any listed contractor. Permit rules change; confirm with SDOT and SDCI before you start work.