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New Maps for Tree Public Notices & Tree Tracking Data Now Available!

April 1, 2024

Last year, the City of Seattle adopted new codes and regulations regarding tree protection, tree service providers, and tree public notices. These new regulations help the City balance tree protection and housing production. Trees add value to your property and the surrounding community. Canopy cover is one important measure of the health of the urban forest. Urban trees provide numerous ecological, economic, and social benefits, including wildlife habitat, neighborhood livability, and improved public health outcomes. 

Filed Under: Department UpdatesTagged With: ,

Mayor Harrell Proposes Legislation to Fill Vacant Storefronts in Downtown, Belltown, South Lake Union, and Uptown through Expanded Uses

March 28, 2024

As part of his Downtown Activation Plan, Mayor Bruce Harrell has submitted new legislation to Seattle City Council aimed at filling vacant commercial spaces in existing buildings on key streets in Downtown, Belltown, Uptown, and South Lake Union.  The proposed Land Use Code changes will provide greater flexibility in allowable uses of street-level commercial space and broaden the pool of eligible commercial tenants, further advancing efforts that create engaging, pedestrian-oriented street environments throughout the urban core.

Filed Under: Department UpdatesTagged With:

Building Inspections will be limiting the number of scheduled inspections from March 25- March 29, 2024

March 13, 2024

Building Inspections will be limiting the number of scheduled inspections from March 25- March 29, 2024 for training purposes.

Filed Under: Department Updates, InspectionsTagged With:

Coming Soon: Tree Public Notices & Tree Tracking Data Maps

March 1, 2024

SDCI is developing two new maps to help you understand what commercial tree work is happening in your neighborhood. The maps will include tree-related information collected from issued permits. Tree Public Notice Map: This interactive map will display all SDCI tree public notices for reportable work or tree removal. Tree Tracking Data Map: This map will display tree tracking data gathered from issued permits since the new ordinance went into effect on July 30, 2023.

Filed Under: Department UpdatesTagged With: ,

Seattle City Light Adopts New Standard for Solar Panel Inverters

March 1, 2024

Beginning this year, all proposed inverter-based Distributed Energy Resources (DER) must use inverters certified under Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1741 Supplement B (Standard for Safety Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use with Distributed Energy Resources, Supplement B and labeled as UL1741-SB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1547-2018 (Standard for Interconnection Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems Interfaces).

Filed Under: Department UpdatesTagged With: ,

February Publication Updates

March 1, 2024

SDCI updated two Tips on MHA payments for developer contributions.

Filed Under: Document UpdatesTagged With:

Seattle Tree Service Providers: New Single Registration for SDCI and SDOT

February 28, 2024

Hiring tree service providers knowledgeable in the City’s regulations ensures that your provider knows and understands the City’s regulations and policies for proper tree care and protection. Tree service providers are required to be registered with the City to do certain tree work on private property (registry administered by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)) and in the public rights-of-way (registry administered by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)). These two departments previously managed separate application and monitoring processes for their respective tree service provider registries. We are happy to announce that the City of Seattle launched a single registration process for SDCI and SDOT Tree Service Providers on February 22, 2024. The new registration process helps create a more streamlined and efficient experience for tree service providers and a more automated and efficient process for staff.

Filed Under: Department UpdatesTagged With: ,

Coming Soon: Seattle Tree Service Providers May Submit a Single Application to Register with SDCI & SDOT

February 1, 2024

The City of Seattle is committed to protecting our urban canopy. Trees add value to your property and the surrounding community. Canopy cover is one important measure of the health of the urban forest. Urban trees provide numerous ecological, economic, and social benefits, including wildlife habitat, neighborhood livability, and improved public health outcomes. Hiring tree service providers knowledgeable in the City’s regulations ensures that your provider knows and understands the City’s regulations and policies for proper tree care. Tree service providers are required to be registered with the City to do certain tree work on private property (registry administered by SDCI) and in the public rights-of-way (registry administered by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)). These two departments currently manage separate application and monitoring processes for their respective tree service provider registries. In late February, the tree service provider registration application processes for SDCI and SDOT are being combined into a single application. This single application will help create a more streamlined and efficient experience for tree service providers and a more automated and efficient process for City staff.

Filed Under: Department UpdatesTagged With: ,

City Seeks Feedback on Funding Option to Protect Buildings During an Earthquake

February 1, 2024

The City of Seattle is holding a listening session for developers and owners of URM buildings for a proposed new Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program to support seismic retrofits of URM buildings. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) and Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) are hosting this meeting on Tuesday, February 27 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. in the Bertha Knight Landes Room in Seattle City Hall. You can register and view the meeting agenda for this in-person event on the Unreinforced Masonry Buildings website.

Filed Under: Emergency PreparednessTagged With: ,

2021 Seattle Construction Code Update

February 1, 2024

The Seattle construction codes are being updated to the 2021 code editions and include the building, residential, existing building, energy, mechanical, plumbing, fuel gas, wildland urban interface, and fire codes. The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code is also being updated to the 2023 edition.   The City of Seattle adopts the Seattle construction codes after Washington state adopts the state construction codes. The Washington state 2021 Construction Codes effective date is currently March 15, 2024. The target implementation date for the 2021 Seattle Construction Codes is delayed to no sooner than July 1, 2024, as we continue our City ordinance process.  

Filed Under: CodesTagged With: