information from the City of Seattle

Join the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) for our Seattle Home Fairs on Saturday, January 30, 2021 and Saturday, February 6, 2021. This year we’re going virtual! Our free home fairs will include helpful information about landslide preparation, earthquake retrofits, tree regulations, and rental housing rules. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask our experts about our permitting process, building and electrical inspections, soil erosion prevention, and code violations. This is your chance to get expert advice about your specific project, rental housing, or housing maintenance standards.

For the best Home Fair experience, please download and install Webex and join the meeting through the application on your computer or device. The browser-based version of Webex does not include all features, including the raise hand feature that you will need to ask your questions. Click on the links below for more information about each session and details on how to join the meetings.

Each day has several meetings happening at the same time. These meetings are stand-alone events. This is similar to a conference that has several presentations happening at the same time in different rooms. The events on January 30 start with a presentation. The events on February 6 are drop-in Q&A without a formal presentation.

Join us on January 30 to learn about the following topics:

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (RSVP appreciated)

• Landslide preparation
  Learn how to prevent landslides on your property.
• Tree regulations
  Learn about tree rules and how we enforce our tree codes.
• Accessory dwelling units
  Learn about accessory dwelling unit rules, permitting, and addressing issues.

1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (RSVP appreciated)

• Earthquake home retrofit
  Learn how to protect your home in case of an earthquake.
• Drainage and site development
  Learn about drainage requirements and how to prevent soil erosion during your project.
• Rental housing
  Learn about landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities.
• Floor Area Ratios in single-family zones
  Learn about some new single-family standards on how to calculate floor area ratio and how it relates to lot coverage.

During these presentations, you’ll have a chance to hear from our expert staff on some of our most requested topics. After the presentation, you can ask questions specific to your project, property, or situation.

Still have questions, or just want to drop in and ask about your project? Our February 6 Seattle Home Fair is a drop-in Q&A format covering:

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (RSVP appreciated)

• Electrical inspections
  Ask questions to help you plan your project and successfully pass your electrical inspection.
• Site inspections/soil erosion issues
  Ask questions about what site inspections you may need for your project and how to prevent soil erosion on your site.
• Code compliance
  Ask about junk storage, car parking, tree cutting, weeds and vegetation, rental housing standards, and similar topics.

1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (RSVP appreciated)

• Building inspections
  Ask questions to help you plan your project and successfully pass your building inspection.
• Construction and land use permitting process
  Ask about our construction permitting process, land use submittals, and development site issues.
• Rental housing
  Ask about landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities.

Each of these sessions offers you the chance to get an expert answer to your questions to help you successfully complete your project, pass your inspection, and understand our permitting process and regulations. With something for everyone, you won’t want to miss these events!