Vacant Building Standards

See also: Buildings Unfit for Human Habitation, Vacant Buildings

What Is It?

Vacant buildings in Seattle must be secured and maintained to prevent unauthorized entry and deterioration from the weather. Seattle’s Housing and Building Maintenance Code contains our vacant building maintenance standards.

Vacant buildings that do not meet our standards may be placed in the vacant building monitoring program. We will inspect buildings in this program monthly. We will charge you fees ranging from $271.85 to $542.60 depending on if your building is open to entry and if there are uncorrected violations.

• Need Help With a Vacant Building?
• Vacant Building Options
• Vacant Building Monitoring Program

What It Isn’t

This ordinance does not cover:

• Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Buildings Unfit for Human Habitation or Other Use, SMC 22.208
• Unauthorized and criminal activity, squatters, or vagrants in vacant buildings; contact the Seattle Police Department
• Graffiti; contact the graffiti hotline at (206) 625-5011
• Rodent (e.g., rat) infestation; contact the Seattle-King County Health Department at (206) 263-9566

Read the Code

• SMC 22.206.200

• Tip 601, Unsafe and Vacant Buildings: SDCI's Inspection Program/SFD's Inspection Program
• Tip 605, City Regulations for Maintaining Vacant Buildings

Recent Changes

The Vacant Building Monitoring program changed on June 1, 2019.

• Fees increased and now range from $271.85 to $542.60 depending on building condition
• The frequency of inspections increased from quarterly to monthly
• All development projects that include a vacant building will be enrolled in the monitoring program
• Any property with new violations for which a Notice of Violation has been issued in the past will be enrolled in the monitoring program