Seattle Surveillance Ordinance (SMC Chapter 14.18)
Seattle, WA · Seattle Ordinance 125376 (2017), SMC ch. 14.18, as amended 2018
Seattle requires city departments to get City Council approval before acquiring or using surveillance technologies, supported by public Surveillance Impact Reports and review by a community working group. One of the earliest and most comprehensive municipal surveillance-oversight laws in the country.
Technical detail
SMC ch. 14.18 (Ordinance 125376, 2017; strengthened 2018) requires Council approval of each surveillance technology, publication of Surveillance Impact Reports, and Community Surveillance Working Group review including racial-equity analysis.
Who is protected: People in Seattle subject to municipal surveillance technologies
Who must comply: All City of Seattle departments, including Seattle Police Department and Seattle IT
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2017-09-01 |
| Enacted | 2017-07-31 |
| Citation | Seattle Ordinance 125376 (2017), SMC ch. 14.18, as amended 2018 |
| Enforced by | Seattle City Council; Seattle IT compliance program; Office of Inspector General |
| Topics | police and surveillance AI · government use of AI · consumer data privacy · AI disclosure and transparency · automated decision-making |
| Last verified | 2026-06-10 |
| Official source | Surveillance Technology — Seattle Information Technology ↗ |
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