As the city braces for the arrival of the rainy season, those with ongoing construction projects must heed the city's grading regulations. Beginning November 1st through to March 31st, grading work is subject to restrictions, especially for projects with Geotechnical Special Inspections or those in environmentally sensitive zones. According to a notification by Seattle's Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), found on their Building Connections blog, now is the critical time for project managers to assess their need for a Grading Season Extension.
For those projects tagged with "Monitor Grading Season Restriction" on their special inspection permit record, which indicates grading work during the moratorium is not permitted, acquiring a Grading Season Extension is a must. Rapidly approaching before the rain, those with smaller-scale projects in critical areas might find a note in their records allowing the following of wet weather work measures as outlined in their approved plans, as an alternative to the formal extension application process.
Project owners and managers can determine if their permits carry the "Monitor Grading Season Restriction" tag by following the instructions laid out in SDCI's guide on how to find grading season requirements. Detailed information on how to lodge an extension application, a process that opens on September 15th and strictly goes digital via the SDCI Project Portal, is available in their comprehensive 'How to Apply for a Grading Season Extension' resource. It is important to note, as emphasized by the SDCI, that no paper applications will be entertained, and the review of submissions could take up to two weeks.
This year's application process stipulates that for those not planning to undertake any grading during the restricted months, a field report must be uploaded to the special inspection record by their geotechnical inspector. The report should confirm the stabilization of the site per the Director’s Rule 26-2015, thereby securely bridging the gap until the drier season. For guidelines on submitting this vital document, refer to SDCI's directive on 'How to Upload Special Inspection Field Reports.'
