DPD Codes
Staff at DPD develop and administer codes that regulate construction activity and govern the use of land in Seattle.
On this page:
- General code-related documents
- Community standards-related codes
- Technical codes
- Land use-related codes
- Environmental protection codes
- Trade licensing regulations
DPD does not administer all the codes listed here, but they are available through DPD's Public Resource Center.
General Code-Related Documents
- DPD Director's Rules – Interpretations and clarifications of the codes and ordinances DPD administers
- Fee Subtitle – Commonly called the "Fee Code" or "Fee Ordinance"
Community Standards-Related Codes (listed alphabetically)
- Condominium Conversion Ordinance (SMC 22.903) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Cooperative Conversion Ordinance (SMC 22.902) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Housing and Building Maintenance Code (SMC 22.200-22.208)
- Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks Ordinance (SMC 22.904) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance (SMC 22.210) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Weeds and Vegetation Ordinance (SMC 10.52) – Link to City Clerk's website
- View Ordinance 122396 for updates
- See also DPD's Tree & Landscaping Regulations website
Technical Codes (listed alphabetically)
The following list includes the technical codes administered by DPD. Links to electronic versions, where available, are included. To obtain printed versions from our Public Resource Center, see our Pricelist.
- Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (2005)
- Building & Residential Codes
- 2006 SBC
- 2006 SRC
- 2003 SBC
- 2003 SRC
- DPD Code Interpretations - Electrical Code (2008) Takes Effect June 6, 2009
- 2008 Seattle Electrical Code Quick Reference
- 2008 Seattle Electrical Code Replacement Pages
- CAM 317
- CAM 339 - Electrical Code (2005)
- 2005 Seattle Electrical Code Quick Reference
- NFPA requires that you have an account to read the NEC online. If you are not an NFPA member, after following the 2005 NEC link click on the "all other visitors" button and follow the prompts for visitors to set up a password. - Elevator Regulations – Seattle's elevator regulations are excerpted from the Seattle Building Code, including:
- 2006 Seattle’s Chapter 30 (free download) plus Section 403, Chapter 8, Section 909 including Section 909.21 of the Seattle Building Code (read-only)
- 2003 Seattle's Chapter 30 (free download) plus Section 403, Chapter 8, and Sections 909.1-909.3 and 909.22 of the Seattle Building Code (read-only) - Energy Code (2006)
- Existing Building Code
- Fire Code – Enforced by the Seattle Fire Department.
- 2006 SFC
- 2003 SFC - Floodplain Development Ordinance (SMC 25.06)
- Fuel Gas Code
- View the 2006 SFGC
- View the 2003 SFGC - Mechanical Code
- View the 2006 SMC
- View the 2003 SMC - Plumbing Code (2006 Uniform Plumbing Code) – Effective in Seattle; enforced by Seattle-King County Public Health.
- Refrigeration Regulations – Seattle’s Refrigeration Licensing Law and Seattle’s refrigeration regulations are excerpted from the Seattle Mechanical Code,including:
- 2006 Seattle Mechanical Code (read only) Chapter 11 (regulation of refrigeration equipment).Chapter 1 (administrative provisions) and Chapter 2 (definitions).
- 2003 Seattle Mechanical Code (read only). Chapter 11 (regulation of refrigeration equipment, Chapter 1 (administrative provisions), and Chapter 2 (definitions). - Residential Code
- 2006 SRC
- 2003 SRC
- DPD Code Interpretations - Side Sewer Regulations
- Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (VIAQ) – Link to Washington State Building Code Council website.
Land Use-Related Codes (listed alphabetically)
- Comprehensive Plan – Toward a Sustainable Seattle, a 20-year policy plan outlining the goals and policies the City will use to guide future decisions about how much growth Seattle should take and where it should be located.
- Design Review (Seattle Land Use Code Ch. 23.41) – Link to the City Clerk’s website
- Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA) Ordinance (SMC 25.09; updated 2006) – Link to ordinance on City Clerk's website
- Floodplain Development Ordinance (SMC 25.06) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Historic Preservation (SMC 25.12-25.32) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Seattle Land Use Code (SMC Title 23) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Shoreline Master Program (Seattle Land Use Code Ch. 23.60) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Sign Code (Seattle Land Use Code Ch. 23.55) – Link to City Clerk's website
"Seattle's Sign Regulations," a handbook consolidating code and procedural regulations for sign installation in Seattle, was updated in April 2005. Download pages 1-75, 83-115; view pages 76-82, Article 600 of the National Electrical Code (read-only) - State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA; SMC 25.05) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Street Use Code (SMC Title 15) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Subdivisions (Seattle Land Use Code Ch. 23.22) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Tree Protection Ordinance (SMC 25.11) – Link to City Clerk's website
- See also DPD's Tree & Landscaping Regulations website - Zoning – see Land Use Code (SMC Title 23)
Environmental Protection Codes (listed alphabetically)
- Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA) Ordinance (SMC 25.09; updated 2006) – Link to ordinance on City Clerk's website
- Noise Ordinance (SMC Ch. 25.08) – Link to DPD's Noise Abatement Program website.
- Shoreline Master Program (Seattle Land Use Code Ch. 23.60) – Link to City Clerk's website
- State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA; SMC 25.05) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Control Code (SMC 22.800-22.808)
The following Director's Rules implement the Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Control Code:
- DR 16-2000, Volume 2, Construction Stormwater Control Technical Requirements Manual
- DR 17-2000, Volume 1, Source Control Technical Requirements Manual
- DR 26-2000, Volume 3, Flow Control Technical Requirements Manual
- DR 27-2000, Volume 4, Stormwater Treatment Technical Requirements Manual - Tree Protection
- Tree Protection Ordinance (SMC 25.11) – Link to City Clerk's website
- Trees and Vegetation (SMC 25.09.320; part of the ECA Ordinance) – Link to City Clerk's website
- See also DPD's Tree & Landscaping Regulations website
Trade Licensing Regulations (listed alphabetically)
- Gas Piping Installers Licensing Law (SMC 6.430)
- Refrigeration Licensing Law (SMC 6.410)
- Steam Engineer and Boiler Firemen Licensing Law (SMC 6.420)