Building Connections Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections

Building Connections

Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections news and events

Fixing the Bricks: Upcoming Presentations of Proposed Minimum Seismic Standards for Unreinforced Masonry Buildings

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After several years of collaborating with seismologists, geologists, and geotechnical and structural engineers, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) is sharing its draft Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Technical Standard. This document is the first step in establishing minimum seismic standards for the earthquake retrofit of Seattle’s 1,100 vintage brick buildings which are prone to collapse in an earthquake due to lack of structural reinforcements.

In 2021, an effort spearheaded by the Alliance for Safety, Affordability, and Preservation (ASAP!) and Councilmember Herbold resulted in the passing of Joint Resolution 32033. That resolution declared the intent of City Council and the Mayor to establish a mandatory retrofit program and directed SDCI to develop a retrofit standard. While a mandatory ordinance is still a few years away, this Technical Standard will serve as a voluntary option for URM owners wanting to retrofit their building. This Technical Standard will be used to develop a future mandatory retrofit ordinance. 

Consolidated Billing for Annual Inspections Can Save You Hours of Processing Time!

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SDCI has simplified the way we bill customers for annual equipment inspections. Starting May 11, 2023, billing for annual inspections is consolidated by site—meaning customers will now receive one email and invoice for all inspections performed at their property.

If you manage equipment in Seattle such as elevators, boilers, or pressure vessels, you will find that the new process provides everything you need up front that’s needed to make a payment. You no longer need to navigate through multiple emails and webpages.

Residential Mechanical Equipment Noise Overview

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SDCI’s noise abatement group conducts inspections and noise advisory reviews for almost all residential side-yard mechanical installations. In a typical Neighborhood Residential zone, the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) requires an overnight sound level limit of 45 dBA (decibels) at the property line during the overnight hours. Overnight hours are defined in SMC 25.08 as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. weekdays and 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. weekends and legal holidays. Legal holidays are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. The 45 dBA standard is fairly restrictive because the City of Seattle makes resident’s ability to sleep and relax a major priority.

Low-Income Housing/Affordable Units Land Use Code Omnibus Amendments

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In One Seattle, every person deserves to have a safe and affordable place to call home – this is critical to our efforts to create a safe, welcoming, and thriving Seattle of the future. Now more than ever, we must advance bold action to address the housing affordability and homelessness crises by helping people move indoors with access to services and preventing homelessness in the first place. 

Site Development Inspections Overview

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SDCI’s inspections team inspects a wide range of items on development projects. They inspect the basic “concrete, boards, and nails” of a project and more specific disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, conveyance, boilers, and earthwork-related efforts. In 1999, SDCI created the Site Development Inspections team to perform Pre-Application Site Visits, monitor erosion control, and do field follow-up of geotechnical special inspections.

Seattle Code Updates

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SDCI and Washington state update their adopted construction codes every three years. The current updates creating the 2021 series of codes for SDCI and Washington state where slated to be adopted and implemented by July 1, 2023. However, SDCI’s proposed updates will be delayed.

The 2021 Seattle Construction Codes effective date of July 1, 2023 is delayed to no sooner than Monday, October 2, 2023 to accommodate a City of Seattle legislative review process which is longer than anticipated this code cycle.

Building Safety Presentations: Earthquake Readiness and Building and Electrical Inspections

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Join SDCI on May 20 for two virtual presentations aimed to help you make your home a little safer.

Mayor Bruce Harrell has proclaimed May 2023 to be Building Safety Month in support of a national celebration of building safety sponsored by the International Code Council. As part of Building Safety Month, and in collaboration with the One Seattle Day of Service, SDCI is hosting two online presentations to help you be more prepared for the unexpected.

Updates to Seattle Tree Service Provider Regulations

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In April, 2022 the City of Seattle passed regulations to help protect our urban canopy. Those regulations require tree service providers to register with the City of Seattle before conducting commercial tree work, consultations on private property and posting a public notice on-site for any tree work beyond minimal routine maintenance. In February 2023, the City passed additional legislation to modify and clarify those regulations. See the SDCI tree code webpage for the detailed registration and notice requirements.