Permits
Permit Counter Temporary Closures
To protect the health and safety of our staff and customers, and to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19, we closed our public-facing customer service counters on Monday, March 16, 2020. Our counters remain closed until further notice. This includes both the Street Use and the Traffic and Parking permit counters at the Seattle Municipal Tower on floors 23 and 37. We are still processing permit applications.
You can submit applications for all permit types online through the Seattle Services Portal.
Our staff will be available to provide application coaching and assist with issuing permits by phone or e-mail.
Parking and Traffic Permits
We issue permits for oversized and/or overweight vehicles to use Seattle streets in addition to issuing on-street parking permits.
Related Permits
Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Permits
Learn about RPZs and how to get a parking permit for your neighborhood Zone.
Commercial Vehicle Load Zone Permits
CVLZ provide a special parking space for service delivery vehicles to stop on busy streets
Heavy Haul Network Permits
Permits for overweight vehicles using our Heavy Haul Network help reduce congestion around the ports
Temporary No Parking Zone Reservation
Temporary No Parking Zones are established to restrict regular parking on short-term basis
Service Zone Permits
These permits are issued for the purpose of parking service trucks in the right of way
Shuttle Vehicle Permits
No vehicles other than permitted shuttle buses can park, stop, or load in designated zones
Downtown Traffic Control Zone Permits
Permit allows vehicles 30 feet or longer to operate within the Downtown Traffic Control Zone Monday – Friday, 9AM – 3PM
Over Legal Trucks Permits
All oversized vehicles and loads traveling within Seattle must obtain a permit to operate
Car Share Permits
In Seattle, there are two types of car share permits: Free-Floating and Designated
Construction Use, Major Development, Street Improvement, and Utility Work in the Right-of-Way Permits
We issue a number of different types of permits for activities that impact mobility on Seattle's sidewalks and streets.
Related permits
Annual Vehicle Permits
Apply for an Annual Vehicle Permit for short term-uses of the right-of-way.
Right-of-way (ROW) Construction
Any work conducted in the public right-of-way requires a Street Use permit.
Right-of-way Maintenance
Get this permit for short term projects in the right-of-way with limited impacts to mobility such as minor sidewalk [...]
Storage Container and Residential Dumpster Permits
Moving and need a storage container? Need a dumpster for a home project? Apply for a permit here!
Street Improvement Permits
Learn more about Street Improvement Permits and when they are required!
SIP Lite
SIP Lite is a streamlined permitting process for small-scale street improvement projects.
Utility Work in the Right of Way
Staging a vehicle for utility work, utility installation and maintenance all require a utility permit.
Heavy Crane
Get this permit if you need to stage a crane that weighs 100 tons or more in the right-of-way.
Long Term Structures and Uses in Public-Right-of-Way Permits
For structures that will occupy the public right-of-way ROW for longer periods of time.
Related Permits
Private Structures in the Right-of-Way (Fences, Rockeries, Walls)
If you're building all fence, wall, rockery, or stairway located fully or partially in the right-of-way, you'll need a [...]
Long-Term Storage in the Right-of-Way
With this permit, you can store materials in a pre-defined location in the public right-of-way
Term Permits and Street Vacations
For long-term installations or private uses of the public right-of-way, apply for a term or street vacation permit.
Moorage in State Waterways
We issue permits for temporary and permanent moorage in state waterways.
Shoreline Street Ends
Long-term private use of a designated shoreline street end requires a permit.
Business Enhancement permits
We issue permits for food trucks, sidewalk merchandise displays, sidewalk cafés, and other uses of the right-of-way that can enhance a business.
Related permits
Public Amenities
You can install tables and chairs on sidewalks, place planters in the ROW, set up parklets, etc. with this permit.
Event Pole Banners
Get a permit to advertise an event with special pole banners
Outdoor Dining
Apply for a sidewalk café permit and enjoy outside table service!
Sidewalk Merchandise Displays
Sidewalk Merchandise Displays
Signs, Awnings, and Graphics over the Right-of-Way
Signs, awnings, and graphics over the right-of-way help identify a business or organization.
Safe Start Permits
Apply for an expedited, temporary permit
Vending in Public Right-of-Way
You need one of these Street Use permit types if you want to vend food or flowers in public spaces.
Seasonal Business Uses
Learn how obtain a permit to use public space during the warm, dry seasons.
Neighborhood and Community Permits
We encourage using Seattle's streets and sidewalks to make our communities and neighborhoods vibrant.
Related permits
Play Streets & Block Parties
You can temporarily close neighborhood streets to vehicle traffic and open them to kids and adults for socializing, [...]
Festival Streets
Learn about making portions of the road a Festival Street to create space for recurring community events.
House Move Permits
House Move Permits are required when moving a house from one location to another
Gardening in the Planting Strip
Plant vegetable gardens, ornamental plants, or rain gardens in a planting strip with a free Street Use permit.
Public Amenities
You can install tables and chairs on sidewalks, place planters in the ROW, set up parklets, etc. with this permit.
Street and Sidewalk Activities
Learn about how you can enliven streets, alleys, and plazas with street murals, farmers markets, and other activities!
Street Tree Permits
Urban forestry permits are issued for planting, installations, tree pruning, and tree removal or replacement in the [...]
Planning, Review, and Inspections Services
Our teams coordinate and inspect activities in the right-of-way and collaborate with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections to streamline the permitting process.
Related programs
Development Review
Our Development Review team coordinates with SDCI to provide a more efficient experience for developers and project [...]
Street Use Inspections
Learn more about inspections for permitted uses of the public right-of-way
Project & Construction Coordination Office
Coordinating projects planned for the right of way.
Shoring Review
Our Shoring review team works with SDCI to facilitate one-stop permitting for shoring.
Permitting Tools and Resources
To help you with the permitting process, we've created a number of tools and other resources.
Related resources
Applicant Guides
Applicant Guides provide detailed information on permitting requirements and processes.
How to Estimate and Pay Permit Fees
Estimate and pay permit fees
Client Assistance Memos
Street Use Client Assistance Memos
Street Use Permitting Checklists, Forms, and Templates
You can find forms, checklists, and templates for Street Use permits here.
Project and Construction Coordination Map
This displays up-to-date information on current and future construction projects in the right of way, as well as other [...]
Rules and Codes
Permitting is guided by Seattle Municipal Code, Director’s Rules, the Right of Way Improvement Manual, and more.
Street Use Permitting Timelines and Updates
Get the latest timelines for Street Use permitting and learn about the latest updates from Street Use