Seattle City Council
Future of Seattle tenant protections is slow-moving, but bright
A law requiring landlords to accept the first qualified candidate is the latest Seattle housing law to get the green light.
The Seattle Monorail takes a big step toward transit integration
Now nearly 60 years old, the Monorail will finally accept ORCA cards—and even some transfers—thanks to an agreement between the operator and Seattle Center.
Measure to reduce barriers to building ADUs in Seattle gets mayoral boost
After half a decade of planning, changes to laws governing backyard cottages are on the way—with more experimentation ahead on making them feasible.
Seattle City Council votes to reduce barriers to building ADUs
After half a decade of planning, changes to laws governing accessory dwelling units—like backyard cottages and mother-in-law apartments—are on the way.
Seattle Office of Housing works toward a community preference policy
The years-long effort to fight displacement is being put on paper
ADU legislation can move forward after clearing appeal
An appeal to ADU reform wasn’t successful (this time)—and the city council is getting ready to fine-tune the policy
How ADU legislation could rein in Seattle’s McMansions
Legislation to make backyard cottages more accessible could also prevent future massive single-family homes
Effort renewed to make landlords pay when tenants are priced out
The bill is similar to a Portland ordinance
Seattle City Council could prep the city for a day without a rent-control ban
Rent control is still illegal on the state level, but Kshama Sawant wants to get ready, anyway
Proposed changes to Seattle bike plan add to mounting frustration from cyclists
A proposed watering-down of the city’s Bike Master Plan comes after slow progress on bike lanes—and a controversial change to a project
Seattle mayor signs denser zoning with housing affordability requirements into law
The long-planned MHA measure exchanges building capacity for affordable housing requirements
Upzones and affordable housing requirements approved by Seattle City Council
The policy exchanges building capacity for affordable housing requirements
Mandatory housing affordability package emerges from Seattle City Council committee
The policy exchanges building capacity for affordable housing requirements
Seattle mayor endorses community preference policies with executive order
The order strengthens a years-long effort to fight displacement
Housing affordability rezones (mostly) clear appeal
Some groups are going to bat for 6% of single-family zones.
One approach to long-term shelter: Tiny grants for tiny homes
City Councilmember Mike O’Brien is floating a new city program to help tackle the homelessness crisis
New coalition pushes for deeper investment in Seattle’s transit
It’s called Move All Seattle Sustainably, or MASS
Durkan shows both support and reservations in signing Showbox legislation
The mayor didn’t stand in the way of recent City Council legislation, but expressed concerns
Seattle will implement long-term rules for private bike shares
With the City Council’s rubber stamp on the fee schedule, a permanent program is all set to go
Seattle City Council sets timeline for connected downtown bike lanes by 2020
A resolution attempts to hold SDOT to a timeline for a delayed bike network
Seattle City Council passes new labor standards for domestic workers
Under the new law, nannies, housecleaners, and gardeners will be guaranteed minimum wage and rest breaks
Seattle City Council looks toward connected downtown bike lanes by 2020
Mike O’Brien wants to hold SDOT to a timeline for a delayed bike network
Seattle plans long-term rules for private bike shares
After evaluating a pilot program, the city is adjusting its expectations for bike-share operators
Bill seeks to raise labor standards for housecleaners and nannies
The ‘Domestic Workers Bill of Rights’ could change working conditions for 30,000 people in Seattle
Referendum campaign to repeal ‘head tax’ turns in signatures, despite repeal
The employee hours tax would have raised between $40 and $50 million a year for affordable housing and homeless services
Seattle City Council repeals business tax for housing and homeless services
The vote followed a heated public hearing
Seattle City Council likely to repeal business tax for housing and homeless services
The council appears to have enough votes to repeal the "head tax" after outcry
Rentberry sues Seattle over temporary rent-bidding ban
The ordinance had called for a year’s moratorium and more study
Business group launches campaign to overturn ‘head tax’
The measure passed by City Council would raise between $40 and $50 million a year for affordable housing and homeless services
Amazon will resume Block 18 construction
The company resumed plans for short-term expansion, but expressed wariness about long-term growth in Seattle.
Lower ‘head tax’ passed by Seattle City Council
The revised employee hours tax raises between $40 and $50 million a year
Business tax for housing and homeless services advances out of City Council committee [Update]
The tax on employee hours and payroll could raise $75 million a year
A higher court rules in Uber and Lyft unionization—and it’s complicated
The short version: more court ahead.
Seattle appeals ruling against first-in-time rental law
The rule required landlords to accept the first qualified candidate to apply
Landlord group sues to block Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing law
The lawsuit seeks to overturn a law barring rental restrictions based on criminal convictions.
Seattle tree law could be getting a revision
A proposed update to the city’s Tree Protection Ordinance would ideally create a more streamlined, equitable framework.
Revised business tax for housing and homeless services heads to City Council
The proposal could raise $75 million a year
Seattle City Council passes suite of parking reforms
The legislation aims for more flexibility around parking—including the flexibility to not build any at all in some cases
The Center City Connector streetcar project is on hold
The mayor has halted any ongoing work pending an internal review