Seattle Mun. Code § 23.20.002 Purpose.
The purpose of Subtitle II is to implement the authority granted to the City by RCW Chapter 58.17 and to conform to its provisions which govern the platting and subdivision of land. (Ord. 110570, § 1, 1982.)
Chapter 23.20 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Seattle Mun. Code — Chapter 23.20 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
in effectSeattle Mun. Code § 23.20.004 Exemptions from platting regulations.
The provisions of Subtitle II shall not apply to: 1. Cemeteries and other burial plots while used for that purpose; 2. Divisions of land into lots or tracts each of which is one one-hundred-twenty-eighth ( 1/128 ) of a section of land or larger or five (5) acres or larger if the land is not capable of description as a fraction of a section of land; 3. Divisions made by testamentary provisions, or the laws of descent; 4. Divisions of land into lots or tracts classified for industrial or commercial use when the City has approved a binding site plan for the use of land; 5. A division for the purpose of lease when no residential structure other than mobile homes or travel trailers is to be placed upon the land when a binding site plan has been approved for the use of the land; 6. A transfer of land to the City for open space purposes; provided that any remaining lot or lots that are consistent with Subtitle III shall be considered legal building sites; and provided further that the land transferred to the City shall not be a legal building site without compliance with the applicable platting requirements of Subtitle II. Exemptions provided by this section shall not be construed as exemptions from compliance with other applicable development standards required by this Code. (Ord. 122311 , § 4, 2006; Ord. 115875 , § 1, 1991; Ord. 110570 § 1, 1982.)
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.20.008 Compliance with state law and Land Use Code.
Every division of land shall comply with the provisions of RCW Chapter 58.17 and the provisions of this subtitle. They shall conform to the Environmentally Critical Areas Policies and all land use regulations, Subtitle III, and SMC Chapter 25.09 , Regulations for Environmentally Critical Areas, in effect as provided by SMC Section 23.76.026 . Lots shall be of a size and dimension and have access adequate to satisfy the requirements of Subtitle III of this title. (Ord. 120691 , § 3, 2001: Ord. 116262 , § 1, 1992; Ord. 110570 § 1(part), 1982.)
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.20.012 Effect of noncompliance.
No building permit or other development permit shall be issued for any lot, tract or parcel of land divided in violation of RCW Chapter 58.17 or this subtitle, unless the Director finds that the public interest will not be adversely affected by the decision. The prohibition contained in this section shall not apply to an innocent purchaser for value without actual notice. All purchaser's or transferee's property shall comply with provisions of RCW Chapter 58.17 and this chapter, and each purchaser or transferee may recover his damages from any person, firm, corporation or agent selling or transferring land in violation of RCW Chapter 58.17 or this chapter, including any amount reasonably spent as a result of an inability to obtain any development permit and spent to conform to the requirements of RCW Chapter 58.17 and this chapter as well as the cost of investigation, suit and reasonable attorney's fees. A purchaser or transferee may, as an alternative to conforming the property to these requirements, rescind the sale or transfer and recover costs of investigation, suit, and reasonable attorney's fees. (Ord. 110570 § 1(part), 1982.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026