The Seattle City Council recently adopted the 2024 budget, including legislation that implements SDCI fee changes in 2024.
On January 1, 2024, SDCI will be implementing an inflationary increase of 2% to most fees. These fee increases will result in an SDCI base hourly rate of $257/hour and a land use hourly rate of $439/hour. While most permitting fees will see these increases, electrical, refrigeration, and furnace fees will not be increasing in 2024 following a series of reductions SDCI has made to these fees over the past three years.
SDCI will be reducing hazardous tree removal fees by 50% in 2024 to promote accessibility of this service and align costs with the amount of work performed.
Vacant building monitoring fees will be adjusted to account for inflationary and programmatic changes since the last major update in 2019. The new monthly inspection fees will be $332.36 for buildings that are closed to entry without code violations, $651.82 for buildings that are closed to entry with code violations, and $781.84 for buildings that are unsecured. Buildings will continue to be released from the monitoring program after three consecutive inspections without violations.
Beginning January 1, 2024, SDCI will charge a Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance (TRAO) license processing fee. This fee will be used for increased staffing to provide timely and efficient processing of TRAO licenses. TRAO is required when tenants are displaced due to development or removal of rent restrictions. Eligible low-income tenants are provided relocation assistance, half of which is paid by the City and half paid by the owner or developer. This fee is charged to the developer or property owner and is separate from the owner’s share of relocation assistance paid to eligible tenants.
The fee is based on the number of displaced households. The 2024 fee will be:
- Base TRAO processing fee (including certifications of no displacement): $257
- Additional fee for each unit eligible to apply for TRAO: $321.25
The fee amount will be periodically adjusted along with other permitting fees.
RRIO fees will increase starting January 1, 2024, to keep up with program operating expenses. RRIO fees support the RRIO program and cannot be used for other City functions. A summary of the fee changes is below.
Fee | Current (2023) |
Beginning 2024 |
Property Registration/Renewal fee | $70 | $110 |
Add. Unit Registration/Renewal fee | $15 | $20 |
Private Inspector Training | $200 | $300 |
Private Inspector registration | $250 | $300 |
City Inspection Property Fee | $175 | $210 |
Add. Unit City Inspection Fee | $35 | $40 |
Private Inspection Processing Fee | $40 | $50 |
Registration/Renewal & Inspection late fee | $30 | No Change |
The City of Seattle recognizes the importance of limiting fee increases for the RRIO program. This is the second time in 10 years that we have raised any RRIO fee.
New Director’s Rules, the BVD table, and other fee-related information will be available on our website by the end of January.