The City's side sewer review and inspection program officially transitioned from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to DCLU on February 3, 2003. This change in responsibility will allow SDOT to more fully concentrate on their transportation-related mission. Additionally, the side sewer program will incorporate changes mandated by the Clean Water Act to more fully integrate clean water regulations with side sewer work.

Side sewer permit intake will move from SDOT's Street Use Counter to DCLU's Applicant Service Center on the 20th floor of Key Tower. The side sewer review and inspection program will be handled by DCLU's Site Development Team, which already performs drainage review, grading review, and site inspections. DCLU is currently in the process of adding staff to this team for this new responsibility.

It is expected that DCLU will issue approximately 2,500 permits annually for side sewer construction, including new service, additions, alterations, repairs, capping, conditional, and temporary side sewer work.

No appointment will be required to apply for a side sewer permit and for most permits there will be no plan review. Application forms are available on our forms page and in the DCLU Applicant Service Center (ASC); map sets and sewer card images will be available in the ASC for completing “as-built” plans.

Side sewer permit fees will remain the same, and applicants will be able to pay by cash, check, credit card, or through an Advance Deposit Account (ADA) arranged with DCLU staff. The ADA will provide an opportunity not previously available to regular contractors. Once established, the account will allow sewer contractor agents to pull a permit and draw the fees directly from the account.

SDOT (formerly known as SEATRAN) will continue to maintain and update the list of Registered Side Sewer Contractors (RSSC) for both side sewer and larger construction projects in the public right-of-way. For single family residences, owners may perform the work occurring on their private property.

As part of the changes to the side sewer program, the permit holder will be responsible for as-built plans and for coordinating work with other agencies, such as SDOT for street surface restoration and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) for core tap scheduling. A civil engineer of record will be required for reviewing installations of site drainage facilities, such as detention and retention systems, treatment facilities, and/or structural source control improvements.

For more information, visit the Side Sewer Program website which features Client Assistance Memos on applying for a permit (CAM 503) and how to prepare as-built plans (CAM 504), pertinent regulations and fees, how to schedule an inspection, and key contacts. Additional web postings will soon include a new SPU information bulletin called “New Service Connections, Procedures and Charges” and an SDOT bulletin called “Utility Construction Procedures and Charges in Public ROW.”

We look forward to working with those side sewer contractors who are active in Seattle, as well as the many homeowners who choose to do their own side sewer work.