Demolition of housing
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.40.006
in effectA demolition permit for a structure containing a dwelling unit may only be issued if one of the following conditions is met, provided that no permit for demolition of a structure containing a dwelling unit may be issued if the new use is for non-required parking: A. The structure has not been occupied as rental housing during the prior six months, and the demolition does not aid expansion of an adjacent non-residential use in a neighborhood residential or lowrise zone; B. A permit or approval has been issued by the Director according to the procedures set forth in Chapter 23.76 to change the use of the structure or the premises; C. A permit or approval has been issued by the Director to relocate the structure containing a dwelling unit to another lot, whether within the City limits or outside the City limits, to be used, on the new lot, as a dwelling unit; D. A complete building permit application for construction of a new principal structure on the same lot as the structure to be demolished has been submitted to the Director, the demolition permit application and the building permit application are categorically exempt from review under Chapter 25.05 , the issuance of some other approval is not required by this Title 23 or Title 25 as a condition to issuing the demolition permit, and the Director has approved a waste diversion plan pursuant to Section 23.40.007 ; E. Demolition of the structure is ordered by the Director for reasons of health and safety under Chapter 22.206 or 22.208 , or under the provisions of the Seattle Building Code or the Seattle Residential Code; F. Demolition of the structure is for light rail transit facility construction; or G. The structure is in the MPC-YT zone. (Ord. 127228 , § 3, 2025; Ord. 126509 , § 24, 2022 [zone name change]; Ord. 125399 , § 3, 2017; Ord. 123963, § 13, 2012; Ord. 123939, § 1, 2012; Ord. 123649, § 5, 2011; Ord. 123189, § 1, 2009; Ord. 122901, § 1, 2009; Ord. 118414, § 5, 1996; Ord. 115058, § 3, 1990.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026