Building Connections Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections

Building Connections

Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections news and events

Know Your Rights and Be Counted

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The next United States Census will happen on April 1, 2020. There’s a lot at stake for Seattle in the 2020 U.S. Census. We’re combating a chaotic federal administration by working with community partners to ensure historically undercounted residents receive accurate Census information and know their rights.

Demolition Permit Processing Now Streamlined

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Have you been frustrated because your demolition application was tied to your construction application and you had to wait for the construction permit before the demolition permit?  Maybe you thought you needed to postpone your demolition project because you couldn’t get the permit, possibly incurring additional costs related to Vacant Building Monitoring.

We’ve got good news for you! We now have a standalone demolition permit, a streamlined path to a much simpler start to your demolition project!  Applying for a standalone demolition permit is now required. As of 8/8/2019, SDCI will no longer accept combined construction/demo applications.

New Delegate Feature Now Available in the Seattle Services Portal

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The City of Seattle has launched a new delegate feature in the Seattle Services Portal. SDCI’s customers use the Seattle Services Portal to apply for building and land use permits and trade and equipment licenses, submit complaints about potential code violations, and register their rental housing units.

The new delegate feature lets you give a contractor, coworker, or co-applicant access to your account and/or records. You can add multiple delegates and manage specific permissions. This feature gives you detailed control over who can access your records and how they can conduct business on your behalf.

Street Use Citation Penalty Update

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In August 2019, the Street Use division of the Seattle Department of Transportation is sending the Seattle City Council a legislative proposal to update their citation penalties. Since the citation section was first adopted in 2002, Street Use has made minor updates, but they have not carried out a holistic review of penalties.

Considering a New Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) – Don’t Forget to Plan for Broadband

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Recent legislation (Council Bill 119544) made it easier for property owners to build accessory dwelling units (i.e., backyard cottages) to give more housing options for people living in Seattle. In our digital age, having more people living on one parcel will likely also mean increased internet usage – and an increased need for broadband capacity.  A home may already have an internet service connection, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that connection can easily be extended or shared with a new residence on the parcel.

How Can I Get in the Intake Express Lane?

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Have you had that frustrating experience of being ready to submit your construction permit application only to find that you have to schedule an intake appointment that isn’t available for several weeks or months?  Maybe you thought you would need to postpone your project because you couldn’t get an appointment. We’ve got good news for you … we have The Intake Express Lane, an easy path to a much earlier intake appointment!