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.
Deconstruction Incentive and How-to Salvage Video
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) recently launched a pilot Deconstruction Incentive Program and is offering up to $4,000 per deconstruction project. The incentive program encourages building owners to deconstruct rather than outright demolish the building.
As a further incentive, Seattle City Light has agreed to fast track deconstruction projects for electrical disconnects. The monetary incentive and potential reduction in permitting timeline make taking on deconstruction more appealing. Deconstruction incentive funds are available through mid-2023.
Proof of Built Green Certification Needed for the Seattle Green Building Standard
We’ve been working to identify completed projects that have not provided proof of Built Green 4-Star or better certification that is required when using the Green Building Standard. The incentive applies when a development exceeds a minimum floor area, includes building a second accessory dwelling unit, or when extra floor area or height is pursued.
Updated Green Building Incentives
SDCI’s green building permit incentives aim to create more efficient buildings that center around clean electric energy, water, and resource conservation with a focus on human health. Projects can gain additional height or floor area or a faster building permit in exchange for meeting specific green building goals and certification.
SDCI updated the Green Building Standard and Priority Green Expedited on March 15, 2021.
May is Building Safety Month
The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections and the City of Seattle are proud to participate in the International Code Council’s annual Building Safety Month campaign this May. This event has been the emphasis of the International Code Council and its predecessors for the past 40 years. The goal and purpose of the International Code Council was to showcase the work and mission of the codes, officials who administer them, and the positive affects the community can receive when they are administered. There are weekly themes throughout May to educate the public on important issues such as being prepared for a disaster. The City of Seattle has been and continues to be a major contributor to the development and implementation of all types of codes relevant to the built environment.
Building Safety Month Resources
The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections and the City of Seattle are proud to participate in the International Code Council’s annual Building Safety Month campaign this May. This event, created by the International Code Council, has a goal and purpose to showcase the work and mission of the codes, officials who administer them, and the positive effects the codes can have on the community. This page includes resources for each week’s theme.
Changes to Requirements for Green Building
On April 19, citywide Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) legislation became effective, implementing affordable housing requirements throughout the City of Seattle. The legislation amends the Land Use Code in many ways, but specific to the green building standards, it changes the triggers for when the green building requirements apply. The Land Use Code does not make green building mandatory. The code does make green building a requirement when a project exceeds floor area ratio (FAR) thresholds, and when gaining extra floor area and height in specific zones.
Green Building Incentives
We are seeing drastic signs of climate change in Seattle and throughout Washington State. Smokey summers and droughts are becoming more common, snowpack and stream flows have been altered and are decreasing future water supply and hydropower production, all while energy and water demands are increasing with population growth. We must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change and to achieve the City’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Our buildings make up about one-third of Seattle’s emissions.
Comment on a Draft Director’s Rule about Green Building Standards
We’d like your feedback on Draft Director’s Rule 20-2017, Green Building Standard. It’s available for review and comment through 9/22/17.
Publication Updates
Seattle DCI released two updated Tips, a draft Director’s Rule on green building standards, and a final Director’s Rule on an updated steep slope map.
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