Fees & Payments

Filing Fees

Hearing Examiner filing fees are normally $85. Please see link below for case-type exceptions.  

Effective July 18, 2012, filing fees for hearings before the City Hearing Examiner are as follows:

SMC 3.02.125 Hearing Examiner Filing Fees

As provided in S.M.C. 3.02.125, filing fees are non-refundable unless otherwise provided in the Code. Fee waivers are available upon request by filling out a waiver form. Appeals that seek a fee waiver must be filed in person or by mail. The City Hearing Examiner may waive a fee if a person is able to demonstrate financial hardship.

Payments

The Office of Hearing Examiner is now accepting online payments of filing fees for appeals. The City of Seattle is committed to using its website and Internet-based solutions to help you do business with the City--without having to visit City offices.

The Office of Hearing Examiner accepts checks, money orders, and debit and credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) as payment for filing fees and citation penalties.  No processing fees are assessed.

Credit and debit card payments are accepted online, by telephone, or you can mail a check/money order to the Office of Hearing Examiner. 

We accept all PayPal forms of payment.          

Do you need to pay in person?  We accept payments in person on the 4th Floor Customer Service Center.  Fully completed appeal filings (which should include the appeal fee) and citation payments can be deposited into the Payment Drop Box. Please be sure to enclose your documents in a sealed envelope before placing it in the Payment Drop Box. Make checks/money orders payable to City of Seattle.

Directions to the Payment Drop Box:

If you are entering the Seattle Municipal Tower’s revolving doors, at 700 Fifth Avenue, veer right:

  1. The Payment Drop Box is located on the right, just past the security desk, directly beneath the local transportation directory being displayed on the two monitors, high on the wall.

If you are entering the Seattle Municipal Tower via the second set of escalators from the Columbia Center building:

  1. Take a left as you exit the second set of escalators.
  2. Continue to veer left as you pass the security desk (it will be on your right).
  3. The Payment Drop Box is located on the right, just past the security desk, directly beneath the local transportation directory being displayed on the two monitors, high on the wall.

Note: The contents of this Payment Drop Box are checked at 8:00 AM each business morning only - no exceptions. Please be sure to keep this in mind if you are filing an appeal with a deadline.

Street Address:

City of Seattle
Office of Hearing Examiner
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4000
40th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 684-0521
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:00am - 5:00pm

Mailing Address:

PO Box 94729
Seattle, WA 98124-4729

If you cannot pay the filing fee, then you are required to complete a form requesting a waiver of the filing fee and include documentation showing that the fee will cause financial hardship. Appeals that seek a fee waiver must be filed in person or by mail.

Hearing Examiner

Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 4000, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 94729, Seattle, WA, 98124
Phone: (206) 684-0521
Fax: (206) 684-0536
Hearing.examiner@seattle.gov
Contact Us
Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Office of Hearing Examiner is a separate and independent office of the City created by the Seattle Municipal Code. The Office is charged with conducting fair and impartial administrative hearings, when authorized by the Code, to review the actions of various City departments.