Residential Parking Zone Program (RPZ)

RPZ Policy Review

RPZ Permit Fees

About the RPZ Program

How to Initiate an RPZ Program for your Neighborhood

How to Apply for an RPZ Parking Permit

RPZ-Related Topics

72-Hour On-Street Parking Ordinance

About the RPZ Program

Curb space is part of the public street system, and as such it is a public good that is available for all people to use. To restrict the use of curb space for just some people to park requires a compelling reason. The Residential Parking Zone (RPZ) Program was created to help ease parking congestion in residential neighborhoods while walking a fine line to balance the needs of all people to be able to use the public streets.

View the Seattle Municipal Code section about RPZs: SMC 11.16.317

An RPZ is established on blocks that have adjacent residential use (houses, apts., or condos) to discourage long-term parking by non-residents. An RPZ may be appropriate where the parking congestion is caused by being near a business district with limited parking, and/or is caused by parking generated by visitors or employees of a hospital, school or factory.

An RPZ involves the posting of parking time limits or parking prohibitions from which vehicles displaying an appropriate, valid RPZ permit are exempt. Eligibility for an RPZ permit is restricted to residents living on the blocks where the RPZ is established. Residents on an RPZ block may purchase one permit for each vehicle they own, and all residential households on a block where there is an RPZ are eligible for one guest pass (whether or not they own a vehicle). The following figure illustrates typical RPZ signing although the actual parking restriction may vary depending on the local conditions:

Currently (June 2004) the cost of a permit is $35.00 and is good for one permit cycle or part thereof (most RPZ permits are on a 2-year cycle but there are some that operate on a 1-year cycle). The fees collected pay for the administrative cost of the permits and, as such, the fee is not prorated by the time remaining in the RPZ permit cycle. The permits can only be issued to residents who actually have the signs installed on their block or who live within the RPZ boundary. Permits cannot be issued to non-residents, business owners or employees.

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How to Initiate an RPZ Program for your Neighborhood

In order to establish an RPZ, there must be a significant degree of parking by non-residents. The Seattle Municipal Code specifies the threshold that must be met in order to establish an RPZ. Generally this is that 75% of on-street spaces are in use for at least eight hours, with at least 25% of those spaces used by non-local vehicles, all in an area of at least five contiguous blocks. Additionally, a "parking generator" needs to be identified: an event, an institution, or something other than the residents that is causing the high amount of non-local vehicles parking in the residential area.

If you believe your neighborhood may qualify for an RPZ, please follow these steps:

Step 1: If possible, have your neighborhood association or community council send a letter to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) describing the parking problem, indicating the streets and blocks most affected, and describing (to the best of your knowledge) why the level of parking congestion is high (what is "generating" the parking demand). If the neighborhood community council is inactive, then send a letter signed by 25 residents which are equally distributed across five blocks (e.g. at least five households per block on five different but nearby blocks).

Send the letter to:

Seattle Department of Transportation
Residential Parking Zone Program, 37th Floor
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3900
PO Box 34996
Seattle, WA 98124-4996

Please include the name, address, and daytime telephone number of a contact person.

Initial Determination

Step 2: Upon receipt of the written RPZ request, SDOT will do an initial assessment to determine whether an RPZ is appropriate for the area.

The determination will be based on the following:

• The parking problem exists on at least five contiguous blocks.
• It appears that 75% or more of the parking spaces are being used.
• There is an identifiable parking generator.

SDOT Action

Step 3: If SDOT determines that an RPZ may be appropriate for an area, then we will contact interested parties and schedule an RPZ-related parking study. If the number of requests for RPZs is high, then the area may have to be put on a waiting list for conducting the RPZ-related parking study.

When SDOT begins to take action on a request, we will first organize a neighborhood committee representing community interests. This committee's task will be to assist SDOT in designing an RPZ which will address the parking congestion in the area. At the same time, we will study the area's parking situation. Among other items, the RPZ parking study will need to establish that the following criteria has been met in order for an RPZ to be installed:

• 75% of the parking spaces are being used for at least eight hours.
• 25% of the cars belong to non-residents.

Community Action

Step 4: If the RPZ study determines that conditions permit an RPZ to be installed, and the neighborhood wishes to proceed with the project, then SDOT will provide petition forms to the applicants and signatures must be gathered from at least 60% of the households (owners or renters) within the proposed boundaries. Only one signature per household is needed.

If the area fails to meet the parking study criteria or fails to gain 60% support for an RPZ, then an RPZ will not be installed. If the area does meet these requirements, then SDOT will implement an RPZ. SDOT's decision can be appealed to the Director of SDOT Grace Crunican within 15 days of public notice of our decision.

RPZ Time Frame

The following time frame depicts a very general RPZ process, and note that the time it takes to create an RPZ will vary significantly depending on local conditions. Such conditions include area size, severity of the parking problem, surrounding land use, and community commitment.

RPZ Follow-Up

An RPZ should be reviewed within six months of implementation and adjustments made to the design, if needed, so that the parking needs of the community are met. SDOT may further restrict the time limits (etc.) for non-permit holders if the block continues to experience high amounts of parking congestion after the RPZ is installed, and the majority of the residents support the further restriction by signing a petition. SDOT may also relax the time limits (etc.) for non-permit holders if we determine that 50% or less of the parking spaces are being used after the RPZ is installed.

Expansion of an RPZ

An additional neighboring block(s) may be added to an existing RPZ if there is interest by the residents on those blocks and SDOT determines that expanding the RPZ to that block(s) would be appropriate. Any blocks being proposed for addition would need to be contiguous to (touching) an existing RPZ block, and 60% of the households (owner or and renter) on that block would need to support adding their block to the RPZ by signing the RPZ petition provided by SDOT.

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How to Apply for an RPZ Parking Permit

To qualify for a Residential Parking Permit you must live within the boundaries of a Residential Parking Zone (RPZ). Before applying for a permit, please call our office at (206) 684-5086 to verify if your address is within an RPZ and/or request an application form. Click here to find more information about Zone 25, along Westlake Avenue North.

To obtain an RPZ permit you must provide a completed application form and:

1. Current (dated within the last 30 days) proof of residency showing your name and address. This can be a bill, bank statement, lease or rental agreement, rent receipt, or any properly dated business type mail other than mail from our office.

2. A copy of your current Washington State Vehicle Registration. The vehicle must be registered in your name or the same last name as the proof of residency. Titles, temporary registrations and bills of sale are not accepted. Out-of-state registration is accepted only for active duty military personnel providing proof of their status as such, or out-of-state students providing proof of non-resident status.

The current fee (as of January 1, 2005) for the permit can vary up to a maximum of $35 per vehicle depending on what zone you live in (or what part of a zone), and is good for one permit cycle or part thereof (most RPZ permits are on a 2-year cycle, but there are some that operate on a 1-year cycle). We accept cash, checks, money orders, and VISA and Mastercard.

Households within the boundary may purchase one permit for each vehicle they own. One guest permit is also allowed per household. Currently guest permit fees (January 1, 2005) range from $0 to $35. Please call (206) 684-5086 for particulars.

We also issue temporary permits for up to 60 days for construction vehicles, out-of-state vehicles, new vehicles, and student vehicles.

Location and Hours

All Permits may be issued through the mail or obtained in person.

Please contact the Traffic Permits Counter with any questions during regular business hours of Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or call (206) 684-5086.

The Traffic Permits Counter is located on the 37th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower (formerly Key Tower) at 700 Fifth Avenue (at Columbia Street) in downtown Seattle.

The mailing address is:

Seattle Department of Transportation
Traffic Permits, 37th Floor
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3768
PO Box 34996
Seattle, WA 98124-4996

To find out more specific information, or to have an application mailed to you, please call (206) 684-5086.

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