Real Estate Services

As part of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, we provide centralized real estate services to City decision-makers and departments, as well as the general public. This includes buying, selling or transferring property (formally known as, respectively, "acquisition," "disposition" and "reuse"), and maintaining listings and maps of City-owned properties.

What do you want to do?

Visit the City Property Finder & Resources page to access the City's online interactive mapping tool, which presents data on property the City owns or leases. You may search for a City-owned property by address, neighborhood, tax parcel number, PMA (property management area) or interactive map search.

Visit the City Property Finder & Resources page for links to online resources to help you determine which City department has jurisdiction over a specific piece of property.

Please complete an online Service Request to request maintenance on a piece of City-owned property.
Note: If you do not see the topic of your specific request in the "service type" drop-down menu, choose "General Inquiry — Customer Service Bureau" category.

The City of Seattle owns property used for various municipal purposes such as fire stations, police stations, office buildings, parks, libraries and streets. Requests to use City property should be directed to the managing department. Departments managing their own property include Department of Parks and Recreation, Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Public Library, Office of Housing and Department of Neighborhoods. The Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) manages general government facilities as well as real property for other City departments, including the Seattle Department of Transportation.

FAS manages City-owned general-use property, including fire and police stations, maintenance shops, City Hall, the Justice Center and various vacant properties. The following are the types of agreements that authorize the use City-owned property.

Revocable Use Permits (RUP)

RUP are general permits that will allow a nonexclusive and temporary use or access to City-owned property for a limited time period. The variety of activities in a RUP could include parking, tree trimming or vegetation management. RUP can also be used to allow a use on a temporary basis while a more permanent agreement such as a long-term lease or other legislative action is approved. To begin, please complete the RUP Application Form.

Limited Access License (LAL)

A limited access permit allows a nonexclusive access for a short time period for a specific purpose. A LAL is generally used for environmental testing, surveying or other temporary access purposes. To begin, please complete the Limited Access License application form.

Leases

The City may lease space in City-owned property that is not currently used by the City. Leases are granted through ordinances passed by City Council, although the FAS director has the authority to negotiate and execute some leases with terms under five years. To begin, please complete the Lease Application Form.

Use the mailing list sign-up box on this page to subscribe to an email list to receive excess property notices, updates and reports. The following are documents that are posted through this service:

  • Excess Property Notices
  • Published Preliminary Reports
  • Published Final Reports
  • Notices of Legislation
  • Notices of Public Hearing
  • Properties listed for sale
  • Update notices on disposition status
  • Other property related notices as provided by other City departments

Use the contact information provided in the public notice to provide your comment. Links to notices can be found on the Property Under Review page.

The Seattle City Council must approve all property sales.  Legislation is typically sent to the Council at the end of the Property Review Process.  

Visit the Property for Sale page for details regarding current listings.