Policies & Director's Rules

Seattle Public Utilities' enterprises in water, wastewater, drainage, and solid waste are governed by ordinances codified under Title 21 of the Seattle Municipal Code. The General Manager/CEO further adopts policies and rules, also called "Director's Rules," that affect how we conduct business and provide services to customers and the public.

Utility accounts

  • FIN-160: Customer Account and Billing Management - October 31, 2019
  • CS-104: Customer Billing and Service Disputes Within the Customer Service Branch - Retail - November 1, 2005
  • CS-310: Customer Billing, Payments, and Collections – May 1, 2013
  • CS-310.1: Customer Billing, Payments, and Collections - Jan. 3, 2017
  • CS-310.5: Sewer Maximum Recalculation - Aug. 15, 2012
  • CS-320: Billing Adjustments for Retail and Wholesale Customers (Procedure) – October 15, 2020
  • CS-325: Leak Adjustment for Retail Customers - May 25, 2020
  • CS-330: Refund for Retail and Wholesale Customers (Procedure) – October 15, 2020
  • CS-340: Waivers for Retail Customers (Procedure) – February 1, 2020
  • CS-360: Pay Plans and Payment Arrangements for Retail Customers - March 20, 2020
  • CS-700: Utility Discounts- June 1, 2017

Drainage and wastewater

  • DWW-160: Restrictions on Use of Easements in Lieu of Drainage and Wastewater Main Extensions - October 30, 2020
  • DR-2011-004: Requirements for Design and Construction of Side Sewers (Drainage and Wastewater Discharges) - Apr. 8, 2011
  • DR-2011-005: Side Sewer Code Enforcement - Apr. 8, 2011
  • DWW-200: Stormwater Manual, vol. 1-5 - Aug. 31, 2017
  • DWW-202.7: Project Thresholds and Right-of-Way Related Utility Work - Aug. 26, 2015
  • DWW-205: Ditch Replacement - July 27, 2016
  • DWW-240: Surfacing Groundwater Management within the City Right of Way – July 1, 2016
  • DWW-260: Stormwater Facility Credit Program – August 8, 2016
  • DWW-260.2: Stormwater Facility Credit Calculator - Jan. 1, 2017
  • DWW-340.1: Condition Assessment Requests for the First Connection – June 1, 2016
  • DWW-350: Approved Location of Side Sewers Serving Private Property - Mar. 10, 2014
  • DWW-351: Sewer-Backup Prevention—Backwater Valves - June 15, 2018
  • DWW-352 - Inflow and Infiltration Mitigation Thresholds for CIPs in Separated Sewer Areas - July 23, 2018
  • DWW-370.1: Conditional Discharge of Contaminated Industrial Stormwater to the Sanitary Sewer - July 1, 2016
  • DWW-380: Groundwater Discharges to the Municipal Sewerage System — Billing - Oct. 8, 2014
  • DWW-420.1: Yesler Terrace Allowable Stormwater, Groundwater, and Sewer Release Rates to the Combined Sewer System and Infiltration Zones - Feb. 4, 2015
  • DWW-430.1: Flow Control Requirements for Projects in Identified Public Combined Sewer Basins - Jan. 1, 2017 

Solid waste

  • DR-01-03: Cathode Ray Tubes - Mar. 17, 2003
  • DR-01-07: What Constitutes Beneficial Use for Construction and Demolition Waste Hauling - Nov. 1, 2007
  • SW-402.1: Prohibition of Recyclables in Garbage - July 1, 2017
  • SW-403.1 - Curbside Electronics Recycling Rates - April 1, 2019
  • SW-405.2: Waste Diversion Report Submittal Process - June 1, 2017 
  • SW-406.1: Temporary Container and Bag Placement and Removal at Curbs and Public Alleys - May 1, 2014
  • SW-500: Temporary Exceptions to Food Service Ware and Packaging Products (Director's Rule) - July 1, 2020
  • SW-620: Requirements for Qualified Construction and Demolition Receiving and Recycling Facilities (Director's Rule) - July 1, 2020
  • SW-640: Construction and Demolition Disposal Ban Delay (Director's Rule) - July 1, 2020  

Water

  • CS-105: Cross-Connection Control Program – May 18, 2006
  • WTR-440: Requirements for Water Service - Jan. 1, 2021
  • WTR-435: New Water Services - November 16, 2015
  • WTR-436.1: Connection Charge - May 1, 2019
  • WTR-460.1: Use of Hydrants by Others - August 22, 2015
  • WCM-001: Wholesale Water Customer Metering & Billing Dispute - Jan. 1, 2006

Engineering & construction

  • ENG-430.1: Utility System Improvement Dispute Process - May 15, 2020
  • ENG-450.1: Latecomer Agreements for Construction of Utility Improvements - Oct 8, 2014

Special charges, fees, and exemptions

  • DR-02-03: Connection Charge - May 20, 2004
  • FIN-211.1: Qualifying Streets for Drainage Fee Exemption - Jan. 1, 2017
  • FIN-211.2: Qualifying Riparian Corridors for Drainage Service Charge Exemption - Jan. 1, 2017
  • FIN-211.3: Qualifying Wetlands for Drainage Service Charge Exemption - Jan. 1, 2017
  • FIN-220.1: Customer Charges – Oct. 1, 2018
  • FIN-220.2: Development Charges – Jan. 1, 2019
  • FIN-220.3: Water Quality Analysis Laboratory Charges - Jan. 1, 2021
  • FIN-220.4: Real Property Charges – Jan. 1, 2019

Other rules and policies

  • FFM-510, FFM-510.1: Incidental Use of Real Property - Dec. 5, 2012
  • FFM-520.1: Open Space - Dec. 28, 2006
  • MDAR-17-01: Operating Hours for City Properties; Unauthorized Camping on City Properties; Enforcement Procedures; and Removal of Unauthorized Property (multidepartment) - Apr. 3, 2017
  • CAM: Client Assistance Memos (CAMs)

Related

Other city director's rules can be viewed at:
Seattle City Light
Department of Construction and Inspections
Department of Transportation
Department of Finance and Administrative Services