Policies & Director's Rules

Seattle Public Utilities' enterprises in water, wastewater, drainage, and solid waste are governed by ordinances codified under Title 21 and Title 22 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.

Changes to Utility Billing Rules

Due to the lifting of the City of Seattle’s COVID-19 emergency declaration that placed a moratorium on utility shutoffs, SPU is resuming utility collection activities and making temporary changes to certain rules on billing, payment, and collections.
View amendments as of July 1, 2023.

Utility accounts

FIN-160: Customer Account and Billing Management - Jan. 11, 2022 View amendments
CS-310: Customer Billing, Payments, and Collections – May 1, 2013
CS-310.1: Customer Billing, Payments, and Collections - Jan. 3, 2017 View amendments
CS-310.5: Sewer Maximum Recalculation - Aug. 15, 2012
CS-320: Billing Adjustments for Retail and Wholesale Customers – Jan. 11, 2022
CS-325: Leak Adjustment for Retail Customers - May 25, 2020
CS-327 Expansion Tank Billing Adjustment for Retail Customer – May 1, 2023
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 View amendments
CS-390: Dispute Escalation for Retail Customers - April 7, 2021
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 - July 1, 2021
DWW-200: Stormwater Manual, app. A-I - July 1, 2021
DWW-210: Public Drainage System Requirements - July 1, 2021
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 – Nov. 29, 2021
DWW-260.2: Stormwater Facility Credit Calculator - Nov. 29, 2021
DWW-285 University of Washington Stormwater Code Adjustment for Minimum Requirement #5 (On-Site Management) in San Juan Drainage Basin - June 30, 2021
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: Conditional Discharge of Contaminated Industrial Stormwater to the Sanitary Sewer - April 15, 2022
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-01-07: 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 - Curbside Recycling Rates-Special Items - Feb. 15, 2021
SW-404 : Ban on Disposal of Electronics and Batteries – Jan. 1, 2024 NEW
SW-405.2: Waste Diversion Report Submittal Process - June 1, 2017
SW-406: Temporary Container and Bag Placement and Removal at Curbs and Public Alleys - June 15, 2023
SW-450: Collection Disruptions Due to Unforeseen Conditions - March 22, 2023
SW-500: Requirements and Temporary Exceptions for Food Service Ware and Packaging Products - July 1, 2023
SW-620: Requirements for Qualified Construction and Demolition Receiving and Recycling Facilities - Feb. 1, 2022
SW-640: Construction and Demolition Disposal Ban Delay - July 15, 2022

Water

CS-105: Cross-Connection Control Program – May 18, 2006
WTR-110: Asset Management - Water - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-120: Environmental Stewardship - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-130: Security and Emergency Preparedness - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-140: Meeting Customer Expectations - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-220: Water Service Area - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-230: Regional Role and Partnerships for Water - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-240: Planning for Uncertainty in Water Supply and Demand - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-250: Water Supply Reliability - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-260: Water Resource Selection - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-310: Transmission System Redundancy - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-320: Access to Seattle Regional Water System - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-410: Distribution System Redundancy - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-435: New Water Services - November 16, 2015
WTR-436.1: Connection Charge - May 1, 2019
WTR-440: Requirements for Water Service - Apr. 1, 2024 UPDATED
WTR-450: Changes to Existing Water Services - June 23, 2021
WTR-460: Use of Hydrants by Others - Sept. 1, 2021
WTR-500: High Quality Drinking Water Provision - Dec. 13, 2006
WTR-610: Watershed Protection - Dec. 13, 2006
WCM-001: Wholesale Water Customer Metering & Billing Dispute - Jan. 1, 2006

Engineering & construction

ENG-430: Utility System Improvement Dispute Process - Jan. 25, 2021
ENG-450: Latecomer Agreements for Construction of Utility Improvements - March 15, 2022

Special charges, fees, and exemptions

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 – June 28, 2023. View amendments
FIN-220.2: Development Charges – Nov. 1, 2023 UPDATED
FIN-220.3: Water Quality Analysis Laboratory Charges - Jan. 1, 2023
FIN-220.4: Real Property Charges – January 1, 2024 UPDATED
FIN-220.5: Cedar River Watershed Education Center Charges - August 1, 2021
FIN-840: Property Encroachments – May 24, 2023

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)
CLN-250: Enforcement of Illegal Dumping Violation – Nov. 17, 2023 NEW

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