Street and Sidewalk Activities

Street and Sidewalk Activity Permits allow for-profit and not-for-profit businesses; schools and religious institutions; government departments; arts, health, and human services organizations; business organizations; and other local community groups to use public space to enliven our streets, alleys, and plazas and strengthen our sense of community. During the recent pandemic, these permits were focused primarily on supporting our struggling restaurant and retail businesses by providing extra space for them to serve customers. As we return to a new normal, these permits will once again broaden to include activities of many types.

What we’re proposing for 2023

Street and Sidewalk Activities Permits allow for a variety of street activations that include sidewalk, curbspace, or use of the full street for both short term events and longer-term public space enhancements. There are a few key changes we’re making to this permit type to provide more opportunities for events and right-of-way activation based on what we’ve learned during the pandemic.

While pre-pandemic this permit type was generally used for short-term events, we plan to allow new types of permit durations including seasonal and full-year permits. We will continue to allow both private and public short-term events as we had pre-pandemic and now allow public seasonal and full-year permits, which will now only have a nominal fee.

What you need to know

Key Permit Details

Updated detailed permit requirements will be available on our permit webpages prior to the conclusion of the temporary Safe Start Program. Provided below are some key details from our current proposal.

• Maximum participation at any permitted Street and Sidewalk Event may not exceed 300 persons at any one time (larger events may still be allowed in the right-of-way by the city’s Special Events Office)
• Full street closures under a Street and Sidewalk Activity Permit are typically limited to a single block, multiple blocks will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Closures on arterial streets or streets with bus or emergency vehicles routes will be considered, but approvals will be case-by-case following consultation with the appropriate departments
• Structures in seasonal or full-year closures must use durable materials designed to withstand regular use in changing weather conditions. We will also have transparency requirements for visibility into the space
• We will allow private and public Street and Sidewalk Activities, although private uses are limited to short-term events
• Individual businesses with private outdoor dining or displays will need stand-alone permits even when located within a seasonal or full-year permitted area.

Application Timeline and Requirements

Applicants interested in obtaining a Street and Sidewalk Activities permit for any period following the end of our temporary Safe Start Program must submit a new application. We will provide further direction on our website in the upcoming months.

Public Comment Period

Public notice requirements vary due to the breadth of activities permitted under the Street and Sidewalk Activity permit. For seasonal, full-year, and recurring events, we will have traditional 2-week public comment periods. For short-term events, the 2-week public comment period is not required. All applicants will need to work with nearby residents and businesses to inform them of their application before the event, as required per standard Street Use procedures under CAM 2117.

Program Costs and Permit Fees

Street and Sidewalk Activity events typically require a partial or full closure of a portion of public right-of-way, benefitting event planners and participants while temporarily inconveniencing those who wish to travel through the space unimpeded, including those who wish to reach local businesses or residences. For this reason, our fee structure differentiates between private and public event applications, using the following definitions:

• A private closure is for invited guests, customers, or select intended audience only
• A public closure is open to the public.

Note:Year-Round and Seasonal Street Closures permits are required in addition to the individual permits required of businesses with year-long or seasonal outdoor café and merchandise displays sited within the closure area. Those individual café and display permits incur their own separate fees as noted above.

Fees for an approved street or sidewalk activity permit are delineated by permit type below.

Street & Sidewalk Activities – Year-Round (24/7) – Available only if open to the public

• Issuance fee
  • $200 for public closures
  • Hourly-rate review fees for secondary review by SDOT and other departmental subject matter experts may be charged when required (Current 2022 hourly rate is $305)

Street & Sidewalk Activities – Seasonal – Available only if open to the public

• Issuance fee
  • $75
  • Hourly-rate review fees for secondary review by SDOT and other departmental subject matter experts may be charged when required (Current 2022 hourly rate is $305)

Street & Sidewalk Activities – Temporary/Recurring Private Events

• Issuance fee
  • $910 for all private closures
  • Hourly-rate review fees for secondary review by SDOT and other departmental subject matter experts may be charged when required (Current 2022 hourly rate is $305)
• Recurrence fee (on same permit)
  • $150 for all private closures

Street & Sidewalk Activities – Temporary/Recurring Public Events

• Issuance fee
  • $75
  • Hourly-rate review fees for secondary review by SDOT and other departmental subject matter experts may be charged when required (Current 2022 hourly rate is $305)

We are currently accepting feedback on the draft of our proposed Director's Rule which you can find on our Director's Rules and Ordinances page. If you would like to provide feedback please email us at publicspace@seattle.gov by Monday, August 15, 2022.