A Street Improvement Permit is required for significant, permanent improvements in the street right-of-way such as paving a street, widening a street, or extending a public storm drain. For complex projects, there will be additional components of the project, such as street tree installation or curb cuts for driveways that will also be included in the Street Improvement Permit for the project; however, private utilities including service drains and side sewers do require separate permits, even when the connection of these systems to the public utility is shown on the street improvement plans.

Street Improvement Project Managers are available for coaching prior to submitting street improvement plans to help the applicant understand their street improvement requirements and design choices.  Coaching provides general information regarding requirements outlined in the preliminary assessment report and basic guidance over the counter.

When a project requires a Street Improvement Major Permit, the applicant submits a completed Street Improvement Permit Application, an initial deposit for the cost of the plan review and street improvement construction plans to Seattle Department of Transportation – Street Use Division.  Other items may also be required depending on the level of plans submitted.  The materials required for all submittals are listed on the Design Guidance Application Material Transmittal Form and the Formal Review Application Material and Mylar Transmittal Form.  Additional information may be required depending on the scope and type of infrastructure being installed.

The plans must meet the City of Seattle standards for formatting and drafting as well as content, and must meet the City of Seattle's design standards and specifications for public works projects. 

Design Guidance is available for applicants who would like specific information regarding design requirements for right of way infrastructure.  Design guidance occurs in a meeting setting with subject matter experts from various City departments and external agencies.  In order to submit a permit application for formal review the street improvement plans must be developed to 90% completeness.  Applicants who need assistance in developing their plans to the 90% level should apply for design guidance. 
Project that have non-standard elements or are working in an unimproved alley or an alley with a closed contour are required to obtain 60% SIP approval through design guidance.    

Additional information regarding design guidance can be found in CAM 2211.  Specific information regarding the 60% Complete SIP Plan can be found in CAM 2213 and the 60% Complete SIP Checklist.

Accurate surveys and base maps are essential for designing and constructing improvements in the right of way.  A separate survey and base map is required for all SIP plans submitted at the 30% level or above.  The survey and base map information must meet the requirements in the Survey Checklist and the Base Map Checklist.

The SIP Project Manager assigned to the project reviews the plans, circulates them for review to other departments of the City of Seattle and other pertinent agencies, and informs the applicant of any corrections or revisions required.  Refer to CAM 2214 for more information regarding the plan acceptance for formal review.

The applicant re-submits corrected plans and/ other requested information. The SIP Project Manager checks the revised plans to verify if all corrections have been made and whether the plan is ready for final approval.  Once all of the required corrections have been addressed the SIP Project Manager will send an approval notification that contains the required construction phase deposit amount and the surety bond amount.  Refer to CAM 2200 for more information regarding formal review correction cycle.

Once the SIP Project Manager notifies the applicant that the plans are ready to be approved, the applicant submits the final plan set for signatures. The final plans must meet City of Seattle standards.  These plans are signed by the SDOT Street Use SIP Supervisor and filed in the SPU Records Vault as a permanent record of improvements in the street right-of-way.

In addition to submitting the plans, the applicant must also submit the required construction phase deposit and surety bond. 

Refer to Chapter 5 for the SIP process associated with construction of street improvements.