Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) on Tuesday applauded the unanimous passage of legislation that prioritizes parking for musicians and their crews at qualifying live music venues.  The new Music Venue Zone Permit program was proposed by the Executive and sponsored by Council President Nelson after hearing consistent feedback from local artists about some of the logistical challenges of performing at Seattle venues.

“Musicians are the heart and soul of our city. They create joy, connection, and meaning, and are a vital engine for our economy. The least we can do for them is ensure they don’t have to worry about a place to park when they’re performing,” said Council President Nelson. “I’m thrilled that this bill addresses the concerns of hundreds of musicians, dozens of venues, and will create a richer nightlife across our city. Thank you to the artists who advocated for this change for years, and the diligent work from SDOT and OED as they collaborated with my office to see it through.”

The legislation would allow the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to develop a Music Venue Zone Permit and establish “Music Venue Zones.” The permits create up to three spaces per venue and allow for parking and loading 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while displaying a valid permit. Vehicles without permits could be ticketed and towed.

“This council and Mayor Harrell’s decision to pass the music venue parking legislation sends a powerful message of our city’s dedication to live music. Our community of venues, artists, and musicians will experience the positive impact of this daily. We cannot overstate how appreciative we are,” said Shaina Foley, general manager of The Crocodile.

As of June 2024, 33 venues are eligible for the program and President Nelson sponsored an amendment to require that SDOT conduct robust outreach to proximal businesses and nonprofits to ensure that a requested permit will not unduly conflict with existing curbside uses.

Music Venue Zones are intended to support performing artists and their crews, enrich Seattle’s music scene by making it easier for artists to perform, and support music venues – which are catalysts for economic development.

Background

Today, musicians often have to spend time searching for parking and loading zones near venues, adding undue stress, and requiring them to haul heavy equipment to and from their destination. Venues can use Temporary No Parking Permits, but they can only be used for loading, are time-intensive, and are intended for construction. In lieu of permits, venues sometimes attempt to block off parking on their own.

The Seattle Music Commission organized a survey asking venues and musicians about their parking concerns. There were over 300 responses which highlighted how parking problems negatively impacted musicians and venues. One artist said, “I often worry about parking as much as the gig itself!” Finding parking is such a severe problem that artists occasionally don’t book shows because of it.

The City of Seattle has tried addressing this problem before, creating a temporary pilot program in 2014 at five venues. However, the signage was advisory, not enforceable, and only allowed for loading, not parking.

Next Steps

The bill will now go the Mayor and await his signature. If signed, the new program will be effective in 30 days.