2027 Street Use Fee Updates: What Changes and When
If you apply for or hold Street Use permits, two changes are expected in January 2027. The changes are part of the City’s 2027 budget process, which will end in November when the City Council passes budget legislation. We want to provide early notice of anticipated changes, and we’ll update this page after the budget is adopted.
This page explains what is changing, who it affects, and what you can do now to prepare. Street Use manages permits for work and activities in the public right-of-way. The right-of-way includes streets, sidewalks, alleys, and other public spaces that we manage.
Key Changes and Dates
- January 1, 2027: New 2027 rates apply to permit issuance fees, renewal fees, and hourly review and inspection rates.
- January 4, 2027: You will pay all or part of the base permit fee when you submit your application for certain permit types.
What is Changing and When
New Fee Amounts
Our 2027 rates will apply to all applications and services we receive on or after January 1, 2027. These changes include:
- Permit issuance fees will increase by 30 percent.
- Permit renewal fees will increase by 30 percent.
- Hourly review and inspection rates will increase by 5 percent.
Here are some common fees and how they will change.
| Fee type | 2026 amount | 2027 amount |
|---|---|---|
| Right-of-Way Simple Issuance | $214 | $278 |
| Right-of-Way Complex Issuance | $774 | $1,007 |
| Street Improvement Permit and Utility Major Permit Issuance | $9,149 | $11,904 |
| Street Improvement Permit Lite Issuance | $3,501 | $4,555 |
| Council Term and General Long-Term Issuance | $437 | $569 |
| General Long-Term Renewal | $332 | $432 |
| Year-round Business Activation (for example, sidewalk cafes) | $1,351 + $222 for each additional space | $1,758 + $289 for each additional space |
| Year-round site-specific vending (for example, food trucks and carts) | $1,052 | $1,369 |
| Street Vacation Processing | $12,227 | $15,909 |
| Standard Permit Modification | $308 | $401 |
| Hourly Review and Inspection | $367 | $385 |
| Overtime Hourly Review and Inspection | $737 | $774 |
A simple permit needs less review, such as a permit for a dumpster or storage container. A complex permit needs more technical review, such as a permit for a utility trench, tower crane, or construction staging.
You can find every 2027 fee in our Proposed 2027 Street Use Fee Schedule.
Base Permit Fee Due at Application
The base permit fee is the fee we charge to issue your permit. Today, you pay it when we issue your permit.
Starting January 4, 2027, you will pay all or part of the base permit fee when you submit your application for certain permit types. You will pay any remaining balance when we issue your permit. This change only applies to applications you submit on or after January 4, 2027.
Permit Types with Up-front Base Permit Fees
The amount you pay when you apply depends on your permit type.
Full Base Permit Fee When You Apply
You will pay the entire base permit fee when you submit your application for these permits:
- Annual Vehicle permits
- Right-of-Way Maintenance permits
- Right-of-Way Construction permits
- Heavy Crane permits
- Minor Utility permits
Partial Base Permit Fee When You Apply
You will pay 30 percent of the base permit fee when you submit your application for these permits. You will pay the rest when we issue your permit.
- Utility Major permits
- Shoreline Street End permits
- Council Term permits
- Street Vacation permits
For example, the 2027 base permit fee for a Utility Major permit is $11,904. You would pay about $3,571 when you apply and the remaining balance when your permit is issued.
Set Dollar Amount When You Apply
For both Street Improvement Permit (SIP) and SIP Lite, you will pay $1,500 when you apply. You will pay the remaining balance when we issue your permit.
Amendments
Regardless of the permit type, you will pay the full modification fee when you submit an amendment. The standard modification fee in 2027 is $401.
How This May Affect You
If You Plan Construction, Utility, or Development Work
You will likely see both changes. Your permit fees and review and inspection costs will go up on January 1. Starting January 4, you will need funds ready to pay your base permit fee when you apply. This may shift when costs show up in your project budget.
If You Hold a Long-Term Permit
Your renewal fee will increase on January 1. If you apply for a new Shoreline Street End or Council Term permit on or after January 4, you will pay 30 percent of the base permit fee when you apply.
If You Are a Resident or Community Group
Many permits that residents use have no base permit fee. These include:
- Block party and play street permits
- Gardening and planting permits in the right-of-way
- Street tree permits for planting, pruning, or removal
- Small sidewalk or driveway repairs under 100 square feet
If You Have a Vending, Seasonal Business, or Temporary Activation Permit
These permits will not require an up-front base permit fee. However, their 2027 issuance and renewal fees will increase on January 1.
What You Can Do Now
- Review your 2027 project schedule and list the permits you will need.
- Update your bids, budgets, and pro formas with the 2027 fee amounts.
- Plan to pay the base permit fee up front for applications you submit on or after January 4.
- Consider submitting time-sensitive applications before the new dates take effect.
- Share this information with the people who handle your permits, projects, and payments.
Share Your Feedback on the Base Permit Fee Payment Change
We want to hear from you.
Tell us what you think about paying the base permit fee when you apply. Your responses will help us establish a benchmark and make better decisions as we consider future adjustments to this process.
Why We Are Updating Fees
Our permit fees and hourly rates pay for the direct and indirect costs of permitting in a city as dynamic as Seattle. This includes staff time spent reviewing plans, conducting site inspections, and processing applications. It also covers indirect costs like permitting systems, office space and administrative support. These are the behind-the-scenes things that keep Street Use running smoothly. All of this combined helps keep our streets and sidewalks safe and open for everyone during construction and other activities.
Right now, our fees do not cover what it costs to provide these services. When fees fall short, it requires cuts or using other funding to fill the gaps.
We have several improvement efforts under way that will help us recover more of our costs. These efforts help keep fee and rate increases as low as possible. Collecting the base permit fee when you apply also supports careful permit preparation and helps us recover costs more reliably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which rates apply to my application?
We will apply 2027 rates to all applications and services we receive on or after January 1, 2027.
When do I start paying the base permit fee up front?
The up-front payment applies to applications you submit on or after January 4, 2027, for the permit types listed on this page.
Do I still pay anything when my permit is issued?
Yes, if you paid only part of the fee up front. You will pay any remaining balance when we issue your permit.
For permits where you pay the full base permit fee up front, there will be no delay between us completing our review and issuing your permit. This will help you get started working faster.
Additionally, some permits also have hourly review fees, which are invoiced monthly. Most permits also have inspections after issuance, which will also be invoiced.
Do all permits require an up-front fee?
No. Vending, seasonal business, temporary activation, block party, gardening, and tree permits do not require an up-front base permit fee.