Provides retail food service permits and inspection; temporary food service permits; surveillance over recreation shellfish and beach water quality; permits and inspections of solid waste and hazardous waste handling; consultation to private and public water supplies; insect and animal borne diseases; school, youth camp and permits. Permits and inspections of onsite septic systems.

Helps ensure that all rental housing in Seattle is safe and meets basic housing maintenance requirements.   All rental property owners in Seattle must register their properties with the city.   Inspectors will make sure all registered properties comply with minimum housing and safety standards at least once every 10 years.   RRIO will help improve and maintain the quality of Seattle's rental housing over time. The program will benefit Seattle residents by:    - Preserving neighborhoods and quality of life   - Educating property owners, inspectors, and renters about the RRIO standards and encouraging proper maintenance of rental housing   - Ensuring all rental properties meet the same minimum standards through periodic inspections   - Creating clear communication methods between rental property owners and the City in the event of emergencies

Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) housing and zoning inspectors respond to complaints about:   -  Minimum housing standards -  Land use violations -  Shorelines -  "Just cause" eviction -  Vacant and unfit buildings -  Lock-outs -  Rent increases without proper notice -  Landlord or property manager retaliation -  Landlord or property manager entering a unit without both notice and consent -  Prohibiting tenant organizing -  Landlord or property manager harassment Health and safety are the department's first priorities for investigation and resolution of reported violations.    Health concerns include tenant complaints about conditions that may cause mold in rental units, such as excessive moisture. Seattle’s Housing and Building Maintenance Code (HBMC) contains requirements designed to keep building occupants dry and warm. In a building maintained in compliance with code requirements, all components of the building including foundation, roof, walls and windows are reasonably weather tight, watertight and damp-free.   SDCI conducts inspections of the property named in the complaint and contacts the landlord. SDCI sets a time frame for voluntary resolution.   Code compliance specialists will take cases that violate housing codes, and will require rescission of bad eviction notices and correction of unsafe or unpermitted housing conditions. The law department will eventually sue violators if necessary. Also performs investigations of illegal evictions.   New enforcement for leases entered into after 1/15/17. Refer if: -  The landlord requires security deposit/nonrefundable move-in fees that are more than first month's rent   -  The landlord requires nonrefundable move-in fees other than for tenant screening report, cleaning at termination of tenancy, criminal background check, or credit report   -  The landlord requires a pet deposit that is more than 25% of first month's rent or any other pet fee/rent -  The landlord refuses to enter payment plan for security deposit/nonrefundable move-in fees, pet deposit, or last month's rent -  The deposit not returned and no move-in checklist was signed by landlord and tenant at move-in -  No statement of deposit or deposit returned 21 days after tenant moved out   Advance notice may be needed for an interpreter.

Most services are available online through our Virtual Applicant Services Center. For customers who need language assistance or technical assistance accessing the Virtual ASC, we have an SDCI information desk on the 4th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower at 700 Fifth Ave. in downtown Seattle. The Seattle Municipal Tower’s main entrance is at Fifth Ave. and Columbia St. We offer limited access to our offices for scheduled public meetings. Virtual services include: • Live chat for simple questions • Free 20-minute video coaching session with a permit specialist or land use planner • Free 15-minute video coaching session with a geotechnical engineer, mechanical engineer, building or residential code expert, or drainage reviewer • Get, change, or verify an address