Summary: The Seattle Land Use Code requires developments of a certain size or type to provide street and alley improvements for the portions of the public right-of-way that abut their property. Requirements for these improvements can be found in Seattle Municipal Code (SMC), Section 23.53. In certain situations, there may be property related site characteristics which make it difficult or infeasible to provide the prescriptive right-of-way improvements that are required by the code. In recognition of these situations, the code allows the Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), in consultation with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), to grant exceptions or modifications to the prescriptive street and alley improvement requirements, if an applicant can demonstrate that the site characteristics meet one or more of the exception criteria, per SMC 23.53.
Date Revised: 12/08/2021