How to Estimate and Pay Permit Fees
Permit Counter Temporary Closures
To protect the health and safety of our staff and customers, and to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19, we closed our public-facing customer service counters on Monday, March 16. Our counters remain closed until further notice. This includes both the Street Use and the Traffic and Parking permit counters at the Seattle Municipal Tower on floors 23 and 37. We are still processing permit applications.
You can submit applications for all permit types online through the Seattle Services Portal.
Our staff will be available to provide application coaching and assist with issuing permits by phone.
I'd like to learn more about...
Parking Permits and Related Fees
Street Use Permits and Related Fees
How to Use the Use Fee Estimator
Public Space Permits - Occupancy Fees
Parking Permits and Related Fees
For information about parking permit fees, please visit the Parking Permits page.
Street Use Permits and Related Fees
There are several types of fees related to Street Use permits.
- Permit Fees
- Hourly Fees
- Use Fees
- Occupation Fees
Permit fees are one-time fees for the issuance or renewal of a permit.
NOTE: Depending on its complexity, an application may incur hourly fees for inspection and review for which you will be billed separately.
Use fees are what we charge permit holders for the square footage area of the right-of-way that they use short-term for non-transportation uses. Use fees are charged in addition to permit and hourly fees.
Occupation fees are what we charge permit holders for the square footage area of the right-of-way that they use long-term for non-transportation uses. Occupation fees are charged in addition to permit and hourly fees.
Both Use and Occupation fees help fund the voluntary improvement program (SMC 15.04.100) and road maintenance programs, subsidize permitting for positive uses of the right-of-way, program administration, and process improvements. Beginning this year, these fees will be adjusted annually based on the percentage change of the Average Assessed Land Value (AALV).
Click here for the complete fee schedule.
How to Use the Use Fee Estimator
With the completion of our migration to Accela, we have updated our online fee estimating tool accordingly. Please note that this tool is only for Use fees and does not include any related permit fees or hourly fees that you may incur. If you are applying for a Public Space or Vending permit, see the section below on Public Space Occupancy Fees and Vending Permits.
Public Space Permits - Occupation Fees
Visit the Public Space Permits web page for a complete list of these permits.
We are assessing Occupation fees for many of our permits based on the impacts to high use areas like arterials and in Urban Centers and Villages. Table 1: New Occupation Fee Model (below) illustrates the model
Table 1: Occupation Fee Model (Effective 6/10/2019)
Cost per square foot | Urban Center | Urban Village | Neither |
Arterial street | $1.40 | $1.35 | $.90 |
Non-arterial street | $1.20 | $1.15 | $.70 |
You can look up information about Urban Centers, Urban Villages, and street types on Streets Illustrated.
Permits with Occupation Fees
The table below shows the permitted use description and relevant Occupation fee.
Table 2: Occupation Fee According to Permitted Use
Permitted Use Description | Occupation Fee |
At-grade structures | See Table 1: Occupation Fee Model |
Above- or below-grade structures | $0.70 per square foot |
Fixed ground sign | $767 per sign |
Fenced material storage and private use | See Table 1: Occupation Fee Model |
Merchandise display | See Table 1: Occupation Fee Model |
Sidewalk cafés | See Table 1: Occupation Fee Model |
Curb space cafés (streateries) |
$3,176/removed paid parking space or $300/removed non-paid parking space |
Non-decommissioned underground storage tanks | $767 per tank |
Permanent soldier piles | $1,011 per pile |
Structures, moorage, and overhangs in state waterways | $2.18 per square foot |
Active areaways | $0.70 per square foot |
Public Space Vending Permits
We encourage street-food and flower vending to increase public use, enjoyment, and safety of our public right-of-way. Street-food vending is a great way to encourage walking, add vitality to the street, and promote local economic development. Please visit our Vending Permits page for more information about these permit types.
Curb Space Vending
Vending from a food vehicle parked in a curb space is permitted under a site specific vending permit. These permits are valid for a one-year duration. The Occupation fee is an annual fee based on the number of 4-hour blocks of vending time per week and the type of parking space where the vending takes place.
Example: vending one day a week in a paid parking stall for 4-hours would have a $478 yearly Occupation fee. Vending two days a week in a paid parking stall for 4-hours each day would have a $956 yearly Occupation fee.
Description | |
Occupation fee, per 4-hour block of vending - paid parking stall | $478 |
Occupation fee, per 4-hour block of vending - non-paid parking stall | $104 |
Issuance Fee | $181 |
Hourly Review and Inspection Rate - invoiced | $278 |
Permit Duration | 1 year |
Stadium and Event Center, Sidewalk, and Plaza Vending (19C and 19E)
Description | |
Occupation fee | Rate calculated by square footage and location, see below |
Issuance fee | $181 |
Hourly Review and Inspection Rate - invoiced | $278 |
Permit Duration | 1 year |
The Occupation fee for stadium and event center, sidewalk and plaza vending permits are calculated by the square footage of the vending site and by the location of vending per the table below. You can look up the street type, Urban Center, and Urban Village designations on Streets Illustrated.
Stadium and Event Center, Sidewalk, and Plaza Vending Occupation Fees, per sq. foot
Street Type | Urban Center | Urban Village | Neither |
Arterial street | $1.40 | $1.35 | $.90 |
Non-arterial street | $1.20 | $1.15 | $.70 |
Temporary Vending (19I)
Temporary vending permits allow vending at a private or public event and fees are charged per day.
Description | |
Issuance fee | $181 |
Hourly Review and Inspection Rate - invoiced | $278 |
Permit Duration | Maximum 4 days in a 6-month period or 1-time per year in residential zones |
Mobile Vending (19J)
Mobile food vending includes selling pre-packaged food, beverages, or flowers from a mobile unit on a route and are issued for a one-year duration. This does not apply to food vehicles selling prepared food from a curb space.
Description | |
Issuance fee | $181 |
Hourly Review and Inspection Rate - invoiced | None |
Permit Duration | 1 year |
First Amendment Permits (19B/19K)
First Amendment permits include vending for eligible First Amendment merchandise or First Amendment expressive activity.
Description | Vending | Expressive Activity |
Issuance Fee | $0 | $0 |
Occupation Fee | $50/mo | $0 |
Hourly Review and Inspection Rate - invoiced | See below | See below |
Depending on the proposed First Amendment vending or expressive activity, permit applicants may be invoiced for review and inspection at an hourly rate.
How to Pay Your Permit Fees
Invoiced Fees
To pay an invoice, please mail a check to the address listed on your invoice.
Invoiced fees cannot be paid over the phone or at either the Street Use or Traffic permit counters. If your permit was issued through the Seattle Services Portal, invoiced fees can be paid online. Otherwise, please remit payment according to the instructions on the invoice.
Online Fee Payments
Please log into the Seattle Services Portal to make your payment.
In Person Payments
We are not accepting in person payments at this time.
Paying by Check
To pay by check:
Make the check out to City of Seattle, SDOT
In a memo on the check include: St Use, permit #, project address
Mail the check to:
SDOT, Street Use
PO Box 34996 Suite 2300
Seattle, WA 98124-4996