Laws, Regulations and Fees
The City of Seattle and King County have long partnered to regulate for-hire passenger transportation in the region. This partnership broadly splits duties whereby the City administers vehicle regulations, and the County administers driver regulations. Both jurisdictions administer regional dispatch agency and transportation network company regulations. The partnership is memorialized in an interlocal agreement (ILA) between the City and County. The ILA was last updated in 2023.
Chapter 6.310 in the Seattle Municipal Code governs transportation network companies and chapter 6.311 governs taxicabs and for-hire vehicles. Companion King County code language appears in chapter 6.64 for transportation network companies and chapter 6.65 for taxicabs and for-hire vehicles.
Director's rules interpret the municipal code and outline processes and other requirements for the City, County, and licensees to follow. Rules, most of which are jointly issued by the City and County, relating to the taxi, for-hire and transportation network company industry are available on the Finance and Administrative Services website.
Annual reports concerning the City and County for-hire passenger transportation regulatory programs are available on King County’s Records and Licensing Services website.
Late feeReplacement license fee
| Taxicab and for-hire vehicles | City of Seattle | King County | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual medallion & reciprocity endorsement fees | $300.00 | $100.00 | $400.00 |
| Annual wheelchair accessible taxicab medallion and reciprocity endorsement fees (waived when determined eligible by the Director) | $300.00 | $100.00 | $400.00 |
| Medallion and medallion reciprocity endorsement late fees | $30.00 | $10.00 | $40.00 |
For-hire driver fees (except TNC drivers) |
City of Seattle |
King County |
Total |
|
Annual regional for-hire driver license fee |
$25.00 |
$25.00 |
$50.00 |
| Third-party driving history report fee | Charged as determined by the director to cover cost | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| Third-party background check fee (regional for-hire driver's license) | Charged as determined by the director to cover cost | $24.00 | $24.00 |
| Fingerprinting fee (for fingerprint-based background check) | Charged as determined by the director to cover cost | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Fingerprint-based background check fee (required for Enhanced Regional For-hire Driver's License) | Charged as determined by the director to cover cost | $34.25 | $34.25 |
|
$15.00 |
$2.00 |
$17.00 |
|
|
Charged as determined by the director to cover cost |
$5.00 |
$5.00 |
|
| Initial For-hire Driver Training fee (on-line) | Charged as determined by the director to cover cost | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Training rescheduling fee | Charged as determined by the director to cover cost | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Annual regional dispatch agency and transitional regional dispatch license fees | City of Seattle | King County | Total |
| Fifty or fewer affiliated vehicles | $250.00 | $125.00 | $375.00 |
| Fifty-one or more affiliated vehicles | $500.00 | $250.00 | $750.00 |
| Late fee: Fifty or fewer affiliated vehicles | $25.00 | $12.00 | $37.00 |
| Late fee: Fifty-one or more affiliated vehicles | $50.00 | $25.00 | $75.00 |
| Additional trade names registration fee | $25.00 | $50.00 | $75.00 |
Transportation network company (TNC) quarterly fee |
|||
| For all rides originating in unincorporated King County or any municipality that contracts with the County for TNC operations | $0.23 per ride | ||
| For all rides originating in the City of Seattle | $0.18 per ride | ||
Wheelchair accessible vehicle surcharge |
|||
|
For all rides originating in unincorporated King County or any municipality that contracts with the County, each taxicab licensee, for-hire vehicle licensee, or TNC company pays |
$0.10 per ride | ||
|
For all rides originating in the City of Seattle, each taxicab licensee, for-hire vehicle licensee, or TNC company pays |
$0.10 per ride | ||