How Do I Apply for a Street Use Public Space Permit?

Instructions for Applying for a Street Use Public Space Permit

This article describes how to apply for the following permit types:

• Block Party - refer to How Do I Submit an Application for a Block Party or Play Street Permit
• Council Term
• Gardening in Planting Strip
• Private Structures/Use, such as signage and sidewalk café
• Seasonal Business Use
• Shoreline Street End
• Street Vacation
• Temporary Activation, such as a farmer's market
• Vending
• Waterway

Not sure what kind of SDOT permit you need? Refer to the SDOT web site for more information.

To apply, follow these general steps. The specific information required varies based on the permit you need, but the process steps are the same.

What You'll Need to Start Your Application

Before you start, gather these documents. What you will need varies by the type of permit you are applying for. Most are available on the Street Use Permitting Checklists, Forms, and Templates page. The initial documents frequently required are:

• Letter of Authorization: A signed document that gives permission from the property owner to another party (like the Applicant) to manage the permit or pay the fees (like the Financially Responsible Party).
• Site Plan: A site plan is a plan view drawing or an illustration of a site as if looking straight down from above. A site plan shows the project site, proposed installations, and existing conditions in relation to each other. We use the site plan to understand the proposed location, what is being constructed and how the proposed installations may affect use of the ROW.
• Any additional documents specific to your project. A reviewer will notify you if additional materials are needed.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Log in or Register

1. Go to the Seattle Services Portal.
2. Log in:
   • If you already have an account, log in with your credentials.
   • If you don’t have an account, register for a new account before proceeding.

Step 2: Start Your Application

1. Click on the Home tab in the portal.
2. Under Create New, select Permits – Street Use.
3. Records are grouped by type of permit (Short Term Use or Long Term Use). Expand the list for the permit type you need. If you are not sure what type of permit you need, descriptions of each permit are provided. Not all Street Use permits are available online. If you do not see your record type, please go to the SDOT web site for further details.
4. Click on the record type you need. 

Step 3: Provide Your Project Location

1. On the Location Information page, enter your project address. For best results, only enter the Street No. and Street Name when searching.
   • Street No. (required) – Enter the house or building number.
   • Street Name (required) – Enter the name of the road. For a numbered street, such as 700 5th Ave, only enter "5".
2. Click Search. If prompted, select the correct address or parcel number and click Select.
3. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 4: Provide Contact Information

On the Contacts page, provide contact details for:

• Applicant: You, the person filling out this application.
• Owner: The person or company owning the property, business or asset.
• Financially Responsible Party (FRP): The person or company handling costs for the permit.
• Onsite Contact: The person available if we need to speak with somebody onsite.
• Optionally, add additional contacts like an Authorized Agent in the Additional Contacts section.

1. To add a contact:

   • Click Myself to auto-populate the contact information from your Seattle Services Portal user account. 
   • Click Someone Else to find an existing contact. If the person or organization isn’t found, click the “Person or organization not listed? Add them here." link.

   Note: If the Applicant or Financially Responsible Party is different from the Owner, a Letter of Authorization will be required later.

2. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 5: Provide Your Project Details

1. On the Project Information page, fill in:
   • Project Name: Enter a short title for the project. This name appears on your invoice if you are billed.
   • Project Description (required): Describe the work to be carried out. Be detailed and specific about the scope and location of the work.
2. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 6: Provide Related Information

1. On the Related Information page:
   • Optionally, use this section to tell us about what else is related to your application, such as an SDCI permit, other SDOT permit, or enforcement action.
   • Optionally, enter a Customer Reference. There are two fields you may use for your reference. Both fields appear on your invoice if you are billed.
2. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 7: Provide Project Use Information

1. On the Use Information page, scroll down and click Add a Row.
2. A pop-up window prompts you to provide Use information.
   1. Use Code Description (required) - Select a Use from the dropdown. The Use Code automatically populates based on the use code description selected.
   2. Fill in the rest of the fields, such as Side of Street and other right-of-way impact information. Required fields are marked with a red asterisk. Click on a blue circle with a question mark for help.
   3. Click Submit.
3. The pop-up form closes, and you are returned to the Use Details section. The use information you just added is visible.
4. To add another Use, click Add a Row. The same pop-up is displayed. Enter the required information.
5. Once all the uses are added, click Continue to proceed.

Step 8: Attach Required Documents

On the Attachments page, any required documents are listed. Document requirements vary based on the record type and uses on your application. Some documents are required at application, and some are provided later during the review process.

1. If you have a document to upload:
   1. Click Select under the Upload Documents section.
   2. Select your document:
      1. Click Select in the File Upload popup.
      2. Select your document and click Open.
      3. Click Done in the File Upload popup.
   3. Select your document type:
      1. In the Document Type dropdown, select the document type that matches the document you uploaded.
      2. Optionally, enter the Description of the document.
   4. Click Save and wait for the upload to complete. Note: It may take a few minutes for your document to fully upload.
   5. Repeat steps for each additional document required. When prompted, select the document type that matches the document you are uploading.
2. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 9: Review and Submit

1. On the Review page:
   • Verify that all the information is correct.
   • Make edits as needed by clicking Edit in the relevant sections.
2. Scroll to the bottom. Agree to the certification statement by clicking the box.
3. Click Continue to submit.

Step 10: Confirmation Displays

A Thank You page displays along with your application's Record Number.

• Your record number has a format of SUPSM0000000.
• Keep this number for future reference.

Congratulations! Your application has been submitted for review. The Street Use team will contact you if additional information is required. For questions or updates, email [e-mail] and include your Record Number in the subject line.

You can log into the Seattle Services Portal at any time to track the status of your application.

Need Help?

Visit the Seattle Services Portal Help Center, email [e-mail], or call [phone].