Shoreline Master Program

See also: Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA) Code, Floating Residences, Land Use Code, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Code

What Is It?

The Shoreline Master Program (23.60A) regulates development in the city’s shoreline environments to:

• Protect shoreline ecosystems
• Encourage water-dependent uses
• Provide for public access and enjoyment of the shorelines
• Preserve, and enhance, views of the water

Our ordinance requires that you:

• Obtain a shoreline substantial development permit, or a shoreline exemption, for any development in the Shoreline District
• Obtain a master use permit for any use or change of use in the Shoreline District
• Use best management practices in the shoreline to minimize and mitigate impacts on the aquatic environment
• Obtain and display a City-issued identification number for a floating residence (learn about the Floating Residence verification and registration process)
  • Tip 209, Application Requirements for Shoreline Permits
  • Tip 209A, Shoreline Substantial Development Exemptions Application Instructions
  • Tip 229, Residential Use of a Floating Home, House Barge, Floating On-Water Residence, or Vessel With a Dwelling Unit
  • Tip 229A, Shoreline Permitting Requirements for Floating on Water Residences (FOWR) and House Barges
  • Tip 250, Best Management Practices in Seattle's Shoreline District

Other Resources

For emergency spill response, contact Department of Ecology’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-OILS-911. 

For pollution discharges into lakes, creeks, and public storm drains, contact Seattle Public Utilities or call the Surface Water Pollution Report Line at (206) 684-7587.

To find out if the spill is also a shoreline violation, call (206) 615-0808.

What It Isn’t

This ordinance does not cover:

• Navigation hazards; call Seattle Harbor Patrol at (206) 684-4071
• Regulations of the City of Shoreline, Washington

Read the Code

• Seattle Municipal Code 23.60A

• Tip 229, Residential Use of a Floating Home, House Barge or Vessel
• Tip 229A, Shoreline Permitting Requirements for Floating on Water Residences (FOWR) and House Barges
• Tip 232, How to Appeal the Granting, Conditioning or Denial of Shoreline Permits
• Tip 250, Best Management Practices in Seattle's Shoreline District
• Director's Rule 7-2007, Determination of Shoreline Residential Setbacks in the Shoreline District
• Director's Rule 34-2006, Pedestrian Bridges in the Conservancy Waterway Shoreline Environment
• Director's Rule 9-2003, Exemption from Shoreline Program Permit Requirements
• Director's Rule 16-99, Nonconforming Floating Homes beyond the Lake Union Construction Limit Line
• Director's Rule 17-99, Verification of Shoreline District Boundary Line
• Director's Rule 22-96, New Dolphins Not Requiring Use or Building Permits
• Director's Rule 38-96, Exemptions from Shoreline Substantial Development Permits for Contract Purchasers
• Director's Rule 20-88, Property Located Partly within and Partly out of the Shoreline District

Recent Changes

We published a new Director's Rule (DR 9-2020), Verification of floating on-water residences, on July 30, 2020. The purpose of the Director's Rule is to clarify the application material required for verification of floating on-water residences and to establish an end date of September 30, 2020 for verification of any new floating on-water residences.

If you own a floating on-water residence that has not been verified, please fill out this Floating On-Water Residence Verification Form and follow the instructions in DR 9-2020 and Tip 229, Residential Use of a Floating Home, House Barge or Vessel.

We took public comments on the proposed new Director's Rule from June 22 through July 14, 2020. Notice of the proposed new Director's Rule was published in Seattle Services Portal on June 22, 2020. We responded by e-mail to those who provided comments. 

For questions regarding the verification of floating on-water residences please contact Megan Mueller at Megan.Mueller@seattle.gov.