Seattle Moving Container Permit: Curb Reservations, Fees & Signs

Permit Summary

Permit status

Permit may be required

Official permit name

Temporary No Parking Zone Reservation; Restricted Area Parking (RAP) Permit; Storage Container Permit

Authority

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)

Fee

An ordinary moving truck does not need a Street Use permit, so no general moving-truck permit fee applies unless a parking or right-of-way permit is needed. For a truck using a Temporary No Parking Zone, a Restricted Area Parking permit costs $16 per truck for up to 2 days, then $8 per additional day. In paid parking, SDOT also charges $18.50 for No-Parking sign installation/removal plus lost parking revenue per space per day: $22 downtown or $17 outside downtown for a yellow daytime restriction, and $27 downtown or $20 outside downtown for a red 24-hour tow-away restriction. A moving/storage container placed in the public right-of-way uses the 2026 ROW Simple issuance base fee of $214; additional review, inspection, use, or location-related charges may apply.

Processing time

Temporary No Parking and Restricted Area Permit applications must be made at least 24 hours before the curb space is needed, and SDOT recommends posting the No-Parking easels and public notice 72 hours in advance. SDOT's current storage-container page does not publish a fixed review-time target; the Street Use permit must be issued before the container is delivered and placed in the public right-of-way.

Inspection required

Sometimes

Moving Permit Scope

Permit Scope

Seattle does not issue one universal household moving permit. The moving-related process regulates reserved or restricted curb use through a Temporary No Parking Zone and a Restricted Area Parking permit for an eligible moving truck, while a portable moving/storage container placed in the public right-of-way requires a separate Street Use permit.

Moving Equipment Covered

Temporary No Parking zones may be used for moving vans and other eligible trucks. Restricted Area Permits are issued for trucks such as pickups, moving vans, and commercial delivery vehicles, and for service vans with truck or commercial vehicle plates. Portable moving/storage containers placed in the public right-of-way require a Street Use permit. A trailer and hitch parked in the right-of-way must remain attached to a vehicle.

Vehicle Eligibility Rules

A vehicle occupying a Temporary No Parking Zone must have a Restricted Area Permit. SDOT issues these permits only for trucks, including pickups, moving vans, commercial delivery vehicles, and service vans with truck or commercial vehicle plates. Passenger vehicles and other non-truck vehicles are not eligible.

Moving Container Rules

A portable moving/storage container placed in Seattle's public right-of-way requires a Street Use permit before delivery and placement. SDOT directs applicants to place containers free-standing in legal parking spaces, preferably in the parking lane in front of their property, and at least 30 feet from intersections, 10 feet from driveways, and 15 feet from hydrants. If the only available space is in front of another property, the potentially affected property owner must be notified. A Temporary No Parking Zone is required when the container occupies on-street paid parking and is also the process for officially reserving curb space.

Parking & Reserved Space

Location Restrictions

A Temporary No Parking Zone may use a valid on-street paid or unpaid parking space, but normally may not reserve already restricted spaces such as Carshare, Carpool, Food Vending, Truck Only, Passenger Load, or other Load/Unload Only zones. SDOT may make special arrangements to relocate an affected restricted zone when no other option exists. All posted peak-hour restrictions remain in effect.

Metered Parking Rules

For a Temporary No Parking reservation on a paid-parking blockface, the applicant needs the curbspace identifier numbers and nearest address. SDOT charges an $18.50 sign installation/removal labor fee plus lost parking revenue per metered space per day: yellow daytime restriction $22 downtown or $17 outside downtown; red 24-hour tow-away restriction $27 downtown or $20 outside downtown. Adjacent properties or retail establishments must be notified when paid parking spaces are used. A moving/storage container in an on-street paid parking area requires a Temporary No Parking Zone.

Timing & Permit Duration

Application lead time

Temporary No Parking and Restricted Area Permit applications, including extensions, must be submitted at least 24 hours before the spaces are needed. Because SDOT recommends posting the No-Parking easels and Public Notice 72 hours in advance, applicants should arrange the signs and complete the reservation early enough to meet that posting period. A moving/storage container Street Use permit must be issued before the container is delivered and placed.

Maximum permit duration

SDOT does not publish one universal maximum duration for a moving-related Temporary No Parking reservation. Restricted Area Parking pricing covers $16 per truck for up to 2 days and $8 per additional day thereafter. For a moving/storage container, the applicant states the requested duration and the permit is issued for the approved period; Street Use charges can vary with duration and location.

Temporary No Parking Signs

No parking signs required

Sometimes

Sign posting lead time

SDOT recommends that Temporary No Parking easels and the printed Public Notice be placed 72 hours before the restriction begins. Under Seattle Municipal Code 11.72.440, official temporary no-parking signs become enforceable 24 hours after posting.

Sign Posting Rules

For a non-paid curb reservation, arrange No-Parking easels through a barricade company, write the approved dates and times legibly on the signs with non-permanent ink, apply through the Seattle Services Portal, print the generated Public Notice, and attach it to at least two signs per block. The easels and notice should be posted 72 hours in advance. SDOT states that a sign without the barricade company's name and phone number is not valid.

Neighbor / Property Notice Rules

Applicants must notify adjacent properties or retail establishments when using paid parking spaces. For a moving/storage container, if the only available placement is in front of property that is not the applicant's, SDOT requires notification of the potentially affected property owner. Special relocation of an existing restricted curb zone may also require sign-off by adjacent businesses or property owners.

Enforcement & Street Restrictions

Enforcement / Towing Rules

Seattle Municipal Code 11.72.440 makes official temporary parking-prohibition signs enforceable according to their terms 24 hours after posting. Vehicles parked in violation are subject to impound in addition to other penalties. SDOT recommends 72-hour advance posting so the reserved zone has adequate notice before the move.

Traffic / Street Restrictions

Moving vehicles must comply with posted peak-hour and other curb restrictions. A Temporary No Parking reservation does not override peak-hour restrictions. Portable containers should maintain the required intersection, driveway, and hydrant clearances; a trailer in the right-of-way must remain attached to a vehicle. If the activity closes pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicle travel or otherwise requires broader right-of-way use, a ROW Construction Use permit may be required. Separate SDOT permits apply to oversized or overweight vehicles and to vehicles 30 feet or longer operating in the Downtown Traffic Control Zone during its regulated hours.

What You Need Before Applying

Requirements

A moving truck does not need a Street Use permit simply to conduct a move, but it must comply with existing parking and traffic restrictions. If curb space must be reserved, establish a Temporary No Parking Zone and obtain a Restricted Area Parking permit for the moving truck occupying that zone. A portable moving/storage container placed in the public right-of-way requires a Street Use permit before delivery and placement, with the required right-of-way plan and any applicable Temporary No Parking reservation.

Exemptions

There is no general Seattle permit requirement for an ordinary moving truck that can lawfully use available curb space without reserving or occupying restricted space. A Street Use permit is required for a portable moving/storage container placed in the public right-of-way. Activities occurring entirely on private property and not using City right-of-way are outside these SDOT curb-reservation and Street Use permit processes.

Required Documents

For a Temporary No Parking reservation, provide the location, requested dates and times, and the information required by the Seattle Services Portal; paid-parking requests require the curbspace identifier numbers and nearest address. The generated Public Notice must be printed and attached to the No-Parking easels. For a moving/storage container Street Use permit, prepare and upload a Right-of-Way Impact Plan showing the approximate container location and provide the requested use, location, dimensions, number of containers, start date, and duration.

How to Apply

Go to Official Application

Official Sources

Last verified: October 1, 2026