Permit Fees

Seattle Municipal Code requires an annual update of the hourly rates for street use fees. Updates are based on the change in the purchasing power of the dollar according to the Consumer Price Index.  
 
Other fees may be adjusted on an annual basis by vote of the Special Events Committee. Fee increases are limited to no more than 10% from one year to the next.

The Special Event Permit fee structure was created by Seattle Municipal Code 15.52.070 and is based on a fee-for-use model. This means event organizers pay fees for the space and services they use, regardless of the number of attendees.   

Application Fee: 

• Applies to all community, parade, commercial, and athletic events. 

• The application fee is due at the time the application is submitted. 

• This fee is non-refundable.

Administrative Fee:

• Applies to all community, parade, commercial, and athletic events. 

• The administrative fee consists of the fees associated with Street/Bridge Use, Waterway Use, Alcohol Areas, and Vendors as applicable to your event.

• For annual events taking place in materially the same time, place, and manner as the previous year, a 25% discount will be applied to the Street/Bridge Use fee.  

  • Seattle Municipal Code does not authorize any other discounts or fee waivers for Community, Parade, Commercial, or Athletic events.

Street Use Fee: 

Street segment fees are based on street classification as determined by Seattle Department of Transportation. Their street classifications can be found on the Street Type Map. A street segment is a portion of a street between two intersections, or one City block (for example Pine Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue).

• Based on the event footprint in public rights-of-way (excluding Parks and Seattle Center).

  • Measured by the type (e.g. principal arterial, access street) and number of streets occupied, intersected, and length of time closed to public/traffic and/or use of public waterways.

• The fee per hour is charged (rounded up to the nearest half-hour) based on the amount of time the street is planned to be closed or modified to traffic.

  • Hours between the time of 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM are not included in the count if the event is 30 hours or longer.

• A fee is charged for arterials that are intersected by the street closure.

  • If the closed street intersects a street with one type of arterial on one side and a different type of arterial on the other side, the lower-level arterial is utilized for the count.

  • If half of the intersected street is an arterial and the other half is an access street, it is not included in the count.

  • Street segments in the downtown core are considered principal arterials regardless of the actual street classification.

• Intersections are counted only if the closed or occupied streets will block a full arterial intersection.

  • An intersection is where two or more streets join.

  • The junction of an alley with a street is NOT considered an intersection.

  • A street is not intersected if it ends at the closed street (also known as a "T" intersection).

Commercial Vendor Fees:

• There is a fee per vendor for events providing or renting space to vendors selling or promoting products or services.

  • The fee applies only to vendors selling or promoting a commercial product or commercial service on City-owned property, including a street, sidewalk, or other right-of-way. 

  • Not assessed to commercial sales vendors operating on Parks property, Seattle Center property, or private property.

• The fee does not apply to vendors with non-sales-related or non-commercial-related actions, such as a non-profit or government agency that is providing information only.

Alcohol Sales Areas (Beer Gardens):

• There is a fee per alcohol (Beer Garden) service area.

• Special Event Permit fees DO NOT include any fees for the permits or licenses required by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB).

Waterway Use:  

• There is a flat fee charged to Special Events that use public waterways (such as Lake Union, Green Lake, Ship Canal, etc.) as part of the event.

• See the Fee Estimator tool

Police Department Fee:

• Applies only to commercial and athletic events.

• A fee is charged for any police officer on site providing traffic control services and/or safety/security services. 

• The fee is per hour per officer, with a 2-hour minimum per officer. 

• The number of hours per officer are rounded up to the nearest half-hour.  

The number of officers and amount of officer time required will be determined in advance by SPD and Special Events Committee in consultation with the event organizer. 

Other Fees:

Event organizers will continue to be required to pay related costs directly to City departments including, but not limited to: 

• Hourly staff/inspection fees

• Parks use fees

• Fire Department fees

• Late fees and change fees may also be assessed 

All Special Event Permit fees are invoiced prior to the event by the Special Events Office. The Special Event Permit cannot be issued until payment is received in full.

• Payment may be made by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) or check.

• Credit card payments should be made by calling the number indicated on the invoice. You should never email your credit card information.

• Checks can be mailed or hand-delivered to the Special Events Office.

Late Fees

If a Seattle Special Event application is received less than 60 days prior to the proposed event start date, late fees apply.

• The application fee is increased to $176.

• A late fee equal to 20% of the applicable administrative fee will be applied.

Refunds

Event organizers may apply for a refund to the Special Events Office within 30 days after the original event start date. 

Requests for refunds must be in writing and accompanied by documentation supporting the fee adjustment. Email requests are acceptable. Permit application fee is non-refundable.  

Event Cancellation

• If the permit has not been issued, the total administrative and police fees will be refunded at 100%. 

• If the permit was issued but the event is cancelled by the Special Events Committee for a reason outside of the event organizer's control, the total administrative and police fees will be refunded at 100%. 

• If the permit was issued but the event is cancelled by the event organizer at least 3 business days before the event start date, the administrative fee will be refunded at 50% and the police department fee will be refunded at 100%. 

• If the permit was issued but the event is cancelled by the event organizer during the 3 business days before the event start date, the administrative fee is non-refundable and the police department fee will be refunded at 90%.   

Police Department Fee Adjustment 

If the actual number of police officers and/or the number of police hours at the event are different from the invoice amounts, a fee adjustment can be made. 

• The Special Events Office will verify the actual number of officers and hours with official Seattle Police Department records. 

• If the actual number of officers or hours at the event is less, a refund will be issued for the fee amount overpaid at 100%. 

• If the actual number of officers or hours at the event is greater, an invoice will be issued for the fee amount underpaid at 100%.

Vendors

If the actual number of vendors at the event different from the invoice amounts, a fee adjustment can be made. 

• Any request for refund should be accompanied by a vendor list noting the changes to the previous list(s) submitted. Additional documentation may be requested. 

• If the actual number of vendors at the event is less, a refund will be issued for the fee amount overpaid at 100%. 

• If the actual number of vendors at the event is greater, an invoice will be issued for the fee amount underpaid at 100%.