Concrete Driveways & Sidewalks in West Seattle, WA

Driveways & sidewalks in West Seattle: what to know

SDCI draws its first line at 750 square feet. Adding or replacing that much paving, counted as one total across driveway, walks, and patio, calls for a grading permit, and over 5,000 square feet requires a civil engineer. Resurfacing does not count. Work in or within 15 feet of a steep slope area needs an ECA exemption or relief first.

The street end is SDOT’s. The city’s right-of-way manual lists an apron beside an existing curb as a Street Use construction permit, a driveway where no curb exists as its own permit, and removing part of a curb as a curb cut permit issued by SDCI. Grade breaks must begin at the property line, and the driveway must meet the building grade sheet elevation there.

Permits and rules in West Seattle

SDCI handles grading and construction permits on the lot, SDOT the apron and sidewalk. Seattle’s stormwater code, updated July 1, 2026, also reviews permits that add or replace more than 750 square feet of hard surface. Before pricing, we confirm with SDCI whether your driveway needs a grading permit or has mapped steep slope, and we look up the apron permit with SDOT.

Rules change and vary by parcel, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Add driveway, new walks, and patio together against SDCI’s 750 square foot line
Ask SDOT which Street Use permit fits the apron before forming anything
Start grade breaks at the property line, not in the street right-of-way
Check the ECA map for steep slope within 15 feet of the pour

For the full process, see our Concrete Driveways & Sidewalks page.

Building in the cold months? See our guide to winter concrete pours.

Our driveways & sidewalks work, serving West Seattle

Examples of our work. We build driveways & sidewalks in West Seattle and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from West Seattle homeowners

Do I need a permit to replace my driveway in West Seattle?

Possibly. SDCI requires a grading permit when you add or replace 750 square feet or more of paving, including a remove-and-replace. Resurfacing does not. The apron and sidewalk at the street need separate SDOT permits. We total your lot first.

Who pays to fix a lifted sidewalk slab at my West Seattle house?

The owner of the adjoining property. An SDOT memo says owners keep the sidewalk and planting strip fit for travel, repair needs a Street Use permit, and a fault over half an inch is a repair trigger. Lifts over an inch are replaced, not ground down.

How wide can my West Seattle driveway be where it meets the street?

Seattle sets curb cut and driveway width in its Land Use Code, in the parking chapter and your zone’s chapter, not in the street standards. An older SDOT memo describes curb cuts of 10 to 30 feet as the code allows. We look up your zone first.