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About DPD
How to Find Us

Directions - Parking Tips - Bus Routes - Floor Directory

Most services of Seattle's Department of Planning and Development (DPD)* are located on the 19th-22nd floors of Seattle Municipal Tower at 700 Fifth Ave. in downtown Seattle.

NOTE: In February 2007, DPD’s Trade Licensing Program, and elevator, boiler and pressure vessel inspectors moved across the street from DPD’s main SMT offices to Suite 1250, 12th floor of the Bank of America Tower, 701 Fifth Ave.

For all DPD services, our mailing address is:

Department of Planning and Development
700 Fifth Ave., Suite 2000
P.O. Box 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019

Seattle Municipal Tower is reachable via the majority of downtown bus routes and parking is available nearby.

The main entrances to Seattle Municipal Tower are located at the corners of Fifth Ave. and Columbia St., Fifth Ave. and Cherry St., and Sixth Ave. and Cherry St. (see accessibility options).

Elevators to our floors are located in the rear of the main lobby on the fourth floor. See our listing of services by floor.

* Prior to October 2003, DPD was called DCLU. Seattle Municipal Tower was previously called Key Tower.

Driving Directions
From I-5 Northbound, take the James St. exit; turn left on James St.; go downhill three blocks to Fourth Ave. and turn right on Fourth Ave.; go one block and turn right on Cherry St.; Seattle Municipal Tower is one block up on the left side between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

To get to DPD from I-5 Southbound, take the James St. Exit. Seattle Municipal Tower is on the right side between Columbia and Cherry Streets (one block before James St.).

If using the I-5 Southbound Express Lanes, take the James St. exit. The exit ends in a tunnel directly underneath Seattle Municipal Tower. You may turn either left or right at the end of the tunnel; either way you're at Seattle Municipal Tower.



Parking Downtown
Parking is available in numerous buildings adjacent to Seattle Municipal Tower, in lots on the other side of I-5, and at metered spots on the street. The closest parking garages are:

  • Seattle Municipal Tower Garage - entrance on 6th Avenue. 6th Avenue is one-way southbound.
  • SeaPark Garage - entrances on both 6th Avenue and James Street



Riding the Bus
DPD is accessible from the majority of downtown bus routes. The routes that service Third, Fourth and Fifth Avenues will bring you closest, as will those serving Madison and James Streets. To find a bus route call Metro Rider Information at (206) 553-3000 or visit their online Trip Planner.



Accessibility Options
The main entrances to Seattle Municipal Tower are accessible, as is the main building lobby and the elevators to all floors. The main entrances are located at the corners of Fifth Ave. and Columbia St., Fifth Ave. and Cherry St., and Sixth Ave. and Cherry St. Signs detailing accessibility routes and emergency exits are posted near each entrance



Seattle Municipal Tower Floor Directory

19TH FLOOR

Community Relations
(206) 684-8880

Code Compliance
(206) 615-0808
Services: Housing & zoning enforcement, construction enforcement,
property owner & tenant assistance

Office of the Director
(206) 684-8899

Planning

  • CityDesign (the City's urban design office)
    (206) 615-1349
  • Comprehensive & Regional Planning
    (206) 233-0079
  • Land Use Policy
    (206) 684-8880
  • Seattle Design Commission
    (206) 615-1349
  • Seattle Planning Comission
    (206) 684-0433 
  • Sustainable (Green) Building
    (206) 684-8880

20TH FLOOR

Applicant Services Center (ASC) 
(206) 684-8850
Services: Permit application & issuance, plan review

Microfilm Library
(206) 233-5180

Public Resource Center (PRC)
(206) 684-8467
Services: Permit history & research, Master Use Permit info, GIS maps & services, general single family zoning info (not site-specific), publications, online self-help computer terminals 

21ST FLOOR

Plans Routing Library (aka "Plans Routing")
(206) 684-8169

Review & Inspection Center (RIC) - South Team

  • Building Plan Reviewers - primarily south of ship canal
    (206) 684-8950
  • Land Use Reviewers - primarily south of ship canal
    (206) 684-8950
  • Inspection Services - south of ship canal
    (206) 684-8950

22ND FLOOR

Review & Inspection Center (RIC) - North Team

  • Building Plan Reviewers - primarily north of ship canal
    (206) 684-8860
  • Land Use Reviewers - primarily north of ship canal
    (206) 684-8860
  • Inspection Services - north of ship canal
    (206) 684-8860

Side Sewer Program
(206) 684-8860

Site Development Services
(206) 684-8860

Technical Code Development
(206) 233-3892 

12TH FLOOR - BANK OF AMERICA TOWER

Licensing & Testing
(206) 684-5174
Services:   Trade licenses for gas piping, steam engineer, refrigeration

Elevator, boiler and pressure vessel inspectors
Inspection requests: (206) 684-8900
Inspectors: (206) 684-8950

Last Updated: January 31, 2007
DPD at a Glance

CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • General Info
    (206) 684-8600
  • TTY Line
    (206) 233-7156
  • Permits: Construction
    (206) 684-8850
  • Permits: Land Use
    (206) 684-8467
  • Inspection Requests
    (206) 684-8900
  • Violation Complaint Line
    (206) 615-0808
  • City Planning
    (206) 684-8880
  • View DPD Phone List

 HELPFUL RESOURCES

  • Annual Report 2008
  • "This is DPD" brochure
  • Introducing DPD - a brief overview in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali, Tagalog, and Korean
  • How to Reach Us
  • Organization Chart
  • Get a permit
  • Report a code violation
  • Request an inspection

STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • More than 36,000 permits issued in 2008
  • More than 116,000 inspections performed in 2008
  • More than 5,000 code violation complaints investigated yearly
  • Total project value of issued permits:
    • 1998-2005: more than $1 billion each year
    • 2005: more than $2 billion
    • 2006: more than $3 billion
    • 2007: more than $3 billion
    • 2008: more than $2 billion
Department of Planning and Development (DPD)
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