Our proposed 2021 Stormwater Code and Manual update is scheduled to be effective in July 2021. Our new rules will replace the current Stormwater code and Directors’ Rules, which are administered jointly by SDCI and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). For more information, visit our Updating Stormwater Regulations Background webpage.
The Seattle City Council recently adopted the 2021 budget, including legislation that implements SDCI fee changes in 2021. This year, SDCI did not implement an across-the-board increase in fees but instead was able to make adjustments decreasing several fees. On January 1, 2021, changes to electrical, refrigeration, and furnace fees will go into effect.
The City of Seattle proposes to extend the interim Floodplain Development Regulations that took effect in August 2020 extended by Ordinance 126113. If the City Council does not adopt this legislation the interim regulations would expire on February 24, 2021. This legislation will extend the original interim regulations for 12 months so that the City’s floodplain mapping and development regulations will continue to be consistent with federal law. The City needs this additional time to prepare a proposal for permanent regulations that includes conducting necessary studies, consulting with federal and state agencies, and public outreach.
SDCI is in the process of updating Seattle’s construction codes to the 2018 versions of the building, residential, existing buildings, fire, electrical, mechanical, energy, fuel gas, elevator, boiler, and plumbing codes. SDCI was planning to adopt the 2018 edition of the codes effective July 1, 2020. Due to several factors, including the impacts of Covid-19 and the Governor’s executive order, the effective date was delayed to Feb 1, 2021. Adoption of Seattle’s 2018 suite of construction codes has been further delayed. The revised effective date is March 15, 2021.
Projects can only use easements in lieu of extensions of public sewer drains IF they have SPU approval. As of this notice, projects submitting for new preliminary applications will not be allowed to use an easement in lieu of an extension of the public sewer system unless an adjustment or exception is made by the General Manager of SPU. SPU protects existing and future assets and ratepayer resources by providing an orderly and predictable public system. Minimizing the length of privately-owned side sewers will better serve future residents of the property, as well as reduce the total life cycle costs of owning and maintaining them. It will also help protect ratepayers by reducing claims filed by residents due to issues with easements and long, privately-owned utility services.
We updated a Tip about concrete encased grounding electrode and published two final Director’s Rules about bicycle parking and landscaping standards.
We are seeing drastic signs of climate change in Seattle and throughout Washington State. Smokey summers and droughts are becoming more common and snowpack and stream flows have been altered and are decreasing our future water supply and hydropower production. At the same time, energy and water demands are increasing with population growth. We must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change and to achieve the City’s transition to a clean energy future. Our buildings make up about one-third of Seattle’s emissions. SDCI offers three incentives to help solve this crisis.
On August 21, 2020, Mayor Jenny Durkan signed Ordinance 126131, the Childcare Near You legislation, providing greater flexibility to establish new child care centers in nearly all zones in the city including single-family zones. This ordinance is effective as of September 20, 2020.
On July 24, 2020, the City passed Ordinance 126113, which establishes interim floodplain development regulations. Interim regulations are required for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and are based on a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Study. Interim regulations will be in place for six months while SDCI develops recommendations for permanent regulations. The ordinance was passed pursuant to RCW 36.70A.390 and, unless renewed, will expire in February 2021.
On August 21, Mayor Durkan signed Ordinance 126131, which updates the Land Use Code for greater flexibility in locating child care facilities in all zones. The City Council estimates that as many as 33,000 children in Seattle under the age of six are in need of child care. They identified a shortage in child care and sought to remove code barriers to more affordable and conveniently located child care.
