23.47A.004

A. All uses are permitted outright, prohibited, or permitted as a conditional use according to Table A for 23.47A.004 and this Section 23.47A.004 , except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to Subtitle III, Division 3, Overlay Districts, of this Title 23 . B. All permitted uses are allowed as a principal use or as an accessory use, unless otherwise indicated in Table A for 23.47A.004. C. The Director may authorize a use not otherwise permitted in the zone in a Landmark structure, subject to the following criteria: 1. The use will not require significant alteration of the structure; 2. The design of the structure makes uses permitted in the zone impractical in the structure, or the permitted uses do not provide sufficient financial return to make use of the Landmark structure feasible; and 3. The physical impacts of the use will not be detrimental to other properties in the zone or vicinity or to the public interest. D. Public facilities 1. Uses in public facilities that are most similar to uses permitted outright or permitted as a conditional use under this Chapter 23.47A are permitted outright or as a conditional use, respectively, subject to the same use regulations, development standards, and conditional use criteria that govern the similar uses. 2. Permitted uses in public facilities requiring council approval. Unless specifically prohibited in Table A for 23.47A.004, uses in public facilities that are not similar to uses permitted outright or permitted as a conditional use under this Chapter 23.47A , may be permitted by the Council. 3. In all NC zones and C zones, uses in public facilities not meeting development standards may be permitted by the Council, and the Council may waive or grant departures from development standards, if the following criteria are satisfied: a. The project provides unique services that are not provided to the community by the private sector, such as police and fire stations; b. The proposed location is required to meet specific public service delivery needs; c. The waiver of or departure from the development standards is necessary to meet specific public service delivery needs; and d. The relationship of the project to the surrounding area has been considered in the design, siting, landscaping, and screening of the facility. 4. The Council's use approvals, and waivers of or grants of departures from applicable development standards or conditional use criteria, contemplated by subsections 23.47A.004.D.2 and 23.47A.004.D.3, are governed by the provisions of Chapter 23.76 , Subchapter III. 5. Expansion of uses in public facilities a. Major expansion. Major expansion of uses in public facilities allowed pursuant to subsections 23.47A.004.D.1, 23.47A.004.D.2, and 23.47A.004.D.3 may be permitted according to the criteria and process in those subsections 23.47A.004.D.1, 23.47A.004.D.2, and 23.47A.004.D.3. A major expansion of a public facility use occurs when an expansion would not meet development standards or the area of the expansion would exceed either 750 square feet or ten percent of the existing area of the use, whichever is greater. For the purposes of this subsection 23.47A.004.D, area of use includes gross floor area and outdoor area devoted actively to that use, other than as parking. b. Minor expansion. An expansion of a use in a public facility that is not a major expansion is a minor expansion. Minor expansions to uses in public facilities allowed pursuant to subsections 23.47A.004.D.1, 23.47A.004.D.2, and 23.47A.004.D.3 may be permitted according to the provisions of Chapter 23.76 for a Type I Master Use Permit. 6. Essential public facilities. Permitted essential public facilities, except for light rail transit facilities, shall also be reviewed according to the provisions of Chapter 23.80 . Notwithstanding conflicting provisions in subsections 23.47A.004.D.3 and 23.47A.004.D.5, light rail transit facilities are exempt from the development standards in this Chapter 23.47A and shall be reviewed according to the provisions of Chapter 23.80 . 7. Youth service centers existing as of January 1, 2013, in public facilities operated by King County within regional centers and replacements, additions, or expansions to such King County public facilities are permitted in NC3 zones. E. Changes from accessory to flexible-use parking may occur, subject to Section 23.54.026 . F. Public use of accessory parking is subject to Section 23.54.027 . G. Live-work units 1. In all NC zones and C zones live-work units are permitted outright subject to the provisions of this Title 23 . 2. In pedestrian-designated zones, live-work units shall not occupy more than 20 percent of the street-level, street-facing facade along designated principal pedestrian streets listed in subsection 23.47A.005.D. 3. In the Lake City and Bitter Lake Urban Centers, live-work units shall not occupy more than 20 percent of the street-level, street-facing facade. 4. Except where expressly treated as a residential use, live-work units shall be deemed a nonresidential use. H. Adult cabarets 1. Any lot line of property containing any proposed new or expanding adult cabaret must be 800 feet or more from any lot line of property on which any of the following uses has been established by permit or otherwise recognized as a legally established use: community center; child care center; school, elementary or secondary; or public parks and open space use. 2. Any lot line of property containing any proposed new or expanding adult cabaret must be 600 feet or more from any lot line of property for which a permit has been issued for any other adult cabaret. 3. The dispersion analysis required by subsections 23.47A.004.H.1 and 23.47A.004.H.2 shall be based on the facts that exist on the earlier of: a. The date a complete application for a building permit for an adult cabaret for the property proposed to contain the new or expanding adult cabaret is made, or b. The date of publication of notice of the Director's decision on the Master Use Permit application to establish or expand an adult cabaret use, if the decision can be appealed to the Hearing Examiner, or the date of the Director's decision if no Hearing Examiner appeal is available. I. The terms of Table A for 23.47A.004 are subject to any applicable exceptions or contrary provisions expressly provided for in this Title 23 . Table A for 23.47A.004 Uses in commercial zones Permitted and prohibited uses by zone 1 Uses NC1 NC2 NC3 C1 C2 A. AGRICULTURAL USES A.1. Animal husbandry A A A A P A.2. Aquaculture 10 25 P P P A.3. Community garden P P P P P A.4. Horticulture 10 25 P P P A.5. Urban farm 2 P P P P P B. CEMETERIES X X X X X C. COMMERCIAL USES 3 C.1. Animal shelters and kennels X X X X P C.2. Eating and drinking establishments C.2.a. Drinking establishments CU-10 CU-25 P P P C.2.b. Restaurants 10 25 P P P C.3. Entertainment uses C.3.a. Cabarets, adult 4 X P P P P C.3.b. Motion picture theaters, adult X X X X X C.3.c. Panorams, adult X X X X X C.3.d. Sports and recreation, indoor 10 25 P P P C.3.e. Sports and recreation, outdoor X X X 5 P P C.3.f. Theaters and spectator sports facilities X 25 P P P C.4. Food processing and craft work 2 10 25 25 P P C.5. Laboratories, research and development 10 25 P P P C.6. Lodging uses X 6 CU-25 6 P P P C.7. Medical services 7 10 8 25 P P P C.8. Offices 10 25 P 35 9 35 9 C.9. Sales and services, automotive C.9.a. Retail sales and services, automotive 10 10 25 10 P 10 P P C.9.b. Sales and rental of motorized vehicles X 25 P P P C.9.c. Vehicle repair, major automotive X 25 P P P C.10. Sales and services, general 2 C.10.a. Retail sales and services, general 2 10 25 P P P C.10.b. Retail sales, multipurpose 10 11 50 P P P C.11. Sales and services, heavy C.11.a. Commercial sales, heavy X X 25 P P C.11.b. Commercial services, heavy X X X P P C.11.c. Retail sales, major durables 10 25 P P P C.11.d. Retail sales and services, non-household 10 25 P P P C.11.e. Wholesale showrooms X X 25 25 P C.12. Sales and services, marine C.12.a. Marine service stations 10 25 P P P C.12.b. Sales and rental of large boats X 25 P P P C.12.c. Sales and rental of small boats, boat parts and accessories 10 25 P P P C.12.d. Vessel repair, major X X X S S C.12.e. Vessel repair, minor 10 25 P P P D. HIGH-IMPACT USES X X X X X E. HUMAN SERVICE AND INSTITUTIONAL USES E.1. Human service and institutional uses not listed below 10 25 P P P E.2. Major institutions subject to the provisions of Chapter 23.69 P P P P P E.3. Religious facilities P P P P P E.4. Schools, elementary or secondary P P P P P E.5. Child care centers P P P P P F. LIVE-WORK UNITS 12 P P P P P G. MANUFACTURING USES G.1. Manufacturing, light 2 X 10 25 P P G.2. Manufacturing, general X X X P P G.3. Manufacturing, heavy X X X X X H. PARKS AND OPEN SPACE P P P P P I. PUBLIC FACILITIES I.1. Jails I.1.a. Youth service centers X X P 13 X X I.1.b. All other jails X X X X X I.2. Work-release centers CCU-10 CCU-25 CCU CCU CCU J. RESIDENTIAL USES 14 P P P P CU 15 K. STORAGE USES K.1. Mini-warehouses X X 25 40 P K.2. Storage, outdoor X X X 16 P P K.3. Warehouses X X 25 25 P L. TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES L.1. Cargo terminals X X X S P L.2. Parking and moorage L.2.a. Boat moorage S S S S S L.2.b. Dry boat storage X 25 P P P L.2.c. Parking, flexible-use 17 X 25 P P P L.2.d.i. Park and ride facilities on surface parking lots 18 X CU-25 CU CU CU L.2.d.ii. Park and ride facilities in parking garages X P 19 P 19 P 19 P 19 L.2.e. Towing services X X X P P L.3. Passenger terminals X X 25 P P L.4. Rail transit facilities P P P P P L.5. Transportation facilities, air L.5.a. Airports (land-based) X X X X X L.5.b. Airports (water-based) X X X X S L.5.c. Heliports X X X X X L.5.d. Helistops X X CCU CCU CU L.6. Vehicle storage and maintenance L.6.a. Bus bases X X X CCU CCU L.6.b. Railroad switchyards X X X X X L.6.c. Railroad switchyards with a mechanized hump X X X X X L.6.d. Transportation services, personal X X P P P M. UTILITY USES M.1. Communication utilities, major 20 X X X CCU CCU M.2. Communication utilities, minor 20 P P P P P M.3. Power plants X X X X X M.4. Recycling X X X P P/CU 21 M.5. Sewage treatment plants X X X X X M.6. Solid waste management X X X X X M.7. Utility services uses 10 25 P P P Key to Table A for 23.47A.004 A = Permitted as an accessory use only CU = Administrative conditional use (business establishment limited to the multiple of 1,000 square feet of any number following a hyphen, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 ) CCU = Council conditional use (business establishment limited to the multiple of 1,000 square feet of any number following a hyphen, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 ) P = Permitted S = Permitted in shoreline areas only X = Prohibited CU-25 = Conditionally permitted; use is limited to 25,000 square feet, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 10 = Permitted, business establishments limited to 10,000 square feet, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 20 = Permitted, business establishments limited to 20,000 square feet, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 25 = Permitted, business establishments limited to 25,000 square feet, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 35 = Permitted, business establishments limited to 35,000 square feet, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 40 = Permitted, business establishments limited to 40,000 square feet, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 50 = Permitted, business establishments limited to 50,000 square feet, pursuant to Section 23.47A.010 Footnotes to Table A for 23.47A.004 1 In pedestrian-designated zones, a portion of the street-level street-facing facade of a structure along a designated principal pedestrian street may be limited to certain uses as provided in subsection 23.47A.005.D. In pedestrian-designated zones, drive-in lanes are prohibited (Section 23.47A.028 ). 2 In addition to the provisions in this Chapter 23.47A , uses that entail major cannabis activity are subject to the requirements of Section 23.42.058 . 3 For commercial uses with drive-in lanes, see Section 23.47A.028 . 4 Subject to subsection 23.47A.004.H. 5 Permitted at Seattle Center. 6 Bed and breakfasts in existing structures are permitted outright with no maximum size limit. 7 Medical services over 10,000 square feet within 2,500 feet of a medical Major Institution Overlay boundary require conditional use approval, unless they are included in a Major Institution Master Plan or dedicated to veterinary services. 8 Medical service uses that are located in a regional center or an urban center, which are in operation at such location before August 1, 2015, and that routinely provide medical services on a reduced fee basis to individuals or families having incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 USC 9902(2), are limited to 20,000 square feet. This provision does not apply to medical service uses that are subject to a Major Institution Master Plan. 9 Office uses in C1 and C2 zones are permitted up to the greater of 1 FAR or 35,000 square feet as provided in subsection 23.47A.010.D. Office uses in C1 and C2 zones are permitted outright with no maximum size limit if they meet the standards identified in subsection 23.47A.010.D. 10 Gas stations and other businesses with drive-in lanes are not permitted in pedestrian-designated zones (Section 23.47A.028). Elsewhere in NC zones, establishing a gas station may require a demonstration regarding impacts under Section 23.47A.028 . 11 Grocery stores meeting the conditions of subsection 23.47A.010.E are permitted up to 23,000 square feet in size. 12 Subject to subsection 23.47A.004.G. 13 Permitted pursuant to subsection 23.47A.004.D.7. 14 Residential uses may be limited to 20 percent of a street-level street-facing facade pursuant to subsection 23.47A.005.C. 15 Residential uses are conditional uses in C2 zones subject to subsection 23.47A.006.A.3, except that low-income housing is allowed outright or as otherwise provided in subsection 23.47A.006.A.3. 16 Permitted at Seattle Center; see Section 23.47A.011 . 17 Flexible-use parking is subject to Section 23.54.026 . In pedestrian-designated zones, surface parking is prohibited adjacent to principal pedestrian streets pursuant to subsection 23.47A.032.B.2. 18 Permitted as surface parking only on surface parking lots existing as of January 1, 2017. In pedestrian-designated zones, surface parking is prohibited adjacent to principal pedestrian streets pursuant to subsection 23.47A.032.B.2. 19 Permitted outright, except prohibited in a SAOD. 20 See Chapter 23.57 , Communications regulations, for regulation of communication utilities. 21 A recycling use that is located on the same development site as a solid waste transfer station may be permitted by administrative conditional use, subject to the requirements of subsection 23.47A.006.A.7. (Ord. 127376 , § 48, 2025; Ord. 127375 , § 41, 2025; Ord. 127228 , § 7, 2025; Ord. 127099 , § 22, 2024 [changed "marijuana" to "cannabis"]; Ord. 127098 , § 4, 2024; Ord. 126855 , § 16, 2023; Ord. 126626 , § 3, 2022; Ord. 126287 , § 4, 2021; Ord. 126131 , § 6, 2020; Ord. 125558 , § 14, 2018; Ord. 125272 , § 24, 2017; Ord. 124969 , § 5, 2016; Ord. 124947 , § 1, 2015; Ord. 124843 , § 29, 2015; Ord. 124610 , § 1, 2014; Ord. 124608 , § 8, 2014; Ord. 124378 , § 38, 2013; Ord. 123872, § 2, 2012; Ord. 123378, § 16, 2010; Ord. 123046, §§ 30, 65, 2009; Ord. 122935, § 2, 2009; Ord. 122411 , §§ 2, 3, 2007; Ord. 122311 , § 44, 2006.)