This ordinance amends Seattle's construction codes by limiting the areas for which substantial alterations are required to spaces or buildings greater than 7,000 square feet in gross area. It modifies existing substantial alteration requirements and Section 311 of the Seattle Existing Building Code. The legislation aims to reduce costs for small businesses, accelerate retail occupancy, and support economic recovery by reactivating vacant commercial storefronts. Specifically, it exempts buildings and spaces 7,000 square feet or less from substantial alteration requirements, clarifies that changes of occupancy of 20 percent or less of the overall building area will not trigger substantial alteration definitions, and removes vacancy for greater than 24 months as a sole trigger for substantial alteration provisions. This will allow small businesses to make improvements or reactivate spaces without extensive upgrades, though it may impact policies for resiliency and net-zero building emissions due to potentially reduced updates to current standards.