Skip to main content
  • Services & Information
  • Departments
  • Elected Officials
  • Boards & Commissions
  • Media Contacts
  • News
  • Events
    • Main Menu
    • SDCI
    • Seattle Services Portal
    • About Us
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Us - Send Us a Question
        • Contact Us - Phone Numbers
        • Contact Us - Director & Managers
        • Contact Us - Hours & Location
      • Message From the Director
      • Who We Are
        • Applicant Services Center
        • Code Compliance
        • Construction Codes Advisory Board
        • Emergency Management - Landslides & Earthquakes
        • Land Use
        • Noise Enforcement
        • Public Disclosure
        • Public Resource Center
        • Trade Licensing
      • Stay Connected
        • Public Meetings & Events
        • Seattle Home Fairs
    • Codes
      • Changes to Code
        • Proposed Changes to Code
          • 2021 Seattle Code Adoption
            • 2021 Seattle Code Adoption - What & Why
            • 2021 Seattle Code Adoption - Get Involved
            • 2021 Seattle Code Adoption- Timeline
          • Code Corrections
            • Code Corrections - What & Why
            • Code Corrections - Project Documents
          • Incentive Zoning Update (links to Office of Planning and Community Development's page)
          • Interim Home Occupation Regulations
            • Interim Home Occupation Regulations - What & Why
            • Interim Home Occupation Regulations - Project Documents
          • Filling Vacant Downtown Storefronts
            • Filling Vacant Downtown Storefronts - What & Why
            • Filling Vacant Downtown Storefronts - Get Involved
            • Filling Vacant Downtown Storefronts - Project Documents
          • Floodplain Development Regulations Update
            • Floodplain Development Regulations Update - What & Why
            • Floodplain Development Regulations Update - Get Involved
            • Floodplain Development Regulations Update - Project Documents
            • Floodplain Development Regulations Update - Background
            • Floodplain Development Regulations Update - Timeline
          • Leaf Blower Best Practices
            • Leaf Blower Best Practices - What & Why
            • Leaf Blower Best Practices - Project Documents
          • Rooftop Coverage Regulations
            • Rooftop Coverage Regulations - What & Why
            • Rooftop Coverage Regulations - Get Involved
            • Rooftop Coverage Regulations - Project Documents
          • Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
            • Unreinforced Masonry Buildings - What & Why
            • Unreinforced Masonry Buildings - Get Involved
            • Unreinforced Masonry Buildings - Project Documents
            • Unreinforced Masonry Buildings - Background
            • Unreinforced Masonry Buildings - Timeline
          • Urban Center College Housing
            • Urban Center College Housing - What & Why
            • Urban Center College Housing - Get Involved
            • Urban Center College Housing - Project Documents
        • Recent Changes to Code
          • Childcare Ordinance
            • Childcare Ordinance - What & Why
            • Childcare Ordinance - Get Involved
            • Childcare Ordinance - Project Documents
            • Childcare Ordinance - Timeline
          • Environmentally Critical Areas Update
            • Environmentally Critical Areas Update - What & Why
            • Environmentally Critical Areas Update - Get Involved
            • Environmentally Critical Areas Update - Project Documents
            • Environmentally Critical Areas Update - Background
            • Environmentally Critical Areas Update - Timeline
          • Accessory Dwelling Unit (links to SDCI page)
          • Shoreline Master Program (links to SDCI's code page)
          • Updating Stormwater Regulations
            • Updating Stormwater Regulations - What & Why
            • Updating Stormwater Regulations - Get Involved
            • Updating Stormwater Regulations - Project Documents
            • Updating Stormwater Regulations - Background
            • Updating Stormwater Regulations - Timeline
      • Construction Code Interpretations
      • Common Code Questions
        • Animal Codes
        • Construction Without a Permit
        • Deposit Returns
        • Evictions
        • Floating Residences
        • Home Business Rules
        • Housing Cost Increases
        • Illegal Business
        • Illegal Living Units
        • Junk (Inoperable) Car & Vehicle Rules
        • Junk Storage & Illegal Dumping Rules
        • Move-In Charges
        • Noise Codes
        • Notice to Enter a Rental Unit
        • Parking and Car Storage Rules
        • Pests
        • Pets
        • Problems With Your Rental Unit
        • Property Line Disputes
        • Rental Agreements
        • Short-Term Rentals
        • Tenant Relocation
        • Vacant Buildings
        • Weeds & Overgrown Vegetation
      • Licensing & Registration
        • Gas Pipe Licensing
        • Refrigeration Licensing
        • Rental Registration and Inspection
          • Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance - About RRIO
          • Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance - Owners & Managers
          • Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance - Renters
          • Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance - Inspectors
        • Steam Engineer & Boiler Operator Licensing
      • What Should I Do if I'm Cited?
      • Make a Property or Building Complaint
        • How We Respond
      • Codes We Enforce (A-Z)
        • Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code
        • Building Code
        • Buildings Unfit for Human Habitation
        • Condominium Conversions
        • Cooperative Conversion
        • Design Review Guidelines
        • Electrical Code
        • Elevator Code
        • Energy Code
          • Energy Code - Overview
          • Energy Code - Documents
          • Energy Code - Forms
          • Energy Code - Resources
        • Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA) Code
        • Existing Building Code
        • Fees
        • Fire Code
        • Floodplain Development Code
        • Fuel Gas Code
        • Grading Code
        • Housing & Building Maintenance
        • Incentive Zoning Program
        • Just Cause Eviction Ordinance
        • Land Use Code
        • Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) Program
        • Marijuana Code
        • Mechanical Code
        • Mobile Homes & Parks Code
        • Noise Code
        • Plumbing Code
        • Prohibited Acts
        • Refrigeration Code
        • Rental Agreement Regulation
        • Rental Registration & Inspection Code
        • Residential Code
        • Seattle Green Factor
        • Shoreline Master Program
        • Side Sewer Code
        • Sign Code
        • State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Code
        • Stormwater Code
        • Street, Alley and Pedestrian Improvements
        • Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance
        • Trees & Codes
        • Vacant Building Standards
        • Weeds & Vegetation Code
        • Zoning
    • Inspections
      • Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspections
      • Construction Inspections
      • Electrical Inspections
      • Elevator & Escalator Inspections
      • Furnace Inspections
      • Mechanical Inspections
      • Side Sewer Inspections
      • Sign Inspections
      • Site Development Inspections
      • Special Inspections
    • Permits
      • Changes to Your Issued Permit
        • Building Permit Renewals
        • Building Permit Revisions
        • Master Use Permit (MUP) Revisions
        • Master Use Permit Renewals
        • Shoreline Substantial Development Permit Extensions
        • Shop Drawings
      • Comment on a Project
      • Common Projects
        • Accessory Dwelling Unit
        • Adult Family Homes
        • Decks
        • Demolition of Housing
        • Fences
        • Garages
        • House Additions & Remodels
        • New Businesses
        • Parking - Location, Size & Number of Spots
        • Paving
        • Property Line Changes
        • Property & Building Use
        • Retaining Walls & Rockeries
        • Sheds
        • Street Food Carts or Trucks
      • Do You Need a Permit?
      • Exemptions From Code Requirements
        • ECA Steep Slope Development Relief
        • Environmentally Critical Areas Exemptions
        • Grading Season Extensions
        • Noise Variances
        • Shoreline Exemptions
        • Small Project Waiver
        • Street, Alley, and Pedestrian Improvement Exceptions
      • Forms
      • Green Building
        • Green Building Standard
          • Green Building Standard - Overview
          • Green Building Standard - Applications
          • Green Building Standard - Inspections
          • Green Building Standard - Resources
        • Innovation Advisory Committee
          • Innovation Advisory Committee - Overview
          • Innovation Advisory Committee - Applications
          • Innovation Advisory Committee - Resources
        • Living Building Pilot
          • Living Building Pilot - Overview
          • Living Building Pilot - Resources
          • Living Building Pilot - Applications
          • Living Building Pilot - Inspections
        • Priority Green Expedited
          • Priority Green Expedited - Overview
          • Priority Green Expedited - Applications
          • Priority Green Expedited - Inspections
          • Priority Green Expedited - Resources
        • 2030 Challenge
          • 2030 Challenge - Overview
          • 2030 Challenge - Applications
          • 2030 Challenge - Resources
      • How Do You Get a Permit?
      • How Much Will Your Permit Cost?
      • Permits We Issue (A-Z)
        • Boiler & Pressure Vessel Permit
        • Construction Permit - Addition or Alteration
        • Construction Permit - Establishing Use
        • Construction Permit - New Building, Multifamily, Commercial, Mixed Use, or Industrial
        • Construction Permit - New Building, Single-Family Residential or Duplex
        • Construction Permit - Subject-to-Field-Inspection
        • Construction Permit - Temporary Structures & Uses
        • Curb Cut Permit
        • Demolition Permit - Building
        • Design Review - Administrative
        • Design Review - Full
        • Design Review - Streamlined
        • Earthquake Home Retrofit Permit
        • Electrical Permit
        • Elevator & Escalator Permit
        • Emergency Repair Permit
        • Fire Alarm Permit
        • Grading Permit
        • Land Use / Master Use Permit - Overview of MUP
        • Land Use / Master Use Permit - Conditional Use
        • Land Use / Master Use Permit - Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA)
        • Land Use / Master Use Permit - Plat
        • Land Use / Master Use Permit - Rezone
        • Land Use / Master Use Permit - Shoreline
        • Land Use / Master Use Permit - State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
        • Land Use / Master Use Permit - Land Use Variance
        • Mechanical Permit
        • Phased Permit
        • Refrigeration Permit
        • Re-Roof Permit
        • Residential Deconstruction
        • Side Sewer Permit
        • Sign, Awning, & Billboard Permit
        • Tenant Improvement Permit (Blanket)
        • Tree Removal
      • Resolve a Permit Disagreement
    • Renting
      • Funding for Tenant Services
    • Resources
      • Geotechnical (Soils) Reports
      • How to Appeal a Decision
      • How to Install a Large Notice Sign
      • How to Request a Code Interpretation
      • Issued Building Permit Stats
      • Make A Payment
      • Opinion Letters
      • Photo Galleries
      • Privately Owned Public Spaces
      • Property & Building Activity
      • Public Maps
      • Register / Renew My Property
      • Send Us Your Files
      • Translated Information
      • What's Happening in Your Neighborhood
      • Wind Load Factors
      • Zoning Map Books
      • Zoning Verification Letters
    • The Vault
      • 35th Avenue Business Districts - Accomplishments
        • 35th Avenue Business Districts - Documents
      • 2030 Challenge Pilot - Accomplishments
        • 2030 Challenge Pilot - Documents
      • Code Corrections - Accomplishments
        • Code Corrections - Documents
      • Construction & Demolition Waste - Accomplishments
        • Construction & Demolition Waste - Documents
      • Curb Ramps - Accomplishments
      • Design Review Program Improvements - Accomplishments
        • Design Review Program Improvements- Documents
      • Developing Small Single-Family Lots - Accomplishments
        • Developing Small Single-Family Lots - Documents
      • Living Building Project Update - Accomplishments
        • Living Building Project Update - Documents
      • Low Impact Development - Accomplishments
        • Low Impact Development - Documents
      • Lowrise Multifamily Code Corrections - Accomplishments
        • Lowrise Multifamily Code Corrections - Documents
      • Marijuana Zoning Restrictions - Accomplishments
        • Marijuana Zoning Restrictions - Documents
      • Micro-Housing - Accomplishments
        • Micro-Housing - Documents
      • Minimum Density - Accomplishments
        • Minimum Density - Documents
      • Seattle Center Sign Code Overlay - Accomplishments
        • Seattle Center Sign Code Overlay - Documents
      • Seattle Green Factor - Accomplishments
        • Seattle Green Factor - Documents
      • Shoreline Master Program Code Update - Accomplishments
        • Shoreline Master Program Code Update - Documents
      • Stormwater Codes and Rules Update - Accomplishments
        • Stormwater Codes and Rules Update - Documents
      • Transitional Encampments - Accomplishments
        • Transitional Encampments - Documents
      • Yesler Terrace Redevelopment - Accomplishments
        • Yesler Terrace Redevelopment - Documents
    • Services & Information
    • Departments
    • Elected Officials
    • Boards & Commissions
    • Media Contacts
    • News
    • Events

SDCI offices are closed to the public.

Most services are available online through our Virtual Applicant Services Center. We offer limited access to our offices for scheduled public meetings.
Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections
Seattle Services Portal
  • About Us
  • Permits
  • Codes
  • Renting
  • Inspections
  • Resources
Home

Codes

Common Code Questions

What if I build without a permit?

What if my neighbor has a vacant building?

What are the rules for deposit returns?

See more answers to common code questions about:

  • Animal Codes
  • Construction Without a Permit
  • Floating Residences
  • Illegal Living Units
  • Noise Codes
  • Parking & Car Storage Rules
  • Property Line Disputes
  • Rental Agreements

See all Common Code Questions
See also Common Projects

Codes We Enforce

  • Building Code
  • Electrical Code
  • Energy Code
  • Fire Code
  • Land Use Code
  • Mechanical Code
  • Plumbing Code
  • Residential Code

See all Codes We Enforce (A-Z)
See the Codes Archive

What Do You Want To Do?

Make a Property or Building Complaint

Check Status

| Find it on a map

Dig Deeper

Changes to Code

Construction Code Interpretations

Director's Rules

Exemptions from Code Requirements

Find Tips

How We Respond

Licensing & Registration

What Should I Do If I'm Cited

Why Can the City Regulate How I Use My Property

Still Need Help?

Ask Us

Call us at (206) 615-0808

Phone and Office Hours
M, Th, F: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
T, W: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Most services are now available online through our Applicant Services Center.

Construction and Inspections

Nathan Torgelson, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 34019, Seattle, WA, 98124-4019
Phone: (206) 684-8600
Phone Alt: Violation Complaint Line: (206) 615-0808

Newsletter Updates

Subscribe

Sign up for the latest updates from Construction and Inspections

City-Wide Information

  • Elected Officials
  • Open Data Portal
  • Public Records
  • City News Feed
  • City Event Calendar
  • All City Newsletters
  • View the Departments & Agencies List

Top Requests

  1. Apply for a Permit
  2. Make a Complaint
  3. Learn About Rental Rules
  4. Schedule an Inspection
  5. Proposed Changes to Code

SDCI issues land use, construction, and trade permits, conducts construction and housing-related inspections, ensures compliance with our codes, and regulates rental rules. SDCI is committed to an antiracist workplace and to addressing racism through our work in the community.

© Copyright 1995-2022 City of Seattle

Policies

About Our Digital Properties Privacy Policy ADA Notice