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
- Respond to pollution discharges into bodies of water
- Encourage water-dependent uses
- Provide for maximum public use and enjoyment of the shorelines
- Preserve, enhance, and increase views of and access to 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
- 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
Proposed Changes
We are proposing to amend the definition of "vessel" in the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) to address a Seattle Hearing Examiner's decision that ruled that an existing vessel with a broken engine is not a vessel. The environmental review (SEPA) decision for this proposed amendment was published on July 16, 2018. This decision was appealed on August 6, 2018 and the City won the motion for summary judgment on November 5, 2018 upholding our SEPA decision.
SDCI and the Department of Ecology (Ecology) conducted a joint public comment period on the proposed changes from April 1, 2019 to May 1, 2019. We held a joint public hearing on May 1, 2019.
SDCI and City Council staff are now reviewing the comments and will determine if any changes are needed.
Please see the SMP Vessel Definition Ordinance and the Vessel Definition Director's Report for additional information regarding this proposal. Contact Maggie Glowacki at (206) 386-4036 or margaret.glowacki@seattle.gov with questions regarding the proposal.