Vendor pricing · verified September 2026
Seattle's delivery commission cap in 2026
Seattle was the first US city to cap delivery commissions, by emergency order in 2020, and one of the first to make the cap permanent. Council Bill 120379, sponsored by Councilmembers Alex Pedersen and Dan Strauss, passed unanimously on August 2, 2022 and became Ordinance 126639, codified as Seattle Municipal Code chapter 7.30, Delivery Commission Caps, effective November 30, 2022. A third-party delivery platform may not charge a Seattle restaurant more than 15% of the order for delivery services, and it may not reduce driver compensation to make up the difference. Washington State's own cap, Governor Inslee's pandemic Proclamation 20-76 at 15% for delivery and 18% total, was rescinded before the June 30, 2021 reopening, so Seattle's ordinance is the cap that applies today.
Sources: Seattle City Council press release of August 2, 2022; the City's Finance and Administrative Services summary of Ordinance 126639 and SMC 7.30; GeekWire on the rescinded state proclamation. Read September 2026. This page describes the law; it is not legal advice.
What the ordinance says
| Provision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Law | Ordinance 126639 (Council Bill 120379), SMC chapter 7.30 |
| Passed | August 2, 2022, unanimous |
| Effective | November 30, 2022 |
| Cap | 15% of the order for delivery services |
| Driver pay | platforms may not reduce driver compensation to comply |
| State cap | none in force; Proclamation 20-76 (15% delivery, 18% total) was rescinded in June 2021 |
The 15% covers delivery services. Ask the platform which charges on your statement fall inside that definition and which, such as marketing or processing, sit outside it.
What a $40 order costs a Seattle restaurant
| Arrangement | Legal maximum | Cost on a $40 order | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace delivery, at the cap | 15% | $6.00 | restaurant |
| Same order outside Seattle on DoorDash Plus | 25% (published national plan) | $10.00 | restaurant |
| Ginger Direct, your own site | no commission; card processing as low as 2% + 5¢ | about $0.85 | restaurant pays processing; guest pays a $1 order fee |
Seattle's cap saves a restaurant $4 on a $40 delivery order compared with DoorDash's national Plus plan. Moving the same order to your own site saves about $5.15 more.
Frequently asked questions
What is Seattle's delivery commission cap?
15% of the order for delivery services, under Ordinance 126639, codified as Seattle Municipal Code chapter 7.30. It passed unanimously on August 2, 2022 and took effect November 30, 2022.
Is Seattle's cap permanent?
Yes. The 2020 emergency cap was made permanent by Council Bill 120379, which became Ordinance 126639 effective November 30, 2022.
Does Washington State cap delivery commissions?
Not today. Governor Inslee's Proclamation 20-76 capped delivery fees at 15% and total fees at 18% during the pandemic, but it was rescinded ahead of the June 30, 2021 reopening. Seattle's ordinance is the cap in force.
Can platforms cut driver pay to stay under the cap?
No. SMC 7.30 bars a platform from reducing driver compensation to comply with the 15% cap.
How does direct ordering compare with Seattle's cap?
Orders from your own site carry no commission. With Ginger Direct a restaurant pays card processing as low as 2% + 5¢, about 85 cents on a $40 order, and the guest pays a $1 order fee; there is no monthly fee. The same order costs $6.00 at Seattle's 15% cap and $10.00 on DoorDash's national Plus plan.
Compare it against a system with no monthly fee
Ginger is $0 a month with online ordering, no contract, interchange-plus processing as low as 2% + 5¢, and the Box, up to two printers and a card terminal included for restaurants over $40,000 a month in card volume. The live demo opens in your browser with no signup.