Clearances are the minimum distances between elements in, under and above the street right-of-way. Clearance requirements are a key factor in how space within the right-of-way and on private property adjacent to the right-of-way can be used. Maintaining appropriate clear distances between certain elements in the right-of-way and on private property is necessary for a variety of reasons. Safety is a key consideration—for the traveling public, the property owner and for operations and maintenance crews who must access elements in the right-of-way for routine maintenance or repair. Appropriate clearances also enable the proper growth and development of trees and landscaping, and help protect and maintain both overhead and underground utilities.

This section describes required lateral and vertical clearances as well as special circumstances where additional clearance requirements may apply. The minimum clearances defined in this section are requirements. When minimum clearances can not be met due to site condition constraints, the City staff will work with the applicant to determine an acceptable solution. Deviations from the standard clearances in this section are considered on a case by case basis and are evaluated by SDOT, SPU and other departments as needed.

Standard Lateral Clearances

Standard Vertical Clearances

Trees : For more information about clearances and trees, including conditions for deviating from the standard clearance listed below due to site constraints; refer to Section 4.14.2 Clearances from Street Trees. Factors to consider for a deviation from the standard required clearances between street trees and utilities may include the depth and age of the pipeline, the possible use of root barriers, the nature of the plantings, fire code requirements, and other factors.

Standard Clearances from Trees

Railroad clearances: Certain requirements apply if a project is in the on, over, under, or in the vicinity of land or facilities owned and/or operated by railroad operators. There are three reference points for determining clearances: 1) the franchise agreement for a particular piece of railroad in the right-of-way; 2) state requirements; and 3) federal requirements. Whether state or federal (or both) requirements apply depends on the track classification and function.

Standard Clearances from Railroad Facilities

Other clearances pertaining to railroads shall conform to Clearance Rules and Regulations Governing Common Carrier Railroads prescribed by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Minimum clear distance above a railroad track shall be 23 feet.

If your project is on or adjacent to property owned by railroad operators, contact the operator for information about required clearances or additional permit requirements.

Bicycle parking clearances: In addition to the clearances defined in the table below, bicycle parking facilities must not encroach upon a minimum of 6 feet of clear sidewalk space. Narrow racks such as the inverted-U rack, must have a total minimum combined clearance of 6’ around the rack, measured from any point on the rack.

Standard Clearances from Bicycle Parking

Electrical utility clearance requirements: Applicants who are developing a new project must pay attention to the potential conflicts between existing electrical facilities in the public right-of-way and their new building during project planning, design, demolition and construction. The following criteria applies:

Minimum horizontal and vertical clearances between overhead power distribution and buildings or other structures: The Seattle City Light (SCL) Overhead Power Distribution requires a minimum horizontal and vertical clearance from buildings and structures. The purpose of this clearance is to keep the general public and workers without high voltage electrical expertise out of harms way. Clearances also provide adequate space for qualified electrical workers to operate safely and efficiently during construction and long term operations and maintenance activities. Additional clearances are required to allow for regular building maintenance such as window washing activities.

Zero lot line developments: Zero lot line developments often run into clearance problems with high voltage overhead and underground electrical facilities and wires. Land use setback requirements alone, for example when minimal front yard setbacks are allowed, are likely not adequate to account for required clearances from overhead electric utilities. Note that clearances are also required where electrical facilities are located in alleys. Thus proposed buildings may need to be located further back from property lines to accomplish required clearances. The attached drawing and information provide some additional general information.

Permit applicants must adhere to electric utility clearance requirements. Please contact Seattle City Light to arrange a meeting as early as possible in your design process. We recognize that each proposed development location, adjacent utilities, streetscape, and development request is unique. Even if poles and wires are not immediately adjacent to your property at this time, it is best to assume clearances are needed until you meet with Seattle City Light and verify otherwise. Additional and relocated infrastructure will be needed to serve the demand for growth.

Refer to Figure 4-23: Seattle City Light Utility Clearance.
Refer to Electrical Utility Clearances Notes.

Electrical facilities and driveways: If an existing power pole or underground vault is in the middle of the future driveway, the applicant will be required to pay SCL, in addition to providing SCL with sufficient lead time, to reconfigure or to relocate its electrical facilities to resolve the conflict(s).

Electrical service entry points: It is also beneficial, financially and schedule-wise, for the applicant to pay attention to the electrical service entry point for the new building relative to SCL's facilities in the public right-of-way. The farther the service entry point from SCL's facility, the more complicated, time consuming and costly the service installation will be.

Underground ordinance areas: Certain areas in the City have been designated as 'underground ordinance' areas. There is still a fair amount of overhead electrical distribution facility in some of the recently declared underground ordinance areas. Regardless of whether the existing electrical distribution system in the underground ordinance areas are overhead or underground, the electrical services to developments in these areas are required to go underground. Please contact other overhead utilities such as telephone and cable television companies for their undergrounding requirements in these areas.

Easements: Occasionally, if the available space, or the lack of available space, precludes SCL from serving the building(s) directly from its system in the public right-of-way, easement(s) from the property owner(s) or their neighbor(s) may be required for placing a local distribution system. This may include (but is not limited to) poles, anchors, wires, vaults, handholes, or conduits on site.

Further guidance and contact information: The Requirements for Electrical Service Connection Manual, which is currently being updated, will be available as a service installation guide for homeowners, developers.

SCL and DPD staff will work closely with you to accomplish appropriate clearances required for design, during construction and at final build-out. Communication and resolution of required clearances are critical to final design and construction approval of your proposal. Contact City Light Customer Engineering for more information regarding service requirements.

The applicant is advised to document the existing site conditions early in the design phase to identify any elements that may have a required clearance to help avoid possible costly site modifications during permitting.