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.
Join the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections for our Seattle Home Fairs on Saturday, January 30, 2021 and Saturday, February 6, 2021. This year we’re going virtual! Our free home fairs will include helpful information about landslide preparation, earthquake retrofits, tree regulations, and rental housing rules. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask our experts about our permitting process, building and electrical inspections, soil erosion prevention, and code violations. This is your chance to get expert advice about your specific project, rental housing, or neighborhood standards. Don’t miss out!
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.
Due to several factors creating significant resource challenges and a growing backlog for new service connections at this time, Seattle City Light is estimating timelines for service completion are weeks or even months longer than in the pre-COVID world. To be transparent and set realistic expectations for customers seeking new service connections, City Light has published a temporary update to the Connection Timeline (Table 1.3) in City Light’s “Requirements for Electric Service Connection” (RESC), the primary resource for customers initiating service requests. This document outlines the submittal requirements for each type of service, including estimated timelines for each process step along the way. For new requests, City Light modified Table 1.3 – “Estimated Turnaround Times Per Phase of Application Process, Looped Radial” to align with what customers are currently experiencing. Network connections are covered elsewhere and are not being modified at this time.
Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced new steps to further electrify buildings using clean energy and ban fossil fuels for most building use.
The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections will be hosting our popular Seattle Home Fairs online on Saturday, January 30, 2021 and Saturday, February 6, 2021.
Passionate about design or architecture? Mayor Jenny Durkan is looking for qualified candidates to fill 15 upcoming openings on the City of Seattle’s Design Review Boards. Board members evaluate the design of new buildings based on citywide and neighborhood-specific design guidelines.
Landslide season is here, so the City of Seattle is urging residents to take preventive measures to protect themselves and their property from possible landslides.
The City is going live with an online entry form for submitting Salvage Assessments in mid-December.