On a Seattle hillside or tower lot the unit goes where the grade, the curb and the permit allow: a level pad on the hill, a curb lane under the City's permit, a side gap the truck can reach, or a corner inside a site fence. The spot is planned from a photo and a sketch of the grade, and the count follows the crew and the trades.
Key takeaways
- On a hillside, the grade decides the spot, the pad and the carry.
- A unit on the public way needs the permit for that space before delivery.
- A tower curb beside a transit lane needs the stop agreed for the quiet hours.
- A side gap or a fenced corner is often the best spot on a tight lot.
- The count follows the crew and the trades and is reviewed at each stage.
- The regional permit slowdown in 2025 is context, not a Seattle total.
How is a hillside spot chosen?
By walking the grade with the truck's stop in mind, and checking the level, the surface and the drainage before choosing the spot.
Photograph the lot from the street and from the spot the unit would stand. Note the slope, any retaining wall, the steps and the drainage.
Sketch the stop below the house and the carry up the grade, and mark where a pad is needed. The provider reviews the sketch before the booking.
Curb, side gap or fenced corner?
Each has its own permit and route. The curb is on the public way, the side gap is on private ground with consent, and the fenced corner is inside the site's enclosure.
A curb unit is set under the City's permit for that space, and it needs a pad where the surface slopes or is worn. The walk is kept clear for pedestrians.
A side gap is often the best option on a tight Seattle lot. The route through it is checked for width, and the owner's consent is kept in the file.
A fenced corner on a larger tower site is the easiest to manage. The unit sits inside the fence, the route is clear of material stacks, and the gate is planned for the service vehicle.
- Curb: City permit for the space, pad on a slope
- Side gap: owner's written consent, route through the gap
- Fenced corner: inside the enclosure, clear of material stacks
How do the tower curbs and transit lanes fit in?
A tower curb beside a transit lane must not block the lane, and the stop is agreed for the quiet hours so the delivery does not hold the traffic.
The transit lane is not a place for a unit or a truck waiting to unload. The provider plans the stop beside the curb and outside the lane.
The delivery is timed for the early or late hours, when the lane is quieter, and the site lead agrees the time with the provider.
Does a public-use rule apply to a construction site?
Crew-only units are handled differently from units shared with visitors. A site beside a public space or a trail has public use nearby, and the plan should say which units are which.
A unit that the public, an inspector or a neighbor may use is part of the public provision, and the Special Events Office should be asked how such a site is treated.
The decision on who may use the unit is recorded on the plan.
What does the regional permit slowdown mean for a job?
A regional builders' bulletin reported that multifamily permits in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties fell 37 percent through July 2025, which is context for the market, not a figure for Seattle alone.
The bulletin's figures cover three counties, so they should not be taken as Seattle's own totals. They explain why some crews are working on longer schedules than planned.
A crew whose schedule has slipped needs its unit planned for the new dates, not the original ones.
How are winter and wet weather planned for?
The pad and the route are checked after each heavy rain, and the schedule allows for wet ground and the slower drying of the pad.
A hillside pad can settle after a wet spell, and the unit can lean. The check after rain is part of the first visit each week in the wettest months.
The route is kept clear of runoff, and the carry is planned to avoid the muddiest path.
How is a tower crew's count set across the stages?
The count is set for each stage of the tower, from the frame to the finish, and the crews change between stages, so the count is reviewed at each change.
A frame stage has a large crew for a long time, and a finish stage a smaller crew for a shorter time. The count follows that pattern.
The change is agreed with the provider in writing, and the new count is shown on the plan for the site.
What about the wet season on a hillside lot?
The pad and the route are checked after each heavy rain, the drainage is kept clear, and the carry is planned to avoid the muddiest path.
A hillside pad can settle after a wet spell, and the check after rain is part of each week's visit in the wettest months.
The runoff from a slope is kept away from the pad, and the carry avoids the path where water pools.
How is the stop agreed with a busy street?
The stop is agreed with the site lead and, where it is on the public way, with the City office, for the quiet hours, so the truck does not hold a lane.
A delivery held on a busy street is a complaint for the site and the City, and the timing is set to avoid it.
The provider confirms the stop and the hour before the booking, and the crew is told the time.
How do you protect a hillside pad from runoff?
A berm or a shallow drain is set above the pad on the uphill side, the pad is kept higher than the ground around it, and the unit's door faces away from the runoff.
A pad that sits in runoff is undermined over time, and the unit can lean before anyone notices. A berm above the pad is a simple, effective protection.
The drain carries water away from the unit and the route, and it is checked after each heavy rain.
What does a tower site need from its neighbors?
The neighbors' walks, driveways and entrances are kept clear, and their consent is sought for any use of their ground for the unit or the truck.
A truck waiting on a neighbor's drive is a complaint and a risk, so the stop is agreed with the neighbor where it touches their property.
A short note to the neighbors, with the dates of the unit and its collection, keeps the relationship on good terms.
How do you handle a site with a fence and a gate?
The gate width is measured for the service vehicle, the gate is kept open during the visit, and the route inside the fence is kept clear of material.
A gate that is too narrow stops the visits, so its width is measured before the booking.
The crew is told when the service vehicle is due, so the gate is open and the route is not blocked by a delivery.
How is the unit kept from the neighbors' view on a hill?
The unit is set behind a planting, a fence or the house, with the door turned away from the street and the neighbors' windows, where the grade allows it.
A unit in full view on a hillside is visible from the houses below, and a placement that hides it is a courtesy the neighbors notice.
The screen is kept clear of the unit's door and the service route, so the visit is not blocked by the planting.
What happens when a hillside job ends?
The unit is collected on the agreed day, the pad is cleared and the ground is checked for damage, and the spot is left as it was found.
A pad left behind is a hazard to the next user of the lot, and it is removed with the unit.
The check of the ground is recorded on the pickup visit, so the site owner has the condition in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a unit go on a hillside lot?
Yes, on a level pad or a flat part of the lot, with the carry planned from the stop.
Can the truck stop in a transit lane?
No. The stop is agreed beside the curb and outside the lane, for the quiet hours.
Are construction units accessible?
Crew-only units are handled differently from units shared with the public.
What does the 2025 slowdown mean for my job?
It is regional context. Plan your unit for your job's own dates.
Where does the waste go?
To a permitted facility, under the Washington rules for septage.
Sources
This guide is general information for King County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.