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Regulations and notices
Learn more about regulations and notices for taxi, for-hire, and transportation network companies (TNCs).
King County is responsible for approving taxi, for-hire, and TNC companies and drivers who wish to operate in:
- Unincorporated King County
- The Port of Seattle, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (requires additional Port of Seattle authorization)
- Within the city limits of Auburn, Bellevue, Burien, Covington, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, and Shoreline
Regulations
King County and the City of Seattle partner to regulate the for-hire industry under an interlocal agreement.
King County manages all for-hire driver licensing functions for both jurisdictions. Seattle manages all for-hire vehicle licensing functions for both jurisdictions. Regulations across the two jurisdictions vary slightly.
More detailed information is available online:
Public Rules
Rulemaking in progress
The following rules were proposed for adoption and the comment period for them ended September 27, 2024:
- Fares and Rates for Taxicabs and For-Hire Vehicles FHT-10-2024-PR
- Leasing a Taxicab or For-Hire Vehicle FHT-15-2024-PR
- Regional For-Hire Driver's License Training Requirements FHT-16-2024-PR
Recently adopted rules
- Reimbursements from the Wheelchair Accessible Services Fund - TNC vehicles FHT-1-2024-PR
- Reimbursements from the Wheelchair Accessible Services Fund - taxicabs and for-hire vehicles FHT-2-2024-PR
- Splitting dual medallions FHT-3-2024-PR
- Temporary deactivation of medallions FHT-4-2024-PR
- Evidence of vehicle insurance and changes to insurance requirements FHT-5-2024-PR
- Vehicle color schemes and markings FHT-6-2024-PR
- Vehicle safety inspections for taxicabs and for-hire vehicles FHT-7-2024-PR
- Taximeters and smart taximeters FHT-8-2024-PR
- Vehicle size and fuel FHT-9-2024-PR
- Wheelchair accessible services surcharge for taxicab and for-hire vehicle medallion owners FHT-11-2024-PR
- Application dispatch systems for Transportation Network Companies FHT-12-2024-PR
- Application dispatch systems for transitional regional dispatch agencies and regional dispatch agencies FHT-13-2024-PR
- Taxicab and for-hire vehicle medallion leases FHT-14-2024-PR
Legislation
The King County Council (County and Seattle City Council (City) each adopted three ordinances related to for-hire transportation in the past year, including:
The first ordinance amends existing City and County law to effectively remove taxicab and for-hire vehicle owners, drivers, and companies from the code, leaving in place the existing regulations on TNCs.
The second ordinance establishes a new chapter, in City and County codes respectively, focused on the taxicab and for-hire vehicle industries to ease and streamline regulations.
The third ordinance authorizes an updated Interlocal Agreement for the City and County to jointly regulate and enforce SMC 6.310, SMC 6.311, KCC 6.64, and KCC 6.65.
In addition, the King County Council also adopted an ordinance to update interlocal agreements with public agencies for for-hire transportation regulatory services.
This summary of core policy changes provides an overview of the major changes in the ordinances. If you have any questions, please email them to FAST@kingcounty.gov.