SDCI is pleased to announce that we will be supporting the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) with the addition of some new steps in our permitting process. These new steps will allow us to ensure all energy storage systems installed in Seattle will receive the proper permits and reviews needed to keep our buildings safe. We are making this change in response to new requirements in the state and international fire codes.
Seattle is experiencing challenging conditions. This is affecting the ability of people who have permits or will soon obtain permits to start their projects. Availability of financing and other costs influence whether or when many of these projects can proceed.
We’ve finally posted all the videos and related information from October’s virtual Home Fair presentations. Check them out on our Home Fair web page! Please send Home Fair feedback, for both virtual and in-person, to wendy.shark@seattle.gov.
Reflecting on seismic activity in 2023, nine deadly and damaging earthquakes occurred globally. In February, Turkey and Syria experienced two earthquakes over magnitude 7.5 that killed over 59 thousand people. In September, Morocco experienced a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that killed almost three thousand people. In October, Afghanistan experienced a magnitude 6.3 earthquake that killed over one thousand people. In November, Nepal experienced a magnitude 5.7 earthquake that killed over 150 people. In December, China experienced a magnitude 5.9 earthquake that killed 149 people. Four additional earthquakes in Afghanistan, Ecuador, Turkey, and the Philippines each resulted in deaths of ten or more people. While earthquakes cannot be predicted, we know Seattle will experience a damaging earthquake in the future and we can predict how buildings will perform in an earthquake. 2023 was a year of progress and milestones in advancing the seismic resilience of Seattle’s unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings, buildings that are prone to collapse in an earthquake.
We updated five Tips, published a final Director’s Rule on relocation assistance eligibility, and rescinded several outdated Director’s Rules.
We launched Zendesk for developers and owners needing assistance with tenant relocation (TRAO) holds on their permits. Zendesk offers a new way for customers to ask us questions about TRAO holds on their permits as well as those wanting to begin the TRAO process. Zendesk replaced the complaint line and the Seattle Services Portal for new requests from owners and developers. If you have a pending TRAO request submitted through either the complaint line or the Seattle Servies Portal, please do not submit a another request through Zendesk.
With the onset of the rainy season, SDCI is reminding builders working in Seattle to inspect and maintain any temporary storm drain inserts they have installed as part of construction projects. The inserts, also known as storm drain socks, are used on many construction projects to catch sediment not captured by other required construction-related erosion control measures.
We are planning to retire the Parcel Data Viewer tool in mid-December, however all of the data displayed on that tool may be found using the King County Parcel Viewer and SDCI’s GIS mapping tool.
The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) is excited to announce the Watershed building in Fremont is our third Living Building Pilot building to successfully complete the pilot program green building requirements. The Watershed building recently received Petal Certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and met the requirements to reduce energy and water use. Only two other pilot projects have successfully completed the process—the Bullitt Center and Stone 34.
