Coordinating projects and deferring construction
Seattle Mun. Code § 15.32.050
in effect15.32.050 - Coordinating projects and deferring construction
A. The authorizing official may defer construction or other activity under any permit applied for under this Chapter 15.32. Where, in the judgment of the authorizing official, work to be done in the public place renders use of the public place inconvenient to the public's use, the authorizing official may prohibit any further obstruction of the public place at that time, and may further regulate the use of the public place in order to minimize inconvenience to the public. When the authorizing official determines that the inconvenience has ceased to exist, the authorizing official may allow work to proceed in the public place. Except when emergency repairs are necessary to protect the public's health and safety, the authorizing official may defer construction in a public place during a civil emergency as provided for in Chapter 10.02. In all cases, work by the City, its contractors, or employees for municipal maintenance, capital improvement, or other purposes shall have precedence over all work of every other kind.
B. All agencies, utilities, franchisees, and City departments planning work that will require a permit under Chapter 15.32 shall enter their planned project information into the Department of Transportation's right-of-way management system to be integrated with other information on street condition and use. Planned projects are work that is expected to commence six months or later from the date of project conception. These project entries shall include planned projects for the following five years. Subject to the provisions of this Section 15.32.050, the authorizing official may deny agencies, utilities, or franchisees that fail to provide planned project information permits for construction or other activity that should have been entered into the right-of-way management system.
C. The Director of Transportation shall establish a Utility Coordinating Committee for the purpose of coordinating street and utility projects to minimize the frequency of street openings and disruption to neighborhoods and businesses. This committee shall consist of: one executive representative each from the Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, the Seattle Information Technology Department, and Seattle City Light. The Director of Transportation shall invite one representative from each utility that constructs, maintains, or operates on, under, or over the streets, alleys, or other public places to serve in an advisory capacity to this committee. The committee shall meet at least twice a year to review and coordinate street and utility projects planned for the next five years. The committee shall decide which of the submitted projects will be scheduled for the next 12 months, taking into consideration maximizing convenience and safety for the traveling public, improving access for the public, and avoiding work conflicts in the public place; and shall not allow planned pavement cuts within five years after resurfacing or reconstruction. By the end of the calendar year, the committee shall develop and publish a Street and Utility Improvement Plan that lists projects scheduled for the next 12 months and shall make information about these projects available to affected residents, property owners, neighborhood organizations, and businesses. The committee shall also annually review and comment on the City's Right-of-Way Opening and Restoration Rules and recommend updates to the rules.
D. Except for activities included in the current Street and Utility Improvement Plan, no permit shall be issued under this Chapter 15.32 for construction or other activity that will occur in the street, alley, or other public place; except, that this prohibition shall not apply to:
1. Emergency repairs that could not have been anticipated or are necessary for the protection of the public's health and safety;
2. New or revised service connections and associated construction work that have been requested by a utility's customer;
3. Work necessary to ensure continued service delivery to an agency's or utility's existing customer;
4. Construction or other activity that will commence in the street, alley, or other public place that does not affect or conflict with other projects in the Street and Utility Improvement Plan, or other work anticipated by the City or other permit holders over the next five years; or
5. Work for which the City's denial of a permit would violate local, state, or federal law.
E. No permit shall be issued under this Chapter 15.32 for work that requires cutting or disturbing the paved surface of any street, alley, or other public place for a period of five years from the completion of resurfacing or reconstruction of that public place; except that this prohibition shall not apply to:
1. Emergency repairs that could not have been anticipated or are necessary for the protection of the public's health and safety;
2. New or revised service connections and associated construction work that have been requested by a utility's customer;
3. Work necessary to ensure continued service delivery to an agency's or utility's existing customer; or
4. Work for which the City's denial of a permit would violate local, state, or federal law.
Any approved work that requires cutting or disturbing the paved surface of any street, alley, or other public place within the five-year moratorium period from the completion of resurfacing or reconstruction of that public place requires a waiver from the authorizing official; and the permittee must restore the pavement according to the Right-of-Way Opening and Restoration Rules or successor rule.
F. An applicant denied a permit under the provisions of this Chapter 15.32 may request a review by the authorizing official as provided for in Section 15.04.112.
G. Record drawings depicting the infrastructure location for all Utility Major Permits shall be submitted to the Director of Transportation for inclusion in the City's records vault, unless the drawings are Protected Critical Infrastructure Information as designated by the Department of Homeland Security.
(Ord. 125149, § 1, 2016; Ord. 118751 § 2, 1997; Ord. 117569, § 84, 1995; Ord. 115994, § 30, 1991; Ord. 9004 § 29(part), 1961.)
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=TIT15STSIUS_SUBTITLE_ISTUSOR_CH15.32FRPUUTPERE_15.32.050COPRDECOFetched: 11/1/2026