Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create an account?

To create a new account, go to the Seattle Services Portal and click on Register for an Account in the upper right corner. Read How to Create a New Account or watch the How to Create a Seattle Services Portal Account video for step-by-step instructions. If you’re having trouble, some common mistakes are:

• Entering an incorrect or invalid address. Check your address for typos.
• Entering an incorrect or invalid phone number. The phone number should start with the country code in the first box. It defaults to (+1) for the U.S. You then enter the area code and phone number in the box below.
• Trying to create an account for somebody that already has one. If your contact information is already in the system, you will be given the option to use that account.

Once you’ve created an account, you need to activate it before you can use it. You will receive an email from the Seattle Services Portal. Follow the instructions in the email to activate the account. If you don’t see an email soon after you create your account, check your junk folders.

How do I schedule an SDCI application intake appointment?

SDCI is usually booked about 16-18 weeks into the future for intake appointments. To schedule an appointment, you need to select a potential date from the calendar and wait for the Confirm Date button to appear. Once that button appears, you will be able to pick the date and schedule the appointment. Since the calendar shows all dates that have appointments – whether booked or available – we highly recommend that you start looking for dates well in the future.

Tip: Submit your completed application early to be eligible for an earlier appointment in case of a cancellation. Once you submit your application, we’ll add your project to the express lane. This means your application will likely be taken in well ahead of your scheduled appointment. We can usually take in your application within 2-3 weeks after you upload your complete application.

How can somebody else take action on my SDCI project?

If you need somebody, such as a coworker, contractor, permit runner, architect, etc., to be able to take action on an application in your account, you can add them as a contact to that application. You must do this when you first create the application. The new contact will need to create an account. Once that person has an account and is added as a contact, that person will have full rights to manage the application, including the ability to upload corrections and make revisions. The new contact will be able to see your application under My Records. Read our article on How to Add Contacts to Your Application. You need to add these contacts to your permit application every time you apply. 

Can I submit my SDCI construction or land use application without a PAR report?

We no longer allow customers to schedule intake appointments before they have a PAR (preliminary assessment report).

How do I apply for Early Design Guidance?

If you need help on applying for Early Design Guidance, please read How to Submit Your EDG Application for step-by-step instructions.

Can somebody else pay my SDCI fees?

Anyone can pay an SDCI fee; they do not need to be associated with the project or even logged in to the portal. To pay a fee, simply search for the desired record using the record number or project address.  Once you have located the correct record, select it and click on the Fees tab under the Payments heading.  Click the Pay Fees link to the right of the amount owed.  Click the Checkout button to pay with a credit card.  (To pay by check, see How Do I Pay by Check?).

How do I add/merge/remove contacts on an existing application or permit?

Customers can only add contacts to their application when they are creating their preliminary application. You cannot merge contacts or remove contacts from an application or permit. If you need to manage contacts on an existing application or permit, you need to email [e-mail].

How do I print my receipt?

If you want a receipt for your fee payment, print it as soon as you have submitted your payment. Once you submit your payment, you will receive a Thank You screen with a Print Receipt button. If you don’t print the receipt then, you will not be able to get a receipt later. Your record will, however, show that you don’t owe fees after you have paid them. We are working to add the ability to regenerate the receipt from the Portal.

How do I filter my SDCI projects by status?

You can filter your permit applications by permit status from the My Trade, Construction & Land Use Permit Records page. To get to that page, log into the Seattle Services Portal and click on My Records. From the drop-down menu, select Permits – Trade, Construction & Land Use. That will take you to a page that lists all your permit applications. The filter is directly below the page title. Read What Does My Filter Status Mean? for filter definitions.

How do I find my project/record status?

You can find status information using the “Find Existing” function on the Portal homepage. Select the correct permit type from the list and enter the record number. You’ll see a link for Status under Record Info. For more detailed instructions on how to find a status, read How to Find the Status of a Record or Find the Status of an Inspection.

What does my status mean?

In general, an hourglass symbol means a task is in progress and a green checkmark means a task is complete. To understand what your status means, see What Does My Permit Status Mean, What Does My Trade License & Annual Equipment Status Mean?, or What Does My Complaint Status Mean?

Why can’t I view documents on my Apple device?

If you’re having difficulty viewing documents on your Apple device, you need to install the recently released iOS 13. Once you’ve installed iOS 13, you will be able to view documents.