Complaint procedure
Seattle Mun. Code § 14.34.165
in effect14.34.165 - Complaint procedure
A. The Agency shall have the power to respond to any violations of this Chapter 14.34 with a complaint procedure.
B. The Agency may initiate a complaint procedure as an alternative enforcement method to an investigation for responding to a report or complaint by any person of a violation of this Chapter 14.34. The Director may issue rules for the complaint procedure, including but not limited to rules to establish the timeline for sending the information required by subsection 14.34.170.D and to indicate when the Agency may prioritize use of a complaint procedure prior to an investigation or in lieu of an investigation. The Director may also establish other enforcement methods to efficiently resolve violations of this Chapter 14.34.
C. The Agency may require the complainant to provide information pursuant to the complaint procedure, including but not limited to:
1. Contact information for the independent contractor and hiring entity;
2. A statement describing the proposed terms and conditions of work, such as the information required by the pre-contract disclosure pursuant to Section 14.34.050;
3. A copy of the pre-contract disclosure, payment provided to the independent contractor, or payment disclosure, if available; and
4. A statement describing the alleged violations of this Chapter 14.34.
D. The Agency may send notices to the hiring entity and complainant, including but not limited to:
1. Notice of the alleged violation(s). The Agency may send notice to the hiring entity of the alleged violation(s) of this Chapter 14.34. The Agency shall bear any cost of sending such notice by certified mail or by other means incurring a cost to the Agency. This notice may include but not be limited to:
a. Statement of the alleged violation(s) of this Chapter 14.34; and
b. Description of the remedies available to an independent contractor for violation(s) of this Chapter 14.34;
2. Response from the hiring entity. The hiring entity may send the Agency the following:
a. Written statement that the hiring entity provided the independent contractor with the pre-contract disclosure, timely payment in full, or payment disclosure required by this Chapter 14.34 and proof of such disclosure(s) or payment; or
b. Written statement that the hiring entity did not provide the independent contractor the pre-contract disclosure, timely payment in full, or payment disclosure required by this Chapter 14.34 and the reason(s) for not providing such disclosure(s) or payment.
3. Notice to the complainant of the response from the hiring entity. The Agency may send a notice to the complainant of the response from the hiring entity. This notice to the complainant may include but not be limited to:
a. The response from hiring entity, including any enclosures;
b. Information on the right to bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction;
c. Any other information about the status of the complaint; and
d. Information about the navigation program pursuant to Section 14.34.167.
4. Notice of no response. If the Agency receives no response from the hiring entity within the timeframe established by Director rule for subsection 14.34.165.D.3, the Agency may send a notice of no response to the complainant and the hiring entity, and may include proof that the Agency previously sent notice of the alleged violation(s) to the hiring entity.
5. Notice of closure. The Agency may send the complainant and hiring entity notice of the Agency's completion of the complaint procedure and/or closure of the case.
E. Upon satisfying the requirements of subsections 14.34.165.C and 14.34.165.D, the Agency may close the case.
(Ord. 126373, § 1, 2021.)
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=TIT14HURI_CH14.34INCOPR_14.34.165COPRFetched: 11/1/2026