Good News for Guerilla Gardeners

For Immediate Release: May 11, 2009
Contact: Alex Fryer, (206) 684-8358 or (206) 941-5931 (cell), alex.fryer@seattle.gov

Mayor Nickels Announces New Rules for Gardening in Planting Strips - New procedures to encourage more gardening citywide

SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today announced improvements to make gardening in planting strips easier for Seattles residents. The new planting strip policy, issued by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), eliminates any permit requirements for gardens and ends fees previously required for hardscape improvements, such as planter boxes or pavers.

This change makes it easier to plant flowers and vegetables in the strip between the sidewalk and the street. "For many gardeners, that's prime space", said Nickels. "It's one of the things that makes Seattle special, and, with planting season upon us, its time to get those green thumbs going."

Under the new rules announced today, residents no longer need to obtain a $225 permit for hardscape improvements, such as raised gardens or stepping stones. Instead, they can obtain a free online permit for these improvements and to plant a tree at: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_permits_online.htm

SDOT has updated its Web site with information explaining the rules:http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_docs.htm

To ensure public safety and protect city infrastructure, they also provide guidelines for making planting strip improvements.

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This is great news, especially considering present demand - The National Gardening Association projects that the number of homes growing vegetables will jump more than forty percent this year compared with just two years ago. (factoid courtesy of Seattle Tilth) Now if we could just get more P-Patches...