SDCI Customer Service Options

Most services are available online through our Virtual Applicant Services Center. For customers who need language assistance or technical assistance accessing the Virtual ASC, we have an SDCI information desk on the 4th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower. We offer limited access to our offices for scheduled public meetings.

Parking and Car Storage Rules

What Is It?

A white woman with thought bubbles that have parking signs and a car in a garage. We regulate where you can park cars on your property and how many cars can be stored on your property. The specific rules depend on your property’s land use zone.

What It Isn’t

We don’t regulate parking on public property; see the Seattle Department of Transportation for those parking regulations.

Rules to Follow

If you're a landlord, there are new parking rules for rental housing. See Rental Agreements.

Generally, in a neighborhood residential zone, you:

May park up to three cars outside on your property
May park in a driveway leading to a garage or parking space that is not in your front yard
Cannot park within 20 feet of your property's front yard boundary (lot line)
Cannot park in your side yard if it faces the street

In other land use zones, the location and number of parking spaces are set by your permit. Whether we allow parking at your site depends on the land use zone, the property’s history, and the codes that apply to your site.

Find your land use zone

Read the Code

Parking provisions for neighborhood residential zones are primarily in two sections of the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC):

Parking and Garages, SMC 23.44.016
Yards, SMC 23.44.014

Fines

We fine first-time violators $150. Our penalty for additional violations is $500. Parking violations outside of neighborhood residential zones may be subject to fines starting at $150 per day. We will also charge for inspections.