AG 1077: Council Term Permit
Process Overview
A Council Term permit is issued for significant structures occupying the right-of-way such as utility tunnels, vehicle bridges and ramps, public plazas, artwork, and skybridges. City Council approves new term permits in two steps. First, the City Council votes on a resolution that provides conceptual approval to the applicant. This can only occur after the project receives 60% technical approval for the structure. If the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) applies, this process must be completed before the City Council votes on the resolution. Once the project receives 100% technical approval for the structure, the City Council votes on the ordinance granting permission. The term permit ordinance outlines all the terms and conditions of the permit.
If you are proposing a skybridge, see the Skybridge Applicant Guide.
After we review a term permit application, it must be approved by the City Council. A term permit is granted for a period of 15 years, with one renewable 15-year term. Term permits have a maximum duration of 30 years and can be revoked by the City Council.
After the term expires, the applicant may apply to renew the permit. This review can take several months. After we review the application and supplemental materials, we draft the permit legislation for the renewal and then forward to City Council.
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Step 1: Consider if your proposed use is allowed
Step 2: Collect the required documents
Step 4: Application review, fees and decision
Step 5: Permit issuance and initial inspection
Step 6: Maintaining your permit
Step 1: Consider if your proposed use is allowed
For Council Term permits, applicants must provide a necessity statement describing why there are no other feasible options to accommodate the structure on private property.
Step 2: Collect the required documents
Items required as part of the application:
- A necessity statement describing why there are no feasible alternatives to accommodating the significant structure on private property. The necessity statement should include alternatives that were analyzed and why they are not feasible.
- Title report with full legal description of the adjacent property. The legal description needs to be in a format that can be copied and pasted into a Word document.
- Conceptual images of the structure.
- Drawings of the structure that show dimensions, height above or depth below ground surface, and any other structures in the right-of-way at the proposed location.
- Photos of location and surrounding area.
- Use description – what is the purpose of the structure? Who will be the primary users/beneficiaries? How many square feet of the structure will occupy the right-of-way?
- Area map showing location of proposed structure.
- Other information deemed necessary to review your application.
Step 3: Apply for the permit
When you are ready to apply, head to the Seattle Services Portal!
Note: if you've never used the Portal before, you'll need to register and set up an account first. See this helpful article or video on how to do this. See this helpful article or video on how to do this. Once you are logged in, follow the steps below:
Once you are logged in, follow the steps below:
- Under "Create New" select "Permits-Street Use"
- Navigate to and select the "Long Term Use" and "Council Term Permit" record type.
- When prompted to input “Use Code Description,” choose “Council Term.”
Step 4: Application review, fees and decision
Depending on the complexity of the project, the review time can take 12 to 18 months or more. You can check the status of your permit online through the Seattle Service Portal. Read more about our Street Use Permit Process and Status.
We will review the application, coordinate with other city departments, and may contact you either to request additional information or to request corrections. For responding to corrections, read our help article (including a video on how to upload documents).
After we review the application, the SDOT Director makes a recommendation to City Council via legislation (resolution for conceptual approval and an ordinance for final approval). City Council votes to approve the term permit and the terms and conditions are specified in the ordinance.
Step 5: Permit issuance and initial inspection
Issuance and occupation fees are due once an application has been approved by City Council and must be paid before a permit is issued. The fees cover a one-year period, and our permitting system will renew the permit if it is in good standing. For detailed information, visit our page on How to Estimate and Pay Permit Fees.
Once your permit is issued, it’ll be uploaded to the Seattle Services Portal. You should review the permit and approved documents, paying close attention to the approved site plan and conditions. Need help finding and printing your permit? Check out this help article.
Step 6: Maintaining your permit
Council Term permits are billed annually. The yearly permit fees include the renewal fee and occupation fee, see our Street Use Fee Schedule PDF on this page for more information.
Need to make changes? You can request a permit revision through our Seattle Services Portal or contact publicspace@seattle.gov.
You are expected to maintain the approved use(s) according to your approved plan and permit, including complying with all permit conditions. We will conduct inspections to ensure the use remains as approved.
If there is a change in property ownership, the new owner must apply for a new Council Term permit. Please contact publicspace@seattle.gov if the property changes ownership. Changes in ownership do not require City Council approval.
Also, it’s important to understand that the permits we issue are wholly of a temporary nature, vest no permanent rights, and are revocable pursuant to SMC 15.64.080. If a permit is revoked or terminated, the right-of-way shall be returned to its original condition.