SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS

SEA-MC tit. 3, subtit. II, ch. 3.06

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.06.010 Department created

3.06.010 - Department created A. There is created a Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections for the purpose of administering City ordinances that regulate building construction, the use of land, and housing. B. As of the January 1, 2016, all references in the Seattle Municipal Code to the "Department of Planning and Development Fund" or the "Planning and Development Fund" are deemed to be to the "Construction and Inspections Fund." C. As of the effective date of the ordinance introduced as Council Bill 118556, all references to "Planning and Development", "Department of Planning and Development", or "Director of Planning and Development" are deemed to be, respectively, references to "Construction and Inspections", "Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections", and "Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections" unless the context expresses an intent to refer to the Office of Planning and Community Development. (Ord. 125492, § 88, 2017; Ord. 124919, § 2, 2015; Ord. 121276 § 1, 2003; Ord. 120773 § 14, 2002; Ord. 119270 § 2, 1998; Ord. 109124 § 1, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.06.015 Hours of operation

3.06.015 - Hours of operation A. Except as set forth in subsection 3.06.015.B, the Applicant Services Center of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections shall be open for transaction of business a total of at least 35 hours per week. The Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections shall select hours between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. These hours may vary by day of the week. B. In weeks containing one or more days designated as holidays by RCW 1.16.050 or Section 4.20.190, the Applicant Services Center of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections shall be closed on those days, but shall be open a total of at least 35 hours less the number of hours it would normally be open on the weekdays on which holidays fall in that week. (Ord. 126559, § 4, 2022; Ord. 124919, § 2, 2015; Ord. 123441, § 1, 2010; Ord. 121276, § 2, 2003; Ord. 120046, § 2, 2000.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.06.020 Director—Appointment and removal

3.06.020 - Director—Appointment and removal The Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by a majority of the City Council subject to reappointment and reconfirmation every four years; and the Mayor may at any time remove the Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections upon filing a statement of reasons therefor with the City Council. (Ord. 124919, § 2, 2015; Ord. 121276 § 3, 2003; Ord. 119270 § 3, 1998; Ord. 109124 § 2, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.06.030 Director—Powers and duties

3.06.030 - Director—Powers and duties The Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, under direction of the Mayor, shall manage the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, appoint, assign, and dismiss all employees in conformance with the City's personnel ordinances and rules, and perform the following functions: A. Enforcing development-related ordinances and rules of the City; B. Processing applications for permits for construction and land use approvals, grading and site work, boilers, conveyance devices, mechanical equipment and systems, side sewers, billboards and signs, zoning exceptions, subdivisions and other land use approvals, including those related to shoreline management but excluding those related to historic preservation; C. Conducting reviews of the effects of proposed projects on the physical environment, as prescribed by the State Environmental Policy Act and City ordinances; D. Addressing complaints regarding a variety of community safety and quality of life issues, including but not limited to conditions in tenant housing, construction without permits, unauthorized uses, junk storage, and unsecured vacant buildings; E. Administering the rental housing and tenant protection programs including but not limited to rental housing registration and inspection, tenant relocation assistance, and just cause eviction protections; F. Maintaining appropriate records regarding property, permits and structures; and G. Discharging such other responsibilities as may be directed by ordinance. The Director shall consult on all matters of structural strength and design with an assistant who is a licensed structural engineer or architect with at least five years' experience in the practice of the profession, unless the Director possesses such qualifications. Moreover, the Director shall consult on all matters concerning compliance with design guidelines with a qualified architect or urban designer with at least five years of experience in the practice of the profession, unless the Director possesses such qualifications. (Ord. 127108, § 6, 2024; Ord. 124919, § 2, 2015; Ord. 123106, § 2, 2009; Ord. 121276 § 4, 2003; Ord. 120773 § 15, 2002; Ord. 119270 § 4, 1998; Ord. 116909, § 2, 1993; Ord. 109124 § 3, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.06.040 Director—Agreements, rules, and regulations

3.06.040 - Director—Agreements, rules, and regulations The Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections is authorized to enter into such agreements, including interdepartmental agreements, consistent with provisions of law and the City Charter, as the Director shall deem appropriate for carrying out the responsibilities, functions, and activities of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections and may establish such rules, procedures and regulations, consistent with this Chapter 3.06 and other ordinances, as may appear necessary and proper including rules interpreting Municipal Code provisions and establishing standards as authorized by the Code. (Ord. 124919, § 2, 2015; Ord. 122205, § 1, 2006; Ord. 121276 § 5, 2003; Ord. 119270 § 5, 1998; Ord. 109124 § 4, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.06.050 Director—Fees and charges

3.06.050 - Director—Fees and charges The Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections shall charge such fees for licenses, permits, inspections, reviews, and other services and approvals as may be provided by ordinance. (Ord. 124919, § 2, 2015; Ord. 121276 § 6, 2003; Ord. 119270 § 6, 1998; Ord. 109124 § 6, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.06.055 Restricted set-asides

3.06.055 - Restricted set-asides A. The Director of Finance and Administrative Services shall create within the Construction and Inspections Fund a set-aside account funded from regulatory fees and other money allotted thereto, for the accumulation of set-asides for the following municipal purposes: 1. Staffing Stability—to allow the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections to retain trained staff during cyclical economic downturns so that the experience and abilities of that staff are available to customers when the economy again turns upward. 2. Technology—to accumulate needed funding to assure that major technology systems of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections can be upgraded or replaced when necessary. 3. Technology Currency—to hold funds adequate to accomplish normal personal computer replacements for the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections for a single year so that normal upgrades can occur even in the trough of an economic downturn. 4. Strategic Planning and Implementation—to allow the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections to plan ahead for continuous process improvements to better serve its customers, and to implement those plans, including staff training and equipment. B. 1. Expenditures from the set-aside account shall be made only when expressly authorized by the City Council either by identification in the budget ordinance or other ordinance, or as set out in subsection 3.06.055.B.2 below with respect to the staffing stability set-aside. 2. The Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections may, within the limits of that department's budgeted expenditure authority, draw on the appropriate subdivision of the staffing stability set-aside for the purpose established in subsection 3.06.055.A.1 to pay staffing costs associated with a particular regulatory revenue source, but only when doing so is consistent with the most recently adopted financial policies for the department. The Director shall provide 60 days' notice in advance to the chair of the City Council's Finance, Finance and Culture Committee, or its successor committee with responsibility for making recommendations on legislative matters relating to budget and financing of each proposed use of the staffing stability set-aside under authority of this subsection 3.06.055.B.2. (Ord. 125492, § 89, 2017; Ord. 124919, § 2, 2015; Ord. 123361, § 32, 2010; Ord. 121276 § 7, 2003; Ord. 120794 § 13, 2002; Ord. 120537, § 1, 2001; Ord. 119501 § 1, 1999.)

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=TIT3AD_SUBTITLE_IIDEOF_CH3.06SEDECOINFetched: 11/1/2026