Development Permit Fee Changes for 2009
On January 1, 2009, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) adjusted its service fees. A new ordinance was adopted by the Seattle City Council on November 24, 2008. 

In addition, DPD uses the most recent building valuation data (BVD) published by the International Code Council (ICC) as a base upon which to create a Seattle BVD table, found this year in Director's Rule (DR) 1-2009. This year, the BVD table has changed, and fee increases are between (-)0.15 - 2.31 percent.

Below are highlights from the 2009 Fee Ordinance, adopted by City Council in November. There are a range of changes, with some fees being increased, some reduced, and some remaining the same. 

Land Use Fees
The base fee and hourly rate of land use application review, such as SEPA, Shoreline, Conditional Use and Variances, are not changed for 2009. However, the intake appointment fee has changed from $155 to the DPD base fee ($166). Additionally the notice and exemption fees associated with Land Use Applications have increased.

Building Permits
The building permit fee, based upon project value, will generally go up one to two percent, with minor reductions for some offices and bank buildings. The increases are tied to the annual adoption of the updated Building Valuation Data Table, which establishes value of construction by occupancy grouping and type of construction, such as Type V-1 Hour apartments. The BVD table reflects regional changes in cost of construction, including both the use and the construction type. The hourly base rate for building permit review that is not tied directly to the BVD table will go from $155 to $166. This is the first hourly rate change in two years. The DPD base fee will also increase to $166.

Electrical Permits
For electrical permits requiring plan review, fees are reduced 22 percent or more, depending on the value of the project. The new fee scale for electrical plan review is based upon a decreasing fee rate by increment of value; larger projects will pay less fees than previously. For over-the-counter and online-electrical permits not requiring plan review, the fees are increased approximately 25 percent for the smallest projects, with lesser increases for larger non-plan review projects.

Site Inspections
Fees for site inspections will change from hourly deposit-based minimum fee to a flat fixed rate that is based upon project and site conditions. This is not anticipated to change fees significantly, but will provide predictability up front and avoid additional hourly billings after permit issuance.

Sign Permits
The base fee has gone down from $132 to $110, and the fee per square foot has increased (from $11 to $18) for each square foot over 100 square feet. Starting in 2009, separate permits will be required for each sign face. Previously, multiple signs (totaling less than 100 square feet) were covered under the permit’s base fee.

Questions about the 2009 fees can be directed to the Applicant Services Center at (206) 684-8850.

Questions about the 2009 fees can be directed to the Applicant Services Center at (206) 684-8850.

The Phinney Home Design & Remodel Fair takes place on Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..

Seattle will adopt the 2008
National Electrical Code (NEC) with Seattle amendments in the first quarter of 2009.

Process Streamlined for Street Improvement Permitting
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Street Use is redesigning the Street Improvement Permitting (SIP) process with the goals of lowering the cost of street improvement permits, reducing permit issuance time frames, increasing the predictability of the process, and improving customer satisfaction. Since December 2008, SDOT street improvement permit reviewers have participated in DPD pre-submittal conferences. If the project scope identified in the conference triggers a street improvement permit, then a SDOT plan analyst will attend the scheduled DPD pre-submittal conference and/or issue a comment letter. The goals of this initiative are to improve project coordination between DPD and SDOT and to provide better information about the SDOT permit process in the preliminary project stage. On Jan. 26, 2009, SIP design guidance meetings will replace multiple six-week review cycles for design guidance. Workshops will be conducted to help street improvement permit applicants and stakeholders prepare for the new SIP design guidance process and application requirements. Workshops will be held 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 8; Jan. 14; and Jan. 20. 

To RSVP for one of the workshops, please call Lynn Saiyadeth at (206) 233-3844. Milestones in the SIP process redesign are posted online on the SDOT street use street improvement permit website. For more information, please contact: Mary Rutherford, P.E. Street Use Operations Manager at (206) 615-0774.

SDOT Street Use is redesigning the Street Improvement Permitting (SIP) process with the goals of lowering the cost of street improvement permits, reducing permit issuance time frames, increasing the predictability of the process, and improving customer satisfaction.