Street Use Permitting Timelines and Updates

How to Estimate Permit Timelines for Street Use Permits

You can find more information on the following topics in the Understanding the Street Use Permit Process, Record Status, Target Dates, and Permit Timelines help article.

As of July 7, 2023, our review times are currently:

^{*Single Reviews: When the review does not require an outside review (e.g., Traffic Control Plan, Hub Coordination etc.) or an additional Street Use or department permit (e.g., Public Space Management, SDCI).

*Full Reviews: When the review requires an outside review (e.g., Traffic Control Plan, Hub Coordination etc.) or an additional Street Use or department permit (e.g., Public Space Management, SDCI).}

*TCP (Traffic Control Plans) are at 15 Days

For All Permit Types

Application Intake: 3 business days

Street Improvement Permit Timelines (including application time)

Initial Full review: 7 weeks
Corrections review: 5 weeks

Utility Major Permit Timelines (including application time)

Initial Full review: 6 weeks
Corrections review: 4 weeks

PSM Permit Timelines (including application time)

Initial Full review: 12 weeks
Simple review: 2 week
First review for business permits (cafes, displays, vending, events): 8 weeks

ROW Construction and Minor Utility Permits

Initial Full Review: 11 weeks
Single Review: 5 weeks
Extensions: 2 week

ROW Maintenance Permits

Single Review: 1 week

Side Sewer Permits

Single Review: 11 weeks
Full Review: 5 weeks
Extensions: 2 week

These are average timelines. Owing to an increase in permit applications combined with reduced capacity, our timelines are higher than normal.

NOTE: If a ROW Management Design Guidance meeting is required or correction cycles are necessary, additional time will be added to the timelines above.

How to Get Help

Request a virtual technical coaching appointment with a Street Use reviewer:

Available between 10:30am-noon and 1-3pm daily
To request a virtual coaching appointment, email SDOTPermits@seattle.gov or call (206) 684-5253
- For email requests, include your name, email address, permit number, and questions so the reviewer can prepare in advance

Information on how to apply for a permit:

Visit the permit type website on our Permits Page
Visit our how to apply for a permit help articles for step by step instructions

Email dot_su_ssportal_questions@seattle.gov for:

General Seattle Service Portal navigation
Understanding your converted permits
Contact cleanup or fix needs
How to access invoices, respond to corrections, satisfy a condition, how to give access to your permit etc.

Email SeattleServices_ITHelp@Seattle.gov for:

Seattle Services Portal account issues

Email dot_permits@seattle.gov for:

General inquiries and coaching
Application changes for unassigned records
Contact changes for permits in process

Email the assigned reviewer for:

Corrections required response clarifications
Permit status inquiries outside the permit timelines posted above
Changes to already submitted applications when the task is assigned

Email the assigned inspector for:

Job start changes after the Initial Inspection has passed
Inspection questions including notification, inspection results etc.
Schedule an on-site meeting

Street Use 101 & Q&A Sessions

To support our Accela launch, Street Use is holding quarterly Street Use 101 and Q&A sessions. In these sessions, we review the permit process and Accela functionality and answer questions you may have. The final session for 2021 was held on November 17, 2021.

Previously recorded Street Use 101 and Q&A sessions can be found here:

Q4 2021 Street Use 101 and Q&A Session:

November 17, 2021