Temporary No Parking Zones

Temporary No Parking Zones are established to restrict regular parking and provide curb space for the purpose of loading and unloading and for such uses as construction activity (may require a Street Use permit) or construction vehicle, moving vans, and special events. The restricted area is not intended to be used for parking of personal vehicles and is regulated by the Seattle Department of Transportation. Any valid on-street parking space may be considered for use as a Temporary No Parking Zone.

In areas without meters or parking pay stations, legally establishing a Temporary No Parking Zone requires placement of type T-39 or T-38 easels, and completion of a confirming online validation form. The Seattle Traffic Control Manual for In Street Work describes the process and procedures for placement of temporary no parking signs and easels. The Manual can be accessed here.

The signs must conform in message, dimension, and color with the diagrams on this page that are also found in the Manual. Temporary no parking signs and easels will not be considered valid if they do not clearly indicate a contact name and telephone number, and if they do not clearly indicate start and stop dates and times. The contact name and number (or someone who will stand as their agent) will be the responsible party for the sign placement. This name and number are in addition to the existing phone number on the signs for towing purposes (206-684-5444).

SDOT does not provide these signs. They may be rented or purchased from local agencies in and around Seattle. You can find one of these by searching the Internet for “barricades Seattle” or looking in the phone book yellow pages under the heading “Barricades”.

There is a new online verification form for Temporary No Parking Zones. It replaces the prior hard-copy form that had to be printed out and faxed to the Seattle Police Department’s Parking Enforcement Unit. The new online version of the form can be accessed here.

The online Notification of Temporary No Parking Zone form should be filled out and submitted 72 hours prior to the beginning of the desired restriction and enforcement. This gives those who may have previously been legally parked in the zone ample opportunity to move their vehicles prior to the start date for the zone.

To Reserve a Parking Space with a Meter or Pay Station:

1. Request (or download) an "Application for Truck Permits with Meter Hooding"

Begin the process by completing the Application for Truck Permits With Meter Hooding. You will want to request your spaces well in advance of the date(s) that you want the parking spaces reserved (a week ahead of time is good, but the earlier the better). You may download the application from our web site or request an "Application for Truck Permits with/without Meter Hooding" form by contacting the Traffic Permits office at (206) 684-5086. The form can be faxed or emailed to you. You must complete the form making certain to list the meter or pay station parking space identifier numbers (found on the heads of meters or on round metal plates bolted to the sidewalk by each parking space), as well as a description of where the spaces are located (such as the street name, which side of the street, the cross-streets, and the nearest address if applicable, etc.). SDOT staff will arrange for hoods to be placed on the meters adjacent to the spaces being reserved, or signs to be placed at the spaces if they are controlled by a pay station, for the date(s) requested.

The cost for reserving metered/paid spaces (meter or pay station) is a one-time $18.50 meter hood installation/removal fee, plus $15 per metered space per day for "No Parking 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Mon - Sat)," or $18 per metered space per day for "No Parking - Tow Away Zone."

2. Obtain a "Hooded Meter Truck Permit"

Once a Temporary No Parking Zone has been established at parking spaces controlled by a meter or pay station, a vehicle must have a "Hooded Meter Truck Permit" to park in the Temporary No Parking Zone. You may request this permit with the same application you use to request to reserve your meter or pay station space(s). You may fax your request to the Traffic Permits office at (206) 684-5085. Unless you allow enough lead time for US Postal Service (7 – 10 days), you need to pick up your permit(s) in person and present payment for the permits and any meter or pay station fees. Hooded Meter Truck Permits are only issued for trucks (pick-ups, moving vans, commercial delivery vehicles, etc.) and service vans with truck or commercial vehicle plates - passenger vehicles and non-truck vehicles are not eligible. This permit needs to be in the vehicle and visible from the outside for the entire time you are using the Temporary No-Parking Zone.

To Reserve a Parking Space without a Meter or Pay Station:

1. Request an "Application for Truck Permits without Meter Hooding"

Begin the process by completing the Application for Truck Permits Without Meter Hooding. You will want to submit your application to request your permit well in advance of the date(s) for which you need the Temporary No Parking Zone and Restricted Area Truck Permit (at least one week ahead of time is helpful). You may download the application from our web site or request an "Application for Truck Permits with/without Meter Hooding" form by contacting the Traffic Permits office at (206) 684-5086. The form can be faxed or emailed to you. You must complete the application making certain to list a description of where the restricted area spaces are located (such as the street name, which side of the street, the cross-streets, and the nearest address if applicable, etc.).

The cost of the truck permit without meter hooding is $16 minimum (good for up to 2 days) and $8 for each additional day. Please call the Traffic Permits Counter at (684-5086) for details.

2. Arrange for "No Parking" Easels

Contact a barricade company (listed in the yellow pages under "Barricades") to arrange for "No Parking" easels for the date(s) and submit an online form. The barricade company will charge a fee for their service of providing you with "No Parking" easels.

3. Obtain a "Restricted Area Truck Permit"

Once a Temporary No Parking Zone has been established at parking spaces without a meter or pay station, a vehicle must have a "Restricted Area Truck Permit" to park in the Temporary No Parking Zone. You may fax your request to the Traffic Permits office at (206) 684-5085. Unless you allow enough lead time for US Postal Service (7 – 10 days), you need to pick up and present payment for the permit(s) in person. Restricted Area Truck Permits are only issued for trucks (pick-ups, moving vans, commercial delivery vehicles, etc.) and service vans with truck or commercial plates - passenger vehicles and non-truck vehicles are not eligible. This permit needs to be placed in the vehicle (so that it is visible from the outside) which parks in the Temporary No Parking Zone.

4. Verify No Parking Easels

You must verify that the “No-Parking” easels are in place at least 72 hours in advance of the date(s) for which you requested a Temporary No Parking Zone, and that the times and dates of the Temporary No Parking Zone are clearly written on the easels. Submit the online verification form at least 72 hours in advance of the start of the Temporary No Parking Zone.

Question about No Parking signs?

If you have a question about Temporary No Parking signs please call one of the following numbers:

• For questions about Temporary No Parking easels that are placed on a street, check the company name and phone number on the bottom of the sign and call that number. If there is no company name or number the sign is not valid. To report this infraction, please call Parking Enforcement at (206) 386-9012.
• If you have a vehicle that was towed from a Temporary No Parking Zone call City Towing at (206) 684-5444
• For questions or complaints about Temporary No Parking signs call the Customer Service Bureau at (206) 684-CITY

You can find more information about using Temporary No Parking Zones here.

Traffic Permits Counter

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

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
PO Box 34996
Seattle, WA 98124-4996