Moving expenses defined
Seattle Mun. Code § 4.14.150
in effect4.14.150 - Moving expenses defined
For purposes of implementing this Chapter 4.14, the phrase "moving expenses" includes expenses incurred for transportation to Seattle to secure housing, as well as food and lodging expenses for a period not to exceed five days, incurred while engaged in securing housing. In addition, moving expenses shall include all lodging, food, and transportation expenses of family and household goods and personal effects that are incurred solely for the purpose of relocating, from departure of such family and goods from place of current residence until the time that family and possessions arrive in the City, unless such expenses have been otherwise reimbursed; provided, that nothing in this Section 4.14.150 shall prohibit the payment of other types of moving and related expenses as approved by the appointing authority but in no case shall moving expenses in total exceed the maximum as provided for in subsection 4.14.150.A.
A. Effective January 1, 1994, the authorized maximum rate for moving expenses as defined in this Section 4.14.150 shall be $11,908. The authorized maximum rate shall be adjusted each year by the percentage change in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), All Items (or successor index) for the 12 month period ending the previous June 30th, rounded to the nearest dollar. The revised maximum shall take effect January 1 each year.
B. Payment for such reimbursement, when authorized, shall be made from unexpended and unencumbered balances accumulating in the budgets of the employing units which eligible persons head or in which such persons serve, and the Director of Finance and Administrative Services is authorized to pay the necessary warrants. If the applicable fund is solvent at the time payment is ordered, the Director of Finance and Administrative Services may elect to make payment by check.
C. The appointing authority shall transact an agreement with an individual for whom travel and moving expenses are extended, which shall stipulate that, should such individual leave the City's employ within 12 months of initial appointment to a position, he or she shall reimburse the employing unit for all such expenses.
D. The appointing authority shall report all moving expense authorizations to the Seattle Human Resources Director. The Seattle Human Resources Director shall provide a summary report to the City Council annually demonstrating how department authorization for moving expenses met the administrative guidelines.
(Ord. 126615, § 2, 2022; Ord. 124567, § 31, 2014 [department head name change]; Ord. 123361, § 77, 2010; Ord. 120794, § 52, 2002 [department head name change]; Ord. 120114, § 7, 2000; Ord. 118324, § 1, 1996; Ord. 117258, § 1, 1994.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT4PE_CH4.14EXRE_4.14.150MOEXDEFetched: 11/1/2026