Watercraft and Vehicles

SEA-MC tit. 18, ch. 18.12, subch. VI

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 18.12, subch. VI, § 18.12.180 Operation or landing of watercraft at designated areas only.

18.12.180 - Operation or landing of watercraft at designated areas only. It is unlawful to have, keep or operate any boat, float, raft or other watercraft in or upon any bay, lake, pond, slough, river, or creek within the limits of any park, or to land the same at any point upon shores within a park, except where designated by the Superintendent for such purposes. It is unlawful to operate or land any powered boat, float, or raft within one hundred (100) yards of a park swimming beach or fishing dock, except at places set apart by the Superintendent for such purposes. It is unlawful to operate any other watercraft, including but not limited to sailboats, canoes, kayaks and rowboats within twenty-five (25) yards of a park swimming beach or fishing dock, except in places set apart by the Superintendent for such purposes. (Ord. 113436 § 10, 1987: Ord. 106615 § 11(a), 1977.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 18.12, subch. VI, § 18.12.190 Motor-powered watercraft prohibited in certain areas.

18.12.190 - Motor-powered watercraft prohibited in certain areas. Except as authorized by the Superintendent for special events and rescue purposes, motorpowered watercraft are prohibited on Green Lake, and on those waters which are contiguous to the Washington Park Arboretum and located south of the State Inner Harbor Line within the northeast one-quarter (¼) of Section 21, Township 25 North, Range 4 E., W.M., in King County, Washington. (Ord. 106615 § 11(b), 1977.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 18.12, subch. VI, § 18.12.195 Fishing for commercial purposes.

18.12.195 - Fishing for commercial purposes. It is unlawful at any park boat launch ramp or parking area associated with any park boat launch ramp to engage in or attempt to engage in any fishing activities for "commercial purposes" as defined by RCW 75.04.080, including handling, processing or otherwise disposing of or dealing in food fish or parts thereof for profit, or by sale, barter or trade, or in commercial channels, or to have, keep, launch, land or operate any boat equipped with gear unlawful for fishing for personal use as specified by the State Director of Fisheries pursuant to RCW Title 75; provided that this section shall not be applied to impair the exercise of any right protected by the Treaty of Point Elliott (12 Stat. 927 (1859)). (Ord. 113436 § 11, 1987.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 18.12, subch. VI, § 18.12.200 Use of driveways and boulevards—Speed limit.

18.12.200 - Use of driveways and boulevards—Speed limit. It is unlawful to ride, propel, drive or direct any animal or motorized vehicle over or through any park except along and upon the park drives, parkways and park boulevards, or to do so at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit, or to do so in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour where no speed limit is posted. (Ord. 109078 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108935 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108379 § 1(part), 1979: Ord. 106615 § 12(a), 1977.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 18.12, subch. VI, § 18.12.210 Areas closed to general vehicular access.

18.12.210 - Areas closed to general vehicular access. Except as authorized by the Superintendent, it is unlawful to drive or operate a non-City vehicle in any park or in any area therein which is designated as being closed to general vehicular traffic access, and which is so posted. (Ord. 109078 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108935 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108379 § 1(part), 1979: Ord. 106615 § 12(b), 1977.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 18.12, subch. VI, § 18.12.230 Testing vehicles prohibited.

18.12.230 - Testing vehicles prohibited. It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle for the purpose of testing it along or upon any park drive, parkway or park boulevard. (Ord. 109078 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108935 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108379 § 1(part), 1979: Ord. 106615 § 12(d), 1977.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 18.12, subch. VI, § 18.12.235 Restrictions on uses of vehicles and animals in a park when the park is not open to the public.

18.12.235 - Restrictions on uses of vehicles and animals in a park when the park is not open to the public. A. It is unlawful to drive or ride in or on any motor vehicle or animal, other than a City-owned service or emergency vehicle or horse of the Police Department Mounted Patrol, in any park when the park is not open to the public, or when the park, roadway, or parking lot is, by order of the Superintendent, closed to entry or use by motor vehicles, except on a street serving as necessary access through such park to a residential or commercial area. B. It is unlawful to park or leave a motor vehicle unattended in any park during hours when the park is not open to the public, or when the park, roadway, or parking lot is, by order of the Superintendent, closed to entry or use by motor vehicles, except pursuant to a permit issued by the Department. Vehicles parked or left unattended in violation of this section are hereby declared to be a nuisance and may be impounded in accordance with the provisions of the Traffic Code providing for impoundment with or without citation and without prior notice to the owner. C. The prohibitions contained in this section shall not apply to a vehicle driven or parked, as the case may be, by a person participating in an activity either conducted by the Department or conducted pursuant to the terms of a permit issued by the Department. (Ord. 118115, § 1, 1996; Ord. 117645, § 3, 1995; Ord. 113436, § 12, 1987.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 18.12, subch. VI, § 18.12.240 Authorization required for competitions and airborne craft.

18.12.240 - Authorization required for competitions and airborne craft. It is unlawful in any park to engage in, conduct or hold any trials or competitions for speed, endurance, hill climbing or similar competition involving any vehicle, boat, aircraft or animal whether or not such vehicle, boat or aircraft is designed for carrying human beings and whether or not such animal carries or tows a human being, or to operate, launch or land any hang-glider, helicopter, hot air balloon, or other airborne conveyance, except at specified places and times designated for such activities by the Superintendent and upon his determination that: A. Adequate provision has been made to ensure that the health and safety of participants in, and spectators of, any such activity will not be unduly endangered; B. Such activities will be conducted in such a manner as to minimize potential damage to public or private property; C. Such activities will not constitute a public nuisance; and D. Such activities will not unduly interfere with the use of park facilities by the general public. (Ord. 113436 § 13, 1987: Ord. 109078 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108935 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108379 § 1(part), 1979: Ord. 106615 § 12(e), 1977.)

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=TIT18PARE_CH18.12PACO_SUBCHAPTER_VIWAVEFetched: 11/1/2026