CITY OF SEATTLE

ORDINANCE __________________

COUNCIL BILL __________________

AN ORDINANCE relating to fees and charges for permits and activities of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, related fees by other departments, and technical corrections; repealing Chapter 22.504 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and amending Sections 22.504.010, 22.900B.010, 22.900B.020, 22.900C.010, 22.900D.010, 22.900D.090, 22.900D.100, 22.900D.110, 22.900D.140, 22.900D.150, 22.900D.160, 22.900E.020, 22.900E.030, 22.900E.040, 22.900E.050, 22.900.G.010, and 22.900G.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Chapter 22.504 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 123453, is repealed:

(( Chapter 22.504 PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS

22.504.010 Permit fees

An applicant for a permit to do work under this Plumbing Code shall pay for each permit, at the time of issuance, a fee in accordance with the following schedule, and at the rate provided for each classification shown in the schedule:

A. Schedule of Fees

Plumbing permit fees for fixtures or traps are calculated according to Table A-1. Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention devices and double check valve assemblies require separate permits and are calculated according to Table A-1.

For each atmospheric vacuum breaker in irrigation systems, tanks, vats, etc., or for installation on unprotected plumbing fixtures including necessary water piping

Vacuum breaker-one to five-each device $10

Vacuum breaker-over five-each device $5

Pressure vacuum breaker-each $10

B. Fees for Miscellaneous Inspection Services

Fees for inspection service outside regular working hours or for inspection service requested but not covered by a permit will be charged for at a rate equal to the cost of performing the service.

Fees for permanent location inspection of factory housing or modular unit containing plumbing-For each single-family dwelling or each modular unit containing plumbing $20

Plumbing permit includes on-site connections of building drain extensions, water service and necessary gas piping connections.

Additional plumbing fixtures installed after factory installation of plumbing for each plumbing fixture or trap $10

Fees for reconnection and retest of plumbing systems in relocated buildings-For each building containing plumbing $20

Plumbing permit includes on-site connections of building drain extensions, water service and necessary gas piping connections.

Additional plumbing fixtures installed after relocation for each plumbing fixture or trap $10

C. For the purpose of this section, "fixture" means and includes an appliance that is connected with a water, drain or vent pipe, but a sillcock faucet or hose bibb is not considered a fixture. A sanitary plumbing outlet on or to which a plumbing fixture or appliance may be set or attached shall be construed to be a fixture.

D. Any person who commenced any work for which a permit is required by this Plumbing Code without first having obtained such permit shall upon subsequent application for the permit pay double the fee fixed by the schedule of fees for the work in subsections A and B of this section unless it is proved to the satisfaction of the Administrative Authority that the work was urgently necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit prior to the commencement of the work. In all such emergency cases, a permit shall be obtained as soon as it is practical to do so, and if there is an unreasonable delay in obtaining the permit, a double fee shall be charged as provided in this Code.

E. A reinspection fee of $130 may be assessed for each inspection or reinspection if the portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete or if corrections called for are not made. This subsection does not require inspection fees the first time a job is rejected for failure to comply with this Code, but is intended to control the practice of calling for inspection or reinspection.

Reinspection fees may be assessed if the permit is not properly posted on the work site, the work to be inspected is not under test, for failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested or for failure to make required corrections. Requests for reinspection shall be made in writing upon forms furnished for that purpose, and shall be accompanied by the reinspection fee in accordance with this section. If reinspection fees have been assessed, additional inspection of the work shall not be performed until the required fees have been paid.

22.504.020 Refund of fees

If the work for which a permit fee has been paid is not be started, the Administrative Authority, upon proper application for refund and surrender of the permit for cancellation, shall issue a refund. In determining the amount of refund due, the Administrative Authority shall deduct the amount of the basic fee to cover the cost of administration of the permit. A refund shall not be made for an expired permit. ))

Section 2. Section 22.900B.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:

22.900B.010 Base fee and hourly rate

A. The SDCI base fee shall be charged as specified in this Subtitle IX and shall be (( $257 )) $292 .

B. Any services provided by the Department for which an hourly charge is assessed shall be charged at a rate specified in this Subtitle IX.

The hourly rate for land use review is (( $439 )) $498 . The rate for all other hourly fees is (( $257 )) $292 an hour except where a different hourly rate is specified in this Subtitle IX. Where "SDCI hourly rate" is specified in this Subtitle IX, the rate is (( $257 )) $292 an hour.

C. If an hourly rate is specified, overtime shall be charged at that same rate. If no hourly rate is specified, overtime shall be charged at (( $257 )) $292 an hour. All overtime shall require approval by the Director. The minimum fee for each overtime request shall be one hour, with minimum increments of 1/4 hour, in addition to other permit fees established by this Subtitle IX.

Section 3. Section 22.900B.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:

22.900B.020 Miscellaneous and special fees

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D. Address change

The fee to correct the address on an application or, if applicable, on an issued permit is (( $69.75 )) $79.25 . If an address change is requested that is unrelated to an application for a permit or for an issued permit, a fee of one multiplied by the base fee shall be assessed.

E. Copies of electronic and microfilm records

Charges for plans reproduced from electronic records or from the microfilm library are shown in Table B-1 for 22.900B.020.

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Section 4. Section 22.900C.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:

22.900C.010 Land use fees

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  Section 5. Section 22.900D.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:

22.900D.010 Development permit fees

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^{H. Certificate of Occupancy. The issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for existing buildings, either if no Certificate of Occupancy has previously been issued or if a change of occupancy is requested, requires a building permit. If there is no construction valuation (there is no work that would require a building permit), the minimum building permit fee shall be assessed. In addition to the minimum building permit fee, if records research, plan examination or inspection is required, charges shall be assessed at the SDCI hourly rate. If work is being done as authorized by a permit, the permanent Certificate of Occupancy fee is not assessed in addition to the building permit fee. The fee for a temporary Certificate of Occupancy shall be charged at the rate of 1/2 the base fee. The fee for the duplication of a Certificate of Occupancy is (( $43.05 )) $ 48.85 unless records research, plan examination , or inspection is required, in which case charges shall be assessed at the SDCI hourly rate.}

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^{Section 6. Section 22.900D.090 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126709, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900D.090 Permit fees for mechanical equipment and systems, other than boilers and}

^{pressure vessels and refrigeration systems}

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^{Section 7. Section 22.900D.100 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126709, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900D.100 Refrigeration equipment and systems}

^{A. Fees for the installation, addition, repair, replacement, and alteration of refrigeration equipment and systems shall be charged as set in Table D-10 for 22.900D.100.}

^{B. Temporary installations of ten days' duration or less, made for the purposes of exhibition, display, or demonstration, shall be charged a fee of (( $65.60 )) $74.40 for each installation.}

^{Section 8. Section 22.900D.110 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900D.110 New installations and alternations of boilers and pressure vessels}

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^{Section 9. Section 22.900D.140 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900D.140 New installations and alterations of elevators and other conveyances}

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^{Section 10. Section 22.900D.150 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126709, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900D.150 Electrical permit fees}

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^{Section 11. Section 22.900D.160 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900D.160 Sign, awning, and canopy permit fees}

^{A. Permanent signs. For permanent signs, a permit fee of (( $170.35 )) $193.20 shall be charged for the first 32 square feet or less of the total display area of the sign plus an additional charge for each 10 square feet or fraction thereof of total display area in excess of 32 square feet as shown in Table D-16 for 22.900D.160. A permit is required for all electric signs, and all signs exceeding 5 square feet in area that fall outside the allowances in Section 23.55.012.}

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^{D. Wall signs. The maximum fee for signs painted on or otherwise applied directly to the building wall without a frame or mechanical fasteners is (( $779.40 )) $884 .}

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^{Section 13. Section 22.900E.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900E.020 Boiler and pressure vessel certificates of (( operation )) inspection}

^{A. The fee for certificates of (( operation )) inspection for boilers and pressure vessels shall be charged in accordance with Table E-1 for 22.900E.020. Where the inspection is performed by the City, the certificate fee includes the certificate of (( operation )) inspection , the inspection and one reinspection, if necessary.}

^{B. Fees for boiler and pressure vessels that are inspected by authorized insurance company inspectors are 50 percent of those set forth in Table E-1 for 22.900E.020, but the 50 percent rate shall not apply to the charges for control and limit devices for automatic boilers specified in Table E-1 for 22.900E.020. No fee shall be less than the minimum fee.}

^{Section 13. Section 22.900E.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900E.030 Fees for elevator certificates of inspection}

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^{Section 14. Section 22.900E.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126709, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900E.040 Refrigeration systems annual operating permit fee}

^{The annual operating permit fee for any refrigeration system is charged at a fee of (( $110.25 )) $125.05 per piece of equipment to be inspected.}

^{Section 16. Section 22.900E.050 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126935, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900E.050 Boiler, refrigeration, and gas piping licenses and examinations}

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  ^{Section 16. Section 22.900G.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126709, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900G.010 Fees for Department of Neighborhoods review}

^{The following fees shall be collected by the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods and deposited in the General Fund unless otherwise specified.}

^{A. Certificate of approval fees. There is a charge for a certificate of approval as required by all applicable ordinances for the construction or alteration of property in a designated special review district, Landmark, Landmark District, or historic district of $25 for construction costs of $1,500 or less, plus $10 for each additional $5,000 of construction costs, up to a maximum fee of (( $20,000 )) $25,000 , except that the maximum fee for a certificate of approval shall be (( $4,000 )) $5,000 if for construction or alteration involving: a structure and retaining some portion of that structure; or a new or existing structure including housing financed, in whole or in part, by public funding; or a new or existing structure that elects the MHA performance option according to Sections 23.58B.050 or 23.58C.050. If an applicant applies for a certificate of approval for the preliminary design of a project and later applies for a certificate of approval for a subsequent phase or phases of the same project, a fee shall only be charged for the first application. There is an additional charge of $25 for a certificate of use approval in the Pioneer Square Preservation District, the Pike Place Market Historical District, and the International Special Review District.}

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^{C. Public School Advisory Committee fees. There is a charge of (( $135 )) $139 an hour for convening and staffing School Use Advisory Committees and School Departure Citizen Advisory Committees.}

^{D. Major Institution Advisory Committee fees. The fee for convening and staffing of advisory committees for the routine annual review of approved master plans and/or the review of master plan amendments is (( $135 )) $139 an hour. The fee for convening and staffing of advisory committees for new master plans and for amendments to master plans is (( $135 )) $139 an hour.}

^{E. Environmental (SEPA) review of projects. Review of referrals pursuant to subsections 25.05.675.H.2.c and 25.05.675.H.2.d by the City Historic Preservation Officer is charged at (( $430 )) $442 an hour.}

^{F. Landmark reviews. Review of a building, site, or object's eligibility as a Seattle landmark pursuant to subsection 25.05.800.B or upon request is charged at (( $430 )) $442 an hour.}

^{G. Requests for reviewing character structure TDP sending sites in the Pike/Pine Conservation Overlay District. The Department of Neighborhoods' hourly review fee is (( $430 )) $442 an hour for determining whether a character structure may, if requested by a property owner, be added to the list of character structures in the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections Director's Rule promulgated according to Section 23.73.005.}

^{Section 17. Section 22.900G.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 124047, is amended as follows:}

^{22.900G.030 Fees for review by Public Health-Seattle & King County}

^{A. Fees for plumbing, medical or dental gas, lab gas, and fuel gas piping shall be collected by the Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County in accordance with chapter 16.32 of the King County Code . (( The gas piping installation fee is calculated according to Table G-2 for 22.900G.030. A minimum of $140 is nonrefundable.}

^{B. The fee shall not apply to the installation of any domestic hot-water heaters or any other domestic gas-fired appliance connected to a plumbing system whenever such appliance or heater is included in a plumbing installation for which a basic plumbing permit has been issued.}

^{C. A reinspection fee for fuel gas piping of $130 may be assessed for each inspection where such portion of work for which inspection is called for is not complete or when corrections called for are not made. This is not to be interpreted as requiring inspection fees the first time a job is rejected for failure to comply with the requirements of this Code, but as controlling the practice of calling for inspection or reinspection.}

^{Reinspection fees may be assessed when the permit is not properly posted on the work site, the work to be inspected is not under test, and for failure to make required corrections. To obtain a reinspection the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing upon a form furnished for that purpose, and pay the reinspection fee in accordance with this Code. In instances in which reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.))}

^{Section 18. This ordinance shall take effect on January 1, 2026. If an ordinance takes effect earlier than this ordinance that amends any language this ordinance also amends, this ordinance’s amendments will take precedence over those amendments.}

^{Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2024, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.}

^{____________________________________
President ____________ of the City Council}

^{____________________________________
Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor}

^{Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.}

^{____________________________________
Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk}

^(Seal)