Apply for SPU side-sewer permit

What changed and when

Side sewer permits transferred from SDCI to Seattle Public Utilities on October 1, 2025. Same Seattle Services Portal, different department, different reviewers. Older contractor checklists still reference the SDCI process — confirm your contractor is using the post-transfer SPU workflow.

April–May 2026 invoicing changes:

• Starting April 13, 2026, core taps appear on the SPU side-sewer permit invoice and must be paid before issuance.
• Starting May 4, 2026, drainage system-development charges (SDC) are also required up front.

The net effect: more money up front, fewer surprise invoices later. The lump sum at permit pull is bigger than what older blog posts describe.

Who applies

The Registered Side Sewer Contractor (RSSC) program is currently inactive (SPU has announced reinstatement in 2026), so any qualified contractor can apply. You want a contractor who has filed several recent SPU side-sewer permits and knows the current submittal expectations.

Cost

• Permit + processing: $280 – $750+
• Core tap (now invoiced up front): varies by tap size
• Drainage SDC (now invoiced up front): varies by impervious area
• Side-sewer construction itself (covered separately in build phase): $8K – $30K+, with most projects landing in the $10K – $18K band

Sequencing

File in parallel with the SDCI construction permit (step 3.1) and the SCL service application (step 3.2). Don't wait until SDCI is approved to start the side-sewer process.

If the camera scope flagged a problem

If step 1.4 found a failing existing line, the side-sewer permit may need to cover full mainline replacement, not just a connection. That changes the scope and cost significantly. Have the scope report in hand when you talk to the side-sewer contractor.