How to Respond to a Seattle SDCI Correction Notice

When Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections reviewers finish a cycle and the project needs changes, the status changes to Corrections Required. SDCI then expects one consolidated response from the whole design team, on one plan set, with every change clouded. The target review time for corrected plans is two weeks, and that clock only starts once the upload is complete and correct.

When you can respond

• All reviews must be done. SDCI says all reviews must be completed before you can respond, upload or submit any correction responses. Reviews still in progress show an hourglass in the Seattle Services Portal.

• Watch for the notice. SDCI notifies the primary contact when every review in the cycle is complete.

• Status must read Corrections Required. That is the signal to start the response.

How to answer the comments

1. Open the Consolidated Summary Report Plan Set and reply to every item with the Reply function in Bluebeam or the Comment panel in Adobe Acrobat.

2. For each item, describe the change and where it is. If you did not make a requested change, give a code citation or documentation explaining why.

3. Put responses from every designer, architect, engineer and owner on that one plan set.

4. Cloud or circle every change on the drawings. New sheets can be added if needed.

5. Describe any voluntary changes in the response letter.

What to upload

• Two plan sets. Use Make Changes to upload the Correction Response Plan Set with the replies embedded, and the clean updated Plan Set.

• A complete set every time. SDCI does not review individual sheets.

• One PDF. Combine all sheets into a single PDF. Only photographs may be uploaded as JPG.

• Response letter for big changes. If the proposal changed significantly, complete the Permit Correction Response Letter. Staff decide whether a land use clock restarts or added construction review fees apply.

• Finish the upload. Click Continue Application until the Thank You screen appears, or the plans do not upload.

What delays corrected plan review

• Plans with the wrong orientation or sheet size, missing sheets or missing responses are not accepted.

• Wrong file names or wrong documents. SDCI cannot rename or delete uploaded files for you.

• Answers that skip a comment or promise a change that is not on the drawings.

• SDCI can also charge a penalty fee when instructions are not followed.

Common questions

How long does SDCI take to review corrected plans?

SDCI's stated target for reviewing corrected plans is two weeks, counted once a complete, correct upload is in.

Can I respond to one reviewer before the others finish?

No. SDCI requires every review in the cycle to be complete, with the project in Corrections Required status, before any response is uploaded.

Do I need a response letter?

Comment replies go on the Consolidated Summary Report Plan Set. The Permit Correction Response Letter is required when the proposal changed significantly, and it is where voluntary changes are described.

What if I disagree with a correction?

Reply to the item with the code citation or documentation that supports the design. A reply without support usually comes back in the next cycle.

How SASHKOV handles it

• Collects every reviewer comment and assigns each one to the right discipline.

• Coordinates the structural, civil and energy responses with licensed consultants under one SASHKOV contract.

• Clouds and revises the set, replies to every comment on the consolidated plan set and prepares the response letter when needed.

• Uploads both plan sets through the Seattle Services Portal and tracks the cycle to issuance.

Where a building requires a licensed architect or engineer of record, SASHKOV brings them into the contract.

Stuck in a correction cycle? See Corrections and Permit Recovery. For permits already issued and running out of time, read Expired Building Permits in Seattle.

Have an SDCI correction notice open now? Send the notice and project number, and SASHKOV will scope the response and the timeline in business days.