Seattle public place ordinance bonds.
From $100.
When a City of Seattle ordinance grants you the right to use or occupy the public place — a term permit, a structure over the right-of-way, a long-term use — the City conditions it on a surety bond. The City sets the amount; the premium is 1% of that bond amount, with a $100 minimum, and your exact price appears at the application.
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How much does a Seattle public place ordinance bond cost?
1% of the bond amount, from $100. Enter your amount in the calculator for the exact price.
Three steps. One sitting.
No underwriting queue for the standard public-place use bond — enter your amount, pay, and file with the City. Here is the whole thing:
Apply online
Your business details, the bond amount the City required, and the effective date — that is the application.
Issued on the spot
Most applications approve instantly — the executed bond is generated as soon as you pay.
File with the City of Seattle
Submit the executed bond with your public-place use ordinance or term permit to the City of Seattle (SDOT). Wet-ink originals mailed on request.
What it is and who needs it.
What the Seattle ordinance bond actually covers
When the City of Seattle grants the right to use or occupy the public place by ordinance or term permit — an encroaching structure, a long-term use of the right-of-way, a vault or area-way under the sidewalk — the City conditions that grant on a surety bond. The bond guarantees you comply with the ordinance conditions and protect the public place.
It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier, and the City of Seattle (the obligee). If you violate the ordinance, damage the right-of-way, or fail to remove or restore the use when required, the City can recover against the bond.
It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays the City, you repay the surety. Permittees who comply with the ordinance and maintain the public place treat the bond as a permit formality. The City sets the amount; the premium is 1% of that amount, with a $100 minimum, and no credit check up to $100,000.
You need this bond if you are
Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.
If a claim is made
A claim comes from the party the bond protects, the obligee named on the form, when the duty the bond guarantees is not met.
The surety investigates and pays a valid claim, up to the bond amount. You then repay the surety: a surety bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.
Renewal and term
The premium covers a one-year term from the effective date you choose.
Renew before the expiry date to keep the bond in force: the license, permit or contract it backs expects continuous coverage.
How to file it
File with the City of Seattle. Submit the executed bond with your public-place use ordinance or term permit to the City of Seattle (SDOT). Wet-ink originals mailed on request.
What sets the price
The premium is 1% of the bond amount, $100 minimum: the amount the obligee sets moves the price, not your business profile.
No credit check up to $100,000. Above that, the carrier may run a soft pull, which never affects your score.
Where a check runs, it decides approval; the rate is the same for everyone approved.
One application, issued on the spot.
Submit the application with the bond amount the City of Seattle set — the executed bond is generated instantly, ready to file with your ordinance or permit.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other Washington bonds.
Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .
Seattle public place ordinance bond, issued today.
Priced at 1% of the bond amount with a $100 minimum. Enter the amount the City required and file the same day.