‘Brand New Year’ street closures now permitted on residential Seattle streets

Meghan Walker Ballard

The City is allowing another round of street closures for the holidays, providing street closure permits from now until Jan. 3, 2021.

It’s called the “Brand New Year,” yet another spinoff of the City’s Stay Healthy Blocks  program, providing one-block street closures for non-arterial streets to Seattle residents. The closures will be permitted from 9am to 9pm each day.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic touched down in Seattle, we worked quickly to launch our Stay Healthy Blocks program to provide residents and businesses the opportunity to safely get outside and be active while maintaining social distancing,” Mayor Jenny A. Durkan said in a statement. “This time of year, we’d normally be out and about with our neighbors, exploring the holidays lights and being in community. With Brand New Year Blocks, we’re creating new ways for Seattle residents to be in community with their loved ones and neighbors in a way that’s safe, healthy, and respects the need for social distancing.”

The limit for street closures is 20 hours over three total days (consecutive or non-consecutive). To find out if your block is eligible, visit the Stay Healthy Blocks website and apply online.

While enjoying the Brand New Year Blocks, SDOT asks everyone to continue to adhere to public health guidelines. From SDOT:

  • Brand New Year Blocks should not result in crowding. They’re designed for individuals, families, and immediate neighbors. 
  • Participants should remain with members of their household and make sure to maintain physical distance from non-household members.   
  • Participants should wear cloth face coverings, wash hands often, and bring hand sanitizer to use while out. 
  • If participants are at a Brand New Year/Stay Healthy Block and it seems crowded and physical distancing is not easily possible, SDOT recommends coming back later or going elsewhere.