“The daily work of our planning, permitting and compliance teams protects and enhances Seattle’s built and natural environments, including our great neighborhoods, dynamic Center City, healthy industrial areas, and extensive shorelines.” - Diane Sugimura, Director diane.sugimura@seattle.gov (206) 233-3882 Visit Director's Corner

Department Mission
DPD's mission is to manage growth and development within Seattle in a way that enhances quality of life. We promote a safe and sustainable environment through comprehensive planning, good design, and compliance with development regulations and community standards.  For details, see Department Overview.

How DPD Addresses the Mayor's Priorities

• Get Seattle moving
  DPD planning staff are planning for the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.  DPD permitting and inspection staff are working closely with Sound Transit as construction continues on Seattle’s light rail system.
• Keep our neighborhoods safe
  DPD’s code analysts, reviewers and inspectors are dedicated to the construction of safe buildings; working with the community, DPD develops and administers code requirements for fire and life-safety, structural, seismic, barrier-free access and landslide prone areas.
• Create jobs and opportunity for all
  DPD continues to streamline its permitting system with improvements to its technology and process, and is leading an interdepartmental project to improve permitting systems city-wide.  Planning staff are developing proposals to improve the commercial section of the Land Use Code.  In 2008, staff approved over 35,000 permits, with a project value of $2.5 billion.
• Build strong families and healthy communities
  DPD code compliance staff enforce community standards for land use, rental housing, noise and vegetation; and administer tenant relocation assistance.  DPD planning staff are working on the future of our great neighborhoods with planning and revitalization initiatives for Center City, the Central Waterfront Plan, Northgate, University District, South Lake Union, Broadway, Pike-Pine and First Hill.