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Changes to Water Availability Certificate and Determination Request Process

Starting March 28, 2020, all applications for Water Availability Certificates (WACs) and Determination requests will be processed through the Seattle Services Portal. This update will streamline the Seattle Public Utilities’ (SPU’s) application process with SDCI and make SPU’s requirements and review status clearer and more transparent. WAC Requests: A WAC… [ Keep reading ]

Soldier Pile Permit Requirements

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Street Use division requires long-term, annually renewing, Public Space Management (PSM) permits for private encroachments in the public right-of-way. These include retaining walls, balconies, bay windows, stairs, and other privately-owned structures. The PSM permit provides the long-term tracking and record of ownership and maintenance… [ Keep reading ]

February Publication Updates

We updated a Tip about Hazard Trees and published three draft and three final director’s rules in February.

City Seeks Designs for Pre-Approved DADUs

To help more residents own and rent accessory dwelling units (ADUs), the City is currently seeking submissions of designs for detached ADUs, often called DADUs or backyard cottages. Pre-approved designs will offer a faster, easier, and more predictable path to permit and construct a DADU. Homeowners choosing a pre-approved plan… [ Keep reading ]

February and March Seattle Services Portal Trainings

We are pleased to continue our monthly training sessions for the Seattle Services Portal. Our goal is to help Portal users understand more about the permits and licensing process via our online portal. We meet the third Tuesday of each month from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at 700 5th… [ Keep reading ]

Seattle Code Development

SDCI is currently working on amendments for the 2018 Seattle Building Code, Residential Code, Existing Building Code, Fire Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Electrical Code, Boiler Code, and Elevator Code. Amendments under current review are those adopted by the WA State Building Code Council, current amendments of the 2015 Seattle… [ Keep reading ]

Energy Code Development

SDCI held four public meetings in January to review proposed 2018 Seattle Energy Code amendments, with over a hundred stakeholders participating. Participants considered three dozen proposed amendments during the ten hours of meetings. As a result, SDCI is making modifications to most of the proposals and will eliminate a few… [ Keep reading ]

New Hours for Seattle & King County Plumbing and Gas Piping Permitting

The customer serving/walk-in hours are changing for the Chinook and Eastgate locations of Seattle & King County Public Health’s Environmental Health Services (EHS) division. These locations provide plumbing and gas piping permits and plan review to the public, among other services. The new hours will be: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:… [ Keep reading ]

January Publication Updates

We updated four Tips and released two draft Director’s Rules in January.

Join Us at the Seattle Home Fairs

Once again, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) will be hosting our popular Seattle Home Fairs in January and February. These free events will be jam-packed with useful information about rental housing rules, our permitting and inspection process, emergency preparedness, and much more. We’ll have breakout sessions on landslide prevention, accessory dwelling units (ADU), and earthquake retrofits. With something for everyone, you won’t want to miss these events!