LOADING AND LOAD REGULATIONS

SEA-MC tit. 11, subtit. I, pt. 7, ch. 11.74

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.010 Loading in alleys.

11.74.010 - Loading in alleys. No person shall stop, stand or park a commercial vehicle or a vehicle displaying a valid commercial loading permit in any alley for any purpose or length of time other than the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of property and then in no case shall such parking for loading and unloading of property exceed thirty (30) minutes. (Ord. 114518 § 7, 1989: Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.010), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.020 Truck load zone—Commercial vehicles.

11.74.020 - Truck load zone—Commercial vehicles. No person shall stop, stand, or park a commercial vehicle for any purpose or length of time other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pick-up and loading of property in a truck load zone during the hours the zone restriction is in effect, and then in no case shall such parking for loading and unloading of property exceed thirty (30) minutes: Provided, that truck load zone restrictions are not effective on Sundays and parking holidays, except where otherwise indicated by signposting for the load zone. (Ord. 122243, § 7, 2006; Ord. 112076 § 5, 1984: Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.020), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.030 Commercial load zone—Usage.

11.74.030 - Commercial load zone—Usage. No person shall stop a commercial vehicle or a vehicle displaying a valid commercial loading permit in a commercial load zone for any purpose or length of time other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of property. In no case shall such stopping for loading and/or unloading of commercial products exceed thirty (30) minutes. Such time and loading limitations shall be in effect during the days and times displayed on the traffic signs or marking at the zone. (Ord. 114518 § 8, 1989.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.060 Certain loading or unloading prohibited

11.74.060 - Certain loading or unloading prohibited No person shall: A. Load or unload any property: 1. From any vehicle to any railroad car, or 2. From any railroad car to any vehicle, or 3. From any vehicle to any other vehicle; or B. Load or unload any vehicle onto or from another vehicle to or from a street or alley, while such vehicle or vehicles are parked upon any street or alley without obtaining a permit for such operation as provided in Section 11.23.080. The permit is to be in the possession of the driver or crew engaged in such loading or unloading operation; provided, that the permit will not be required when the transfer of goods is to be made in areas where the Director of Transportation has designated such transfers permissible, or when done at the direction of an authorized peace officer or when occasioned by a mechanical breakdown of one of the motor vehicles. (Ord. 121420, § 1, 2004 [department head name change]; Ord. 115995, § 20, 1991 [department head name change]; Ord. 108200, § 2, 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.070 Dragging loads prohibited.

11.74.070 - Dragging loads prohibited. No person shall drag any property along or over any street or alley. (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.070), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.075 Dumping loads.

11.74.075 - Dumping loads. No person shall dump any load onto any street or alley without obtaining a street use permit [19] for such dumping and any associated operations. (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.075), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.080 Damaging street surface.

11.74.080 - Damaging street surface. No person shall load or unload a vehicle in such a manner as to cause damage to the surface of any street or alley. (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.080), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.090 Loud noise.

11.74.090 - Loud noise. No person shall load or transport any metals or metal vessels or materials in such a manner as to cause noises or the disturbance of the peace. (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.090), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.100 High temperatures.

11.74.100 - High temperatures. No person shall transport open vessels of any liquid the temperature of which exceeds one hundred thirty degrees Fahrenheit (130( F.). (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.100), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.110 Open flame.

11.74.110 - Open flame. No person shall transport any burner or stove with open flame: Provided, that this prohibition will not be construed to prevent normal street maintenance operations. (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.110), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.120 Standing in morning peak-hour restricted areas in downtown traffic-control zone.

11.74.120 - Standing in morning peak-hour restricted areas in downtown traffic-control zone. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any portion of any street or alley where signs are erected prohibiting parking as provided in Section 11.72.300: Provided, that commercial vehicles may park on those streets in the downtown traffic-control zone during morning peak traffic hours where signs are erected prohibiting parking between seven a.m. (7:00 a.m.) and nine a.m. (9:00 a.m.) for the purpose or length of time necessary for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of property, but in no case shall such parking for loading and unloading exceed thirty (30) minutes and: Provided, further, that this exception shall not apply to those streets or portions thereof where signs are erected prohibiting stops during specified times. (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.120), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.130 Special permits

11.74.130 - Special permits In places where, and at hours when, parallel parking for loading or unloading of property in a business district, on an arterial street, or on a King County Metro Transit route is permitted under the provisions of this Subtitle I, vehicles used for the transportation or handling of property may be angle parked or backed to the curb for loading or unloading only when the owner or operator of the vehicle, or the owner or lessee of the adjacent property, holds a permit provided for in Section 11.23.080 that authorizes the owner, operator, or lessee to park. The permit shall be prominently displayed on the vehicle or on the adjacent property at the time the vehicle is so parked: provided that the permit shall only be in effect during actual loading or unloading operations. (Ord. 126756, § 10, 2023; Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.130), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.140 Passenger vehicles—Outside load limits.

11.74.140 - Passenger vehicles—Outside load limits. No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on a street or alley with any load carried thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of such vehicle nor extending more than six inches (6") beyond the line of the fenders on the right side thereof. (RCW 46.44.060) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.140), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.150 Loads to be securely fastened.

11.74.150 - Loads to be securely fastened. No person shall operate a vehicle upon any street or alley without having the load thereon securely fastened and protected by safety chains or other device, and covered, tied down, confined or otherwise secured so as to prevent the material from spilling, escaping, or being deposited outside the vehicle. The City may enforce Washington Administrative Code Chapter 204-44 as to what shall constitute adequate and safe chains or other devices for the fastening and protection of loads upon vehicles. (RCW 46.37.490) (Ord. 122742, § 28, 2008; Ord. 116708, § 1, 1993; Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.150), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.160 Driving a vehicle capable of dropping obstacles or debris prohibited

11.74.160 - Driving a vehicle capable of dropping obstacles or debris prohibited A. 1. No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any street or alley unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of the load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping, except that sand may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substances may be sprinkled on a roadway in the cleaning or maintaining of such roadway by the public authority having jurisdiction. 2. No person may operate on any street or alley any vehicle with any load unless the load and such covering as required thereon by subsection 11.74.160.A.3 is securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the street or alley. 3. Any vehicle operating on a paved street or alley with a load of dirt, sand, or gravel susceptible to being dropped, spilled, leaked, or otherwise escaping therefrom shall be covered so as to prevent spillage. Covering of such loads is not required if 6 inches of freeboard is maintained within the bed. B. 1. A person is guilty of failure to secure load in the first degree if he or she negligently fails to secure a load or part of a load to his or her vehicle in compliance with subsection 11.74.160.A and causes substantial bodily harm to another. 2. "Negligently" has the same meaning as in subsection 12A.04.030.D. 3. "Substantial bodily harm" has the same meaning as in RCW 9A.04.110. 4. Failure to secure load in the first degree is a gross misdemeanor. C. 1. A person is guilty of failure to secure load in the second degree if he or she negligently fails to secure a load or part of a load to his or her vehicle in compliance with subsections 11.74.160.A.1 or 11.74.160.A.2 and causes damage to property of another. 2. "Negligently" has the same meaning as in subsection 12A.04.030.D. 3. "Damage" has the same meaning as in Section 12A.08.010. 4. "Property of another" has the same meaning as in Section 12A.08.010. 5. Failure to secure load in the second degree is a misdemeanor. D. A person who fails to secure a load or part of a load to his or her vehicle in compliance with subsection 11.74.160.A is guilty of an infraction if such failure does not amount to a violation of subsection 11.74.160.B or 11.74.160.C. (Ord. 122742, § 29, 2008; Ord. 116708, § 2, 1993; Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.160), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.74.170 Cleaning roadway

11.74.170 - Cleaning roadway Any person operating a vehicle from which any glass or objects have fallen or escaped, which would constitute an obstruction to or may injure a vehicle or otherwise endanger travel upon a street or alley shall immediately cause the street or alley to be cleaned of all such glass or objects and shall pay any costs therefor. (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.74.170), 1979.)

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=TIT11VETR_SUBTITLE_ITRCO_PT7STSTPALO_CH11.74LOLOREFetched: 11/1/2026