Street Use Online Permitting

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Introduction

Welcome to the Seattle Department of Transportation Online Permitting Site. This site is a secure, web-based system that allows customers to apply for, check the status of and pay for certain types of Street Use Right-of-Way Permits. The applications submitted through this site are processed by the Street Use section. For more information about Street Use and Street Use Right-of-Way permits, click here.

Street Use Right-of-Way permits are required for various situations in which there is use, occupation and/or construction in Seattle's rights-of-way. There are over 60 types of these permits. Most permits require fees to be paid in advance of issuance. If you have never applied for a Street Use Right-of-Way Permit before and are new to the permitting process, please visit the Street Use office at the 23rd floor of 700 5th Avenue for more information. To review the current fee schedule for Street Use Right-of-Way Permits, please click here.

Note: New required form - If your proposed project includes construction of a permanent structure in the public right-of-way for your own personal or for private use, you will be required to sign an acknowledgement confirming that you understand that your permit application may not be approved. Use this link to review the form. Examples of this type of encroachment include, but are not limited to these types of projects: walls; decks/patios; rockeries and fences.

If you are ready to apply for a permit now, click here.


What can you do within the Online Permitting site?

Apply for Street Use Right-of-Way Permit - Submit an application online for certain types of permits (not including Major Use permits, such as excavations deeper than four feet and permanent street grading - please visit Street Use in person to apply for these). Please refer to the detailed application process.
Be sure to select the appropriate permit type-Renewing St. Use (signs, table & chairs, long term private encroachments) or Simple St. Use (construction or utility work, gardening activity, short term uses of right-of-way).

Pay for Street Use Right-of-Way Permit - After your application has been approved you can pay for your permit online using your Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card.

Receive your Street Use Right-of-Way Permit - After you've completed payment of your permit, you can print the permit online.

Check permit status - At any point after submission of your application, you can check the status of the permit. In addition to permit applications that were submitted online, applications that were previously submitted in person at Street Use can also be reviewed online to check their status (you must have an online account setup to do so).

The diagram below illustrates the basic online permit application process. Additional steps may be needed, depending on each individual situation:

If you would like to renew/extend an existing permit - you must contact Street Use at the Permitting Counter or send the details of your renewal/extension request to SDOTPermits@seattle.gov including the following:

• Permit number
• Duration
• Square footage
• Indicate if the space has been vacated for 10 or more days (this will need to be verified by an SDOT Street Use inspector)

You will be contacted by email when your renewal/extension information has been received and fees are ready to be paid.

Please note: the renewal/extension is not valid, and work is not to begin, until you have been notified by SDOT that you have a valid permit and it has been paid for.