Newsstands in the Right-of-Way

Seattle is fortunate to have a diverse range of news publications accessible through self-serve newsstands along city sidewalks. While these newsstands provide a useful service, it can sometimes be challenging to monitor their condition and placement.

To address this challenge, we have worked with newspaper publishers and distributors to create a one-stop online portal called SeattleNewsstands.org.

How To Use the Portal

You may submit two kinds of requests:

  1. Maintenance Requests; and
  2. Temporary Construction Relocation Requests

If you choose to submit a maintenance request, you will be asked to provide the following information:

    • The news publication(s) that will be affected;
    • A short description of the problem or concern;
    • Your email contact information; and
    • A photo of the newspaper box site related to the request.

If you choose to submit a temporary construction relocation request, you will be asked to provide the following information:

    • The nature of the construction project;
    • The expected timeframe for the newsstand relocation;
    • A short description of which newspaper boxes and publications would be affected by the project; and
    • Your contact information.

Once you submit your report, it goes directly to the identified newsstand owner to resolve.

See SDOT Director's Rule 2-2014 for more detail.