Building Connections Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections

Building Connections

Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections news and events

Reminder: Time to Apply for a Grading Season Extension

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The rainy season is rapidly approaching, which means it’s time to think about whether you will be doing any grading between November 1 and March 31. If your project includes Geotechnical Special Inspections AND if your project is in an environmentally critical area or involves a large quantity of earth-moving, check your special inspection permit record for an item called “Monitor Grading Season Restriction.” If you see “Monitor Grading Season Restriction” on your record, this means that grading between November 1 and March 31 is prohibited unless you apply for and receive a Grading Season Extension. 

Storm Drain Insert Reminder

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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.

SDCI Staff Directory

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Recently, the City had to remove the citywide staff directory from our website because the platform hosting the directory was failing and it posed some security risks. We understand that the directory’s removal has been inconvenient for our customers. While the City is working on a replacement directory, SDCI has developed an interim solution by posting all SDCI staff contact information on the Seattle Open Data website. The SDCI staff directory dataset includes staff names, titles, phone numbers, emails, work group, and supervisor’s name.

Update: New Plan Review Process

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In August, SDCI announced that it will implement a new plan review process using the Bluebeam software application. We will stop sending standard letter-based corrections for plan reviews and begin providing marked-up documents created with Bluebeam. This transition will align our plan review process with many of our neighboring jurisdictions’ process.

Time to Apply for a Grading Season Extension

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The rainy season is rapidly approaching, which means it’s time to think about whether you will be doing any grading between November 1 and March 31. If your project includes Geotechnical Special Inspections AND if your project is in an environmentally critical area or involves a large quantity of earth-moving, check your special inspection permit record for an item called “Monitor Grading Season Restriction.”

Coming Soon: Improved Public Comments Feature

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SDCI will be launching an improved method for our customers to submit public comments for some land use and early design guidance projects. Starting in late October, customers will be able to submit a public comment online and attach supporting photos, documents, etc., using the Seattle Services Portal. 

New DADU Addressing Process

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Beginning October 1, 2021, SDCI will start establishing separate, regular addresses and building IDs for detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs). Even though DADUs are accessory structures by code, they are dwelling units that should have their own address for emergency response, utilities, and mailing. Project descriptions will clearly identify that the structure is accessory to another structure.

Tree Protection Update

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Have you had a subcontractor move tree protection fencing and accidentally damage a tree?  Did it cost you time and money in the form of delays, extra inspections, project revisions or fines? Good news: the required fencing will help keep tree protection in place so that you avoid damage to trees during construction. 

Storm Drain Insert Reminder

by

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.