Contact Us - Send Us a Question
SDCI staff can answer your general or specialized questions and advise you on your specific project needs through online one-on-one coaching.
Please note:
- If your application is already being reviewed, please contact your assigned reviewer directly. You can find your assigned reviewer by logging into the Seattle Services Portal.
- For some complex questions or review of your drawings or plans, you may need to apply for paid services such as a coaching appointment, land use pre-submittal conference, or construction pre-submittal conference.
For your convenience, we can provide you with the help you need in the following ways.
Fill out our help request form and an SDCI staff expert will email a response to you within 2 business days.
Live Chat
Answer some simple questions to tell us about your help needs, and we’ll connect you with the right SDCI staff expert to answer your question. SDCI staff are available to live chat with you during these hours:
Monday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Select the “Hi. Need help?” circle in the lower right of your screen to start your chat session.
Live Chat Tips:
- To be directed to a live person (instead of engaging with the Answer Bot), be sure to select “Chat with a staff expert” upon entering the chat.
- If you engage with the Article Bot to search help articles but don’t find the answers you need, select “Start Over,” then select “Chat with a staff expert” to be connected with a person who can help you.
- Wait times vary but may exceed 30 minutes. For shorter wait times, we recommend starting your chats between 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- If you'd like to have a live video conversation, you can request a Teams meeting while chatting with our staff.
- In case you get disconnected or don’t have time to wait after initiating a chat, don’t worry – any information you entered will automatically be saved as a ticket, and we will respond to you by email within 2 business days.
Information Desk
For customers who need language assistance or technical assistance accessing our online services, we have an SDCI information desk on the 4th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower.
Other Useful Resources
For some questions, you can find answers more quickly via our website. Before reaching out to us, we recommend that you review some of the pages listed below, which address commonly asked questions:
- Director's Rules, which are binding rules about land use, construction, housing, and other codes we administer
- Tips outlining typical standards for single-family development and other frequently asked questions
- How Do You Get a Permit?
- Seattle Services Portal Help Center
- Comment on a Project
You can also contact Seattle Public Utilities' Development Services Office at SPU_DSO@seattle.gov for questions about your public water, drainage, or wastewater project requirements or status.