Policies & Director's Rules

Seattle Public Utilities' enterprises in water, wastewater, drainage, and solid waste are governed by ordinances codified under Title 21 and Title 22 of the Seattle Municipal Code. The General Manager/CEO further adopts policies and rules, also called "Director's Rules," that affect how we conduct business and provide services to customers and the public.

All documents PDF format, links to text versions on the Seattle Office of the City Clerk website are also provided where possible.

Utility accounts

• FIN-160 (PDF), FIN-160 (text): Customer Account and Billing Management – Jan. 11, 2022
• CS-310 (PDF), CS-310 (text): Customer Billing, Payments, and Collections – May 1, 2013
• CS-310.1 (PDF), CS-310.1 (text): Customer Billing, Payments, and Collections – May 10, 2024 
• CS-310.5 (PDF), CS-310.5 (text): Sewer Maximum Recalculation – Aug. 15, 2012
• CS-320 (PDF): Billing Adjustments for Retail and Wholesale Customers – Jan. 11, 2022
• CS-325 (PDF), CS-325 (text): Leak Adjustment for Retail Customers – May 25, 2020
• CS-327 (PDF): Expansion Tank Billing Adjustment for Retail Customer – May 1, 2023
• CS-330 (PDF): Refund for Retail and Wholesale Customers (Procedure) – October 15, 2020
• CS-340 (PDF): Waivers for Retail Customers (Procedure) – February 1, 2020
• CS-360 (PDF): Pay Plans and Payment Arrangements for Retail Customers – May 10, 2024
• CS-370 (PDF): Minimum Reconnection Payments for Retail Customers – May 10, 2024
• CS-390 (PDF), CS-390 (text): Dispute Escalation for Retail Customers – April 7, 2021
• CS-700 (PDF): CS-700 (text): Utility Discount Program – June 1, 2017

Drainage and wastewater

• DWW-110 (PDF), DWW-110 (text): Requirements for Drainage and Wastewater Service – Jan. 1, 2026
• DWW-160 (PDF): Restrictions on Use of Easements in Lieu of Drainage and Wastewater Main Extensions – October 30, 2020
• DR-2011-004 (PDF): Requirements for Design and Construction of Side Sewers (Drainage and Wastewater Discharges) – Apr. 8, 2011
• DR-2011-005 (PDF): Side Sewer Code Enforcement – Apr. 8, 2011
• DWW-200: Stormwater Manual, vol. 1-5 – July 1, 2021 (PDF)
• DWW-200-Appendices: Stormwater Manual, app. A-I – July 1, 2021 (PDF)
• DWW-210 (PDF), DWW-210 (text): Public Drainage System Requirements – July 1, 2021
• DWW-202.7 (PDF), DWW-202.7 (text): Project Thresholds and Right-of-Way Related Utility Work – Aug. 26, 2015
• DWW-205 (PDF): Ditch Replacement – July 27, 2016
• DWW-240 (PDF): Surfacing Groundwater Management within the City Right of Way – July 1, 2016
• DWW-260 (PDF): Stormwater Facility Credit Program – Nov. 29, 2021
• DWW-260.2 (PDF), DWW-260.2 (text): Stormwater Facility Credit Calculator – Jan. 1, 2025 UPDATED
• DWW-285 (PDF), DWW-285 (text): University of Washington Stormwater Code Adjustment for Minimum Requirement #5 (On-Site Management) in San Juan Drainage Basin – June 30, 2021
• DWW-340.1 (PDF): Condition Assessment Requests for the First Connection – June 1, 2016
• DWW-350 (PDF), DWW-350 (text): Approved Location of Side Sewers Serving Private Property – Mar. 10, 2014
• DWW-351 (PDF): Sewer-Backup Prevention—Backwater Valves – June 15, 2018
• DWW-352 (PDF): Inflow and Infiltration Mitigation Thresholds for CIPs in Separated Sewer Areas – July 23, 2018
• DWW-370 (PDF): DWW-370 (text): Conditional Discharge of Contaminated Industrial Stormwater to the Sanitary Sewer – April 15, 2022
• DWW-380 (PDF), DWW-380 (text): Groundwater Discharges to the Municipal Sewerage System – Billing – Oct. 8, 2014
• DWW-420.1 (PDF): Yesler Terrace Allowable Stormwater, Groundwater, and Sewer Release Rates to the Combined Sewer System and Infiltration Zones – Feb. 4, 2015
• DWW-430.1 (PDF), DWW-430.1 (text): Flow Control Requirements for Projects in Identified Public Combined Sewer Basins – Jan. 1, 2017

Solid waste

• DR-01-07 (PDF): What Constitutes Beneficial Use for Construction and Demolition Waste Hauling – Nov. 1, 2007
• SW-310 (PDF), SW-310 (text): Code of Conduct for Patrons of Transfer Stations – Feb. 15, 2026 
• SW-402.1 (PDF), SW-402.1 (text):Prohibition of Recyclables in Garbage – July 1, 2017
• SW-403 (PDF), SW-403 (text): Curbside Recycling Rates-Special Items – Feb. 15, 2021
• SW-404 (PDF), SW-404 (text): Ban on Disposal of Electronics and Batteries – Jan. 1, 2024
• SW-405.2 (PDF), SW-405.2 (text): Waste Diversion Report Submittal Process – June 1, 2017
• SW-406 (PDF), SW-406 (text): Temporary Container and Bag Placement and Removal at Curbs and Public Alleys – June 15, 2023
• SW-450 (PDF), SW-450 (text): Collection Disruptions Due to Unforeseen Conditions – March 22, 2023
• SW-500 (PDF), SW-500 (text): Requirements and Temporary Exceptions for Food Service Ware and Packaging Products – July 1, 2025
• SW-620 (PDF), SW-620 (text): Requirements for Qualified Construction and Demolition Receiving and Recycling Facilities – Feb. 1, 2022
• SW-640 (PDF): Construction and Demolition Disposal Ban Delay – Sep. 20, 2024 REVISED

Water

• CS-105 (PDF): Cross-Connection Control Program – May 18, 2006
• WTR-110 (PDF), WTR-110 (text): Asset Management – Water – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-120 (PDF), WTR-120 (text): Environmental Stewardship – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-130 (PDF), WTR-130 (text): Security and Emergency Preparedness – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-140 (PDF), WTR-140 (text): Meeting Customer Expectations – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-220 (PDF), WTR-220 (text): Water Service Area – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-230 (PDF), WTR-230 (text): Regional Role and Partnerships for Water – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-240 (PDF), WTR-240 (text): Planning for Uncertainty in Water Supply and Demand – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-250 (PDF), WTR-250 (text): Water Supply Reliability – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-260 (PDF), WTR-260 (text): Water Resource Selection – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-310 (PDF), WTR-310 (text): Transmission System Redundancy – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-320 (PDF), WTR-320 (text): Access to Seattle Regional Water System – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-410 (PDF), WTR-410 (text): Distribution System Redundancy – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-435 (PDF): New Water Services – November 16, 2015
• WTR-440 (PDF), WTR-440 (text): Requirements for Water Service – Jan. 1, 2026 
• WTR-450 (PDF), WTR-450 (text): Changes to Existing Water Services – June 23, 2021
• WTR-460 (PDF), WTR-460 (text): Use of Hydrants by Others – Sept. 1, 2021
• WTR-500 (PDF), WTR-500 (text): High Quality Drinking Water Provision – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-610 (PDF), WTR-610 (text): Watershed Protection – Dec. 13, 2006
• WTR-620 (PDF), WTR-620 (text): Code of Conduct for Visitors at the Cedar River Watershed Education Center and Associated Programs – Sep. 17, 2025
• WCM-001 (PDF): Wholesale Water Customer Metering & Billing Dispute – Jan. 1, 2006

Engineering and construction

• ENG-420 (PDF), ENG-420 (text): Latecomer Agreements & Municipal Assessment Reimbursement Areas for Construction of Utility System Improvements – Jan. 1, 2026
• ENG-430 (PDF), ENG-430 (text): Utility System Improvement Dispute Process – Jan. 1, 2026 

Charges and fees

• FIN-211.1 (PDF), FIN-211.1 (text): Qualifying Streets for Drainage Fee Exemption – Jan. 1, 2017
• FIN-211.2 (PDF), FIN-211.2 (text): Qualifying Riparian Corridors for Drainage Service Charge Exemption – Jan. 1, 2025 UPDATED
• FIN-211.3 (PDF), FIN-211.3 (text): Qualifying Wetlands for Drainage Service Charge Exemption – Jan. 1, 2017
• FIN-216 (PDF), FIN-216 (text): Drainage Rate Low Impact Discount & Underdrained Athletic Field Classification – Jan. 1, 2025 NEW
• FIN-219 (PDF), FIN-219 (text): Utility System Development Charges—Requirements and Methodology – Jan. 1, 2026
• FIN-220.1 (PDF), FIN-220.1 (text): Customer Charges – Jan. 24, 2025 REVISED
• FIN-220.2 (PDF), FIN-220.2 (text): Development Charges – Jan. 1, 2026
• FIN-220.3 (PDF), FIN-220.3 (text): Water Quality Analysis Laboratory Charges – Jan. 1, 2025 UPDATED
• FIN-220.4 (PDF), FIN-220.4 (text): Real Property Charges – Jan. 1, 2026
• FIN-220.5 (PDF), FIN-220.5 (text): Cedar River Watershed Education Center Charges – August 1, 2021
• FIN-840 (PDF), FIN-840 (text): Property Encroachments – May 24, 2023

Other rules and policies

• FFM-510 (PDF), FFM-510 (text); FFM-510.1 (PDF): Incidental Use of Real Property – Dec. 5, 2012
• FFM-520.1 (PDF): Open Space – Dec. 28, 2006
• MDAR-17-01 (PDF): Operating Hours for City Properties; Unauthorized Camping on City Properties; Enforcement Procedures; and Removal of Unauthorized Property (multidepartment) – Apr. 3, 2017
• CAM: Client Assistance Memos (CAMs)
• CLN-250 (PDF), CLN-250 (text): Enforcement of Illegal Dumping Violation – Nov. 17, 2023
• HR-150 (PDF): Workplace Expectations – Oct. 28, 2022

Related

Other city director's rules can be viewed at:

• Seattle City Light
• Department of Construction and Inspections
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Parks and Recreation
• Department of Finance and Administrative Services
• City Finance Division