MEMBER HUB:
CONSTRUCTION & PERMITS
What you should know about Seattle’s regulations and permitting rules
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Assembled by Heidi Eagleton, 2025
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There are specific building codes, ordinances, regulations and director’s rules administered by the City of Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections for FLOATING HOMES about land use, construction, zoning, and mooring, which are binding. The following compendium is a collection of these rules and provide information you should know before you purchase a FLOATING HOME or FLOATING HOME MOORING or, if you own a FLOATING HOME, before you start a FLOATING HOME addition, renovation or start construction of a new FLOATING HOME. The compendium will be updated periodically as necessary.
The compendium is not intended to provide legal or other advice of any kind. Its sole purpose is to provide information in one place and links to that information for people overseeing, buying, renovating, adding to or building new FLOATING HOMES on Lakes Union and Washington. Although there may be some overlap, the compendium does not include separate links applicable to Floating On-Water Residences (FOWR) and/or House Barges. For a specific FLOATING HOME, dock, or mooring, you also should consult (1) Dock Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Rules for Neighborly Living and Lease
Agreements, if any; (2) Insurance Requirements for a dock’s HOA or for the specific floating home under consideration; and (3) Lender Agreements and Mortgage Provisions, if applicable.
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City of Seattle building codes, ordinances, regulations, and director’s rules administered by the City of Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection include:
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Seattle Municipal Code (SMC)-Title 23- Land Use Code
Seattle Municipal Code (SMC)- Chapter 23.60-Shoreline District
Seattle Municipal Code (SMC)- Chapter 23.60A-Seattle Shoreline Master Program Regulations
Seattle Municipal Code (SMC)- 23.60A.202 Standards for floating homes and floating homes moorages
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Tip 209, Application Requirements for Shoreline Permits
Tip 209A, Substantial Development Exemptions Application Instructions
Tip 229, Residential Use of a Floating Home, House Barge or with a Dwelling Unit
Tip 232, How to Appeal the Granting, Conditioning or Denial of Shoreline Permits
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Tip 250, Best Management Practices in Seattle’s Shoreline District
Director’s Rule 9-2003, Exemption from Shoreline Program Permit Requirements
Director’s Rule 38-96, Exemptions from Shoreline Substantial Development Permits for Contract Purchasers
Seattle Residential Code 2021- Section R332
Seattle Electrical Code 2018-Article 80 and Quick Reference
City Electrical Code Upgrade -Floating Homes Association (FHA Meeting with City Light April 2025 - Notes)