SDCI’s green building permit incentives aim to create more efficient buildings that center around clean electric energy, water, and resource conservation with a focus on human health. Projects can gain additional height or floor area or a faster building permit in exchange for meeting specific green building goals and certification.
SDCI updated the Green Building Standard and Priority Green Expedited on March 15, 2021.
The City currently has interim Floodplain Development Regulations in effect through February 2022 so that the City’s floodplain map and development regulations are consistent with federal law. Here is a link to the Interim Floodplain Development Regulations.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) required updates to maps and regulations based on the February 2020 updated floodplain map for King County. This map (called the Flood Insurance Rate Map) identifies properties that are at risk of flooding and is used to determine which properties are required to have flood insurance.
Vacant buildings have become a familiar part of the Seattle landscape in the last few years. These structures can devastate the neighborhood, undermine quality of life, and diminish property values. Trespassing, vandalism, and other criminal activities occur with some frequency. Fires, such as the one that burnt the former Seven Gables Theater, are all too common.
SDCI is enthused to announce the release of its new Shaping Seattle: Property & Building Complaints map. This new map displays active complaints and violations and the actions taken by SDCI’s Code Compliance Division to help bring properties into compliance with community standards. This map will make it easier for the public to find complaints and track when the City determines a violation is present around their neighborhood. SDCI optimized the map to work best on mobile devices so you can quickly find complaint and violation information about properties you see when walking in your community.
The 2018 Seattle construction codes went into effect on March 15, 2021. Unless your project is vested to an earlier code, all new permit applications are required to use the 2018 version of the building, residential, existing building, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing, elevator, and fire codes and the 2020 versions of the electrical and boiler codes. A summary of key changes can be found on the Project Documents page of SDCI’s 2018 Seattle Code Adoption webpage.
SDCI is now offering the 2018 Seattle code books available for purchase through the Seattle Services Portal. You can submit your request for a hardcopy of the current version of the Seattle code books and we will mail them to you.
SDCI published a new Code Interpretation R302.2 Townhouse Unit Separation on March 15, 2021. The purpose of the Code Interpretation is to clarify methods to provide separation between townhouse units designed to the 2018 Seattle Residential Code. Typically, the code requires a fire-resistance-rated wall assembly to provide continuous separation between units from foundation to roof. There are several conditions where separation is required to extend beyond this enclosed floor area.
Renting in Seattle, a program within SDCI, published the Renter’s Handbook. The handbook is a completely revised version of the landlord/tenant summary, required by rental agreement regulations in the City. Designed as a companion to the Renting in Seattle website, the Renter’s Handbook covers the rental cycle from finding a home to moving out. It provides information about the rights and obligations in the rental relationship, as well as some practical tips to enhance it.
We updated a tip on mandatory housing affordability and finalized a director’s rule about the green building standard.
COVID-19 has significantly changed the way we all work, and construction is no exception. Jobsite safety as we know it has changed significantly over the past year. The state of Washington and the City of Seattle have both published site safety requirements to manage exposure to COVID-19. These requirements should be read and understood by contractors, and necessary site safety should be in place during construction activity onsite.
