Office of Housing

Program overview

Downtown commercial developers may use the TDR Program to achieve additional density above the base FAR.

The TDR Program helps Seattle maintain a variable scale of buildings in downtown by allowing density to be moved from one site to another.
Lots where affordable housing is preserved are eligible “housing TDR sites.”
Other eligible sites include those with landmark buildings, major open space, or major performing arts facilities.
Purchasers (commercial developers) and sellers (owners of certified TDR) can negotiate sales directly. Or the City can purchase TDR and hold it in its “TDR Bank” for later resale.
All transactions, whether private or through the City, require execution and recording of a TDR Agreement between the owner of the TDR site and the City.
The TDR Agreement includes covenants that will run with the land (in the case of housing, 50 years of affordable housing primarily affordable to households with incomes up to 50% of median).
TDR is validly transferred by Statutory Warranty Deed and is recognized by the courts as real property.

Code References:

TDR Purchase:

Prior to MUP issuance, commercial developer must detail for the Office of Housing how all chargeable floor area above the base FAR will be achieved.
Per square foot sales price for certified TDR is negotiated between buyer and seller.
Contact Laura Hewitt Walker, at (206) 684-0429, for more information, including the availability of housing TDR, landmark TDR, open space TDR, and major performing arts facility TDR.

TDR Certification:

Contact Laura Hewitt Walker, (206) 684-0429, for more information about Department of Planning & Development TDR certification and Office of Housing TDR eligibility application materials.
Inquiries regarding process for certification of landmark TDR or open space TDR sites may be directed to Dennis Meier, (206) 684-8270, in the Department of Planning & Development.