Resolve a Permit Disagreement
What Is It?
Our process for resolving a dispute about our permit process and about policy or technical code issues will help reduce delays in issuing your permit. We emphasize a quick resolution when you disagree with how we are applying the code to your project, or how we are administering your project.
- Resolving Development or Land Use Permit Disagreements
- Resolving Interdepartmental Disagreements in Development Permitting
- Seattle City Light New Construction Resources
- Seattle Public Utilities Resolving Code and Permit Disputes
Resolve SDCI Permit Disagreement
You should follow the steps below if you disagree with how our staff is solving a process problem or how a policy or technical issue affects your project.
Use the list below to find the appropriate supervisor to help resolve your dispute. We prefer email and our responses are quicker than if you leave us a phone message.
The supervisor will respond within 24 hours. The supervisor will talk with you about your disagreement, review the issue with you and the assigned staff, and then provide a verbal answer. We try to provide an answer within a day after we respond to your initial request for help.
Construction Permit Supervisors | |
---|---|
Construction Application Appointments & Permit Processing | |
Peter Fuerbringer | (206) 233-7013 |
Sajada McCoy | (206) 615-0866 |
Clara Pellinger (interim) | (206) 684-8873 |
Scheduling Construction Pre-Submittal Conference Appointments | |
Nathalie Boeholt | (206) 727-3589 |
Zoning Review Production & Zoning Technical Decisions | |
Naomi Mason | (206) 684-0711 |
Scott Ringgold | (206) 233-5132 |
Bradley Wilburn | (206) 233-5132 |
Branin Burdette | (206) 733-9694 |
Addressing/Development Site Review | |
Shimika Dowlen | (206) 684-0961 |
Myra Stallworth | (206) 684-4192 |
Site Development (Drainage, Erosion Control, Side Sewers) | |
Ede Courtenay | (206) 733-7860 |
Geotechnical Review | |
Susan Chang | (206) 386-9785 |
Energy / Mechanical Review | |
Shailesh Desai | (206) 233-7860 |
Ordinance / Structural Review | |
Mahvash Nassiri | (206) 615-0728 |
Jamie Anderson | (206) 615-0715 |
Ming Alwin | (206) 233-5016 |
Amy Barnett (interim) | (206) 684-3965 |
Mariko Blessing (interim) | (206) 256-5305 |
Master Use Permit Supervisors | |
MUP Application Appointments & Permit Processing | |
Myra Stallworth | (206) 684-4192 |
Scheduling Land Use, EDG, and SDR, Pre-Submittal Conference Appointments | |
Bruce Rips | (206) 615-1392 |
Discretionary Decisions on MUP applications, except unit lot short plats, and lot boundary adjustments | |
Shelley Bolser | (206) 733-9067 |
Bruce Rips | (206) 615-1392 |
John Shaw | (206) 684-5837 |
Cheryl Waldman | (206) 233-3861 |
Design Review | |
Lisa Rutzick | (206) 386-9049 |
Zoning Code Disagreements & Zoning Technical Decisions, including unit lot short plats, and lot boundary adjustments | |
Branin Burdette | (206) 733-9694 |
Naomi Mason | (206) 684-0711 |
Scott Ringgold | (206) 233-5132 |
Bradley Wilburn | (206) 615-0508 |
Addressing/Development Site Review | |
Shimika Dowlen | (206) 684-0961 |
Myra Stallworth | (206) 684-4192 |
If you still disagree with our decision, you can request a review of the issue by writing to the appropriate manager. Please email the manager, or send your request to
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections
700 5th Ave., Suite 2000
P.O. Box 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019
Manager Contacts | |
---|---|
Land Use Reviews on Master Use & Building Permits | |
Stephanie Haines, Manager | (206) 684-5014 |
Zoning Reviews on Master Use, Building, & Platting Permits | |
Megan Neuman, Interim Zoning Manager | (206) 684-3101 |
Building Code Technical Decision-Making | |
Richard Pellinger (interim) | (206) 615-0591 |
Structural Engineering Technical Decision-Making | |
Nathalie Boeholt (interim) | (206) 727-3589 |
Ordinance & Structural Review | |
Andy Lunde, Engineering Services Manager | (206) 733-9267 |
Energy/Mechanical, Drainage & Geotechnical Review | |
Steve Burns, Engineering Services Manager | (206) 684-7736 |
Construction Inspections | |
Dave Cordaro, Manager | (206) 684-7933 |
Construction Codes Technical & Policy Issues | |
Ardel Jala, Building Official | (206) 684-0573 |
Kai Ki Mow, Principal Engineer | (206) 233-5163 |
Land Use Technical & Policy Code Issues | |
Jerry Suder, Interim Policy & Technical Manager | (206) 386-4069 |
If you are still not satisfied after talking to the supervisor and the manager, please contact:
Darlene Edwards, Land Use Director
(206) 684-5606
darlene.edwards@seattle.gov
Andy Higgins, Engineering Services Director
(206) 615-0568
andy.higgins@seattle.gov
Resolve an Interdepartmental Permit Disagreement
Use the steps below to resolve a permit disagreement if multiple City regulations conflict for your project, or if one City department disagrees how to apply a development regulation.
The first step to resolving a interdepartmental disagreement is to contact the staff assigned to your project. Send an email to all staff and supervisors explaining the disagreement and ask that the City department staff discuss the conflict. You can also request a meeting with staff and supervisors to talk about the problem in person. After reviewing the circumstance of your disagreement, the supervisor will provide an answer. You will usually hear from the supervisor within 3 to 5 business days.
If your permit dispute is not resolved at the staff and supervisor level, you may request a review of the conflict by writing to the appropriate City managers. You should contact all management involved in your disagreement at the same time because conflicts that involve more than one department are often complicated by competing City policies or priorities. For best result, send your request by email and include:
- The development site address
- City permit numbers for any work that is disputed
- Names of City staff you've been working with to resolve the conflict
- Any unique circumstances you believe should influence the decision outcome
- Specific regulations, with code citations, that are in dispute
City management will discuss the problem with you and then decide who will be the lead contact for your dispute. You will get a written response by the lead City manager, usually within 2 weeks of your request. If we need additional time for research, the lead manager will let you know within a week of your request.
City Management Contacts | |
---|---|
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections | |
Darlene Edwards, Land Use Director Land Use Code, Master Use Permits, or Building Permits |
(206) 684-5606 |
Andy Higgins, Engineering Services Director Building Permit Ordinance / Structural, Energy, Drainage, Side Sewer, and Geotechnical Reviews |
(206) 615-0568 |
Dave Cordaro, Chief Building Inspector Construction Inspections |
(206) 684-7933 |
Seattle Public Utilities | |
Utility Main Extension Disputes Contact List spu_dso@seattle.gov |
(206) 684-3333 |
Seattle City Light | |
Seema Ghosh, Electrical Service Engineering Manager | (206) 735-6748 |
Seattle Department of Transportation | |
Diana Holloway, Operations Manager Street Use Major Permits (SIP and Utility) |
(206) 684-3970 |
Melody Berry, Permit Services Manager Street Use Right-of-Way Management Permits |
(206) 733-9052 |
Angela Steel, Public Space Manager Street Use Public Space Management Permits |
(206) 684-5967 |
Matt Beaulieu, Manager, Transportation Operations Engineering and Design Traffic Management Systems and Operations |
(206) 615-1911 |
Mike Estey, Parking Program Manager Parking and Curb Space Management |
(206) 684-8132 |
Darren Morgan, Urban Forestry Manager Urban Forestry |
(206) 233-7829 |
If you still disagree with our decision, please contact our department directors.
City Department Directors | |
---|---|
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections | |
Nathan Torgelson, Department Director | (206) 684-0343 |
Seattle Department of Transportation | |
Sam Zimbabwe, Department Director | (206) 684-5000 |
Liz Sheldon, Division Director Street Use | (206) 684-7945 |
Seattle Public Utilities | |
Christopher Courtney, Interim Development Services Office Manager | (206) 684-5810 |
Jeff Bingaman, Development Services Office Director | (206) 684-5901 |
Seattle City Light | |
Darnell Cola, Customer Construction Services Director | (206) 684-3111 |
Jim Baggs, Interim General Manager and CEO | (206) 684-3200 |