The P-Patch Community Gardening Program is made up of community managed open spaces throughout Seattle where gardeners use small plots of land to grow organic food, flowers, and herbs. All P-Patch gardens are open to the public to enjoy and are utilized as communal spaces, restorative spaces, learning and idea incubators, and venues for community gatherings.
Notice of Proposed Director’s Rule: P-Patch Community Gardens Plot Fee Increase for 2025-2026
The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ (DON) P-Patch Community Gardening Program will raise plot fees for the *2025-2026 biennium. Seattle Municipal Code Section 3.35.060 authorizes the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to adjust base P-Patch plot fees every two years in response to 1) inflation approximately in proportion to the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) All Urban Consumers, and 2) program operational cost increases of up to 5%.
Plot fees include an application fee and a permit fee. For 2025-2026, the application fee will rise from $36.00 to $44.00 and the permit fee for 100 square feet of gardening space will increase from $17.00 to $21.00. The *2025-2026 increase is based on a cumulative CPI increase of 21.2% for the two most recent years for which data is available (2023-2024). With inflation rates continuing to be exceptionally high over the past few years impacting the economic health of thousands of Seattle households, DON has elected to not apply an operational cost adjustment for the 2023-2024 biennium. The P-Patch Program also remains committed to providing plot fee assistance to all gardeners in need.
Written comments regarding the content of the draft Director’s Rule may be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on January 9, 2026, to Kenya Fredie at Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, P.O. Box 94649, Seattle WA 98124, or by email to kenya.fredie@seattle.gov.
*DON did not implement the adjustment for 2025 fee increases in the Director’s Rule 2-2025; the fee only applies to 2026. The next P-Patch Fee Increases will occur in 2027-2028.
