RATS! City’s new requirement for demolition projects

| Development | West Seattle news

Now that government offices have reopened, you’ll be hearing a lot about what’s new for 2017. We took a look at the city’s news.seattle.gov portal, and this one caught our eye, from the Department of Construction and Inspections website:

On January 1, 2017, the updated Seattle Building Code takes effect. The updated code requires all applicants to complete a rat eradication program as a condition to getting a demolition permit. Only projects that apply under the 2015 Seattle Building Code will be subject to this new requirement.

The rat eradication program must be in place on the project site at least 15 days prior to the start of any demolition or any clearing or grading on the site. Applicants must provide proof to the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections that a licensed pest control agent successfully completed the eradication. You can find licensed pest control operators at the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s website. (Search for commercial applicators with a CA endorsement of PCO General within King County.)

We are updating our demolition permit process and accompanying forms. During this transition, applicants can submit a letter from a certified pest control agent that includes the planned eradication method and a statement that they will continue eradication until the demolition begins.

Also spotlighted by SDCI: Street-use permit-fee changes and new rules for tree-protection signage on construction sites,

BettytheYeti January 3, 2017 (12:14 pm)

This is when the coyotes do their part in controlling the West Seattle rat population.

SF January 3, 2017 (5:14 pm)

This is very good news. When they were constructing the Morgan Junction park years back (I could not recall if there had been a demolition there), I drove by and there were (I kid you not), more than 200 rats running around displaced. I had no idea that this could be a problem. But it sounds like it happens quite often. Eeeewww.

AMD January 3, 2017 (6:38 pm)

Every now and then I rad about a new regulation and say to myself “um… okay…”

There’s a part of me that’s curious, and a lot of me that’s genuinely thankful it never occurred to me this was needed.

Kay K January 4, 2017 (10:37 am)

As they say there are only two kinds of property owners in Seattle. Those who have rats, and those who have rats but don’t know it. :)

anonyme January 4, 2017 (10:51 am)

This new law, while well-meaning, could have repercussions that are just as unsavory as a mass exodus of live rats. First, it could mean having a building or area saturated with highly toxic poisons, as bait traps might take longer to be effective. Second, even with bait traps the poisoned rats still have to die somewhere. They won’t necessarily stay within the property line to do so, and a poisoned rat corpse is a danger to pets and wildlife as well.

unknown January 4, 2017 (2:28 pm)

Since we’re talking rats but isn’t this how White Center got it’s nick-name “Rat City” from when they tore down something (don’t know exactly what) and all the rats had nowhere to go but out into the existing neighborhoods?