Director's Rules & Ordinances

Draft Vending Director’s Rule Public Comment Period

We invite you to share your thoughts on proposed updates to Director’s Rule 01-2023 - Vending in the Public Place. This rule explains how people may sell food or goods in public places.

Please review the draft rule and submit your feedback during the public comment period using the options listed below.

What the Draft Rule Does

We are proposing this update to make the vending permit process clearer, fairer, and more predictable for vendors, the public, and City staff.

The draft rule supports small businesses while helping us protect public safety and keep our streets and sidewalks accessible for everyone.

Why We Are Updating the Rule

Unpermitted vending has increased in the city and can block sidewalks, curb ramps, and exits during crowded events.

We have also received reports of conflicts between permitted and unpermitted vendors, which raise concerns about public health, safety, and fair access.

What Is Changing

The draft rule includes these proposed changes:

We may remove carts or equipment in posted no-vending areas after required outreach without an additional warning.
We may take enforcement action, such as issuing notices or citations, after one attempt to educate or warn a vendor.
We may close a vending application if an applicant does not pay permit fees within 30 days of notice.
Vendors may renew annual permits by submitting a renewal application instead of starting a new application each year.

What Is Not Changing

We are not proposing changes to approved vending locations, such as sidewalks, plazas, curb spaces, and permitted districts citywide.

You can still apply for sidewalk and plaza, curb space, stadium, route, or temporary vending permits under the draft rule.

Siting requirements and the lottery process for competing applicants will continue to work as they do now.

Review the Draft Rule

During the comment period, you can review the draft Director’s Rule and related documents using the link below.

View the Draft Director’s Rule

Submit Your Comments

We want to hear from you before we adopt the updated rule.

Please submit your feedback during the public comment period using one of the following options:

- Email: publicspace@seattle.gov
- Mail: Seattle Department of Transportation, Attn: Street Use Division, P.O. Box 34996, Seattle, WA 98124

Comment Deadline

The public comment period runs from May 29, 2026 through June 30, 2026 to give you time to review the draft rule and share feedback.

You must submit your comments by June 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM so we can consider them before adopting the rule.

We will review all comments received by the deadline before filing the final rule with the City Clerk.

Need Help or Accommodations

If you have questions or need this notice in another format, please contact us at publicspace@seattle.gov.

To request a disability accommodation, please contact us at (206) 684-5253 or publicspace@seattle.gov.

Director’s Rules are administrative rules adopted according to the Administrative Code (Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 3.02). Public notice of our Director’s Rules is published in the City’s official newspaper, currently the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, prior to adoption.

Please contact the SDOT Director’s Office at (206) 684-5000 if you have questions or requests concerning SDOT Director’s Rules, including:

Requests for signed copies of active rules;
Requests for copies of inactive rules (rules that have been superseded or rescinded);
Requests to receive public notices of proposed rules. Any person may make a written request to receive an email alert or printed notice by mail when new rules are proposed. These requests may be renewed annually.

Active Director’s Rules
Number	Rule
SDOT 01-2025	Restricted Parking Zones (RPZs)	View Rule
SDOT 03-2024	West Seattle Light Rail Station Area Street Concept Plan	View Rule
SDOT 02-2024	City of Seattle Light Rail Design Guidelines	View Rule
SDOT 01-2024	Design Standards for Small Wireless Facilities on Poles in the Public Place	View Rule
SDOT 06-2023	Employer Shuttles Program	View Rule
SDOT 05-2023	Signs Projecting Over Public Right-of-Way	View Rule
SDOT 01-2023	Vending in the Public Place	View Rule
SDOT 02-2023	Merchandise Displays in the Public Place	View Rule
SDOT 03-2023	Cafés in the Public Place	View Rule
SDOT 04-2023	Insurance and Indemnity Requirements for Street Use Permits	View Rule
SDOT 01-2022	Criteria for Siting Truck Tractor Parking in the Public Right-of-Way	View Rule
SDOT 02-2021	Sky Bridge Permits	View Rule
SDOT 01-2021	Transportation Management Programs	View Rule
SDOT 01-2020	Bicycle Parking Guidelines and Application of Bicycle Parking Development Standards	View Rule
SDOT 04-2017	Streets Illustrated: Seattle's Right-of-Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 01-2017	Right-of-Way Opening and Restoration Rule	View Rule
SDOT 01-2016	Free-floating car share permit program	View Rule
SDOT 12-2015	Shoreline Street Ends	View Rule
SDOT 11-2015	Right of Way Improvements Manual, Chapter 4 and two sections of Chapter 2, sections 2.11 and 2.12.	View Rule
SDOT 10-2015	Pedestrian Mobility Around Work Zones	View Rule
SDOT 08-2015	Standards for Issuance or Denial of Street Use Permits for First Amendment Activities	View Rule
SDOT 05-2015	U District Alley Activation Street Concept Plan – Appendix N to Right of Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 06-2015	U District Green Streets Concept Plan – Appendix O to the Right of Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 02-2015	Pontius Street Concept Plan- Appendix P to the Right of Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 03-2015	First Hill Public Realm Action Plan – Appendix Q to the Right of Way Improvements Manual.	View Rule
SDOT 03-2014	Street Tree Manual	View Rule View the Manual
SDOT 02-2014	Street and Sidewalk Use, Newsstands	View Rule
SDOT 01-2014	Existing At-Grade Telecommunication Cabinet Upgrade Standards and Procedures	View Rule
SDOT 05-2013	South Lake Union Street Concept Plans – Appendix I to Right-of-Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 04-2013	Roosevelt Neighborhood Streetscape Concept Plan – Appendix J to Right-of-Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 03-2013	Thomas Green Street Concept Plan – Appendix K to Right-of-Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 02-2013	Denny Way Streetscape Concept Plan – Appendix L to Right-of-Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 06-2013	10th & 11th Avenue Street Concept Plan – Appendix M to Right-of-Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 01-2013	Westlake and 7th Streetscape Concept Plan – Appendix H to Right of Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 1-2018	City of Seattle Traffic Control Manual for In-Street Work	View Rule
SDOT 1-2019	Designation of Festival Streets and activities allowed under a Street Use Festival Street	View Rule
SDOT 1-2012	Installation, Closure, or Removal of Underground Storage Tanks (UST) located in the Public Place	View Rule
SDOT 5-2010	Repeals SDOT Director’s Rule 04-01, Installation Criteria & Procedures for Responding to Requests for Safety Improvements regarding: Marked Pedestrian Crosswalks; General Traffic Control Signals; Pedestrian Traffic Signals; Pedestrian Traffic Signals for the Disabled or Senior Citizens; and Pedestrian Traffic Signals to Accommodate School Crossings.	View Rule
SDOT 4-2010	Maynard Avenue South and South Lane Street Streetscape Concept Plan – Appendix F to Right-of-Way Improvements Manual	View Rule

SDOT 2-2010	Petitions for the Adoption, Amendment, or Repeal of SDOT Director's Rules	View Rule
SDOT 1-2010	Private Electrical Devices Located in the Right-of-Way	View Rule
SDOT 8-2009	Public Information	View Rule
SDOT 7-2009	Queen Anne Ave North Streetscape Concept Plan – Appendix E to Right-of-Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
SDOT 5-2009	Street and Sidewalk Pavement Opening and Restoration	View Rule
MDAR 09-01	Farmers Markets Permitting Process-2009 Pilot Program	View Rule
SDOT 03-08	Pike & Pine Streetscape Conceptual Design – Appendix D to Right of Way Improvements Manual	View Rule
MDAR 08-01	Operating Hours for City Properties; Unauthorized Camping on City Properties; Enforcement Procedures; and Removal of Unauthorized Property	View Rule
SDOT 2-07	Green Streets: Design Guidelines and Review Process	View Rule
SDOT 1-07	Review of Visual Artworks	View Rule
SDOT 2-06	Skybridge Permits	View Rule
SDOT 3-05	Terry Avenue North Street Design Guidelines – Appendix C to Street Improvement Manual	View Rule
SDOT 2-05	The Right-of-Way Improvements Manual, Chapters 3 and 4	View Rule
SDOT 11-2003	Seattle Design Guidelines for Link Light Rail, Beacon Hill Station	View Rule
SDOT 2002-4	Street Element Excerpt from the Ballard Municipal Center Master Plan – Appendix to Street Improvement Manual	View Rule View Appendix
SDOT 03-2002	SDOT Rules of Conduct	View Rule
SDOT 02-02	Posting of temporary signs on City owned utility poles, lampposts and traffic signposts in planting strips. Definitions, objectives regulations.	View Rule
SeaTran 2-2001	Seattle Design Guidelines for Link Light Rail, Southeast Seattle Stations	View Rule
SeaTran 01-1	SeaTran Review Process for Sign Kiosks Proposed in the Right-of-Way	View Rule
SeaTran 20-2000	Seattle Design Guidelines for Link Light Rail, Royal Brougham and Lander Stations	View Rule
SED 95-1	Standards for Issuance or Denial of Street Use Permits	View Rule
SED 94-2	First Amendment Vending of Merchandise	View Rule
SED 93-6	Alley Closures	View Rule