23.47A.014

A. Rooftop features are not allowed in setbacks, except that for upper-level setbacks: 1. Open railings may extend up to 4 feet above the height at which the setback begins. 2. Parapets may extend up to 2 feet above the height at which the setback begins. B. Setback requirements for lots abutting or across the alley from residential zones 1. A setback is required where a lot abuts the intersection of a side lot line and front lot line of a lot in a residential zone or a lot that is zoned both commercial and residential if the commercial zoned portion of the abutting lot is less than 50 percent of the width or depth of the lot. The required setback forms a triangular area. Two sides of the triangle extend along the street lot line and side lot line 15 feet from the intersection of the residentially zoned lot's front lot line and the side lot line abutting the residentially zoned lot. The third side connects these two sides with a diagonal line across the commercially zoned lot (Exhibit A for 23.47A.014 ). Exhibit A for 23.47A.014 Setback abutting a side lot line of a residentially zoned lot 2. An upper-level setback is required along the portion of any rear or side lot line that abuts a lot or portion of a lot in an LR, MR, or HR zone or that abuts a portion of a lot that is zoned commercial. If the abutting lot is zoned both commercial and LR, MR, or HR and the commercial zoned portion of the abutting lot is less than 50 percent of the width or depth of the lot, the upper-level setback is measured perpendicular to the abutting lot line, as follows: a. Ten feet for portions of structures above 13 feet in height to a maximum of 65 feet; and b. For each portion of a structure above 65 feet in height, additional setback at the rate of 1 foot of setback for every 10 feet by which the height of such portion exceeds 65 feet, up to a maximum setback of 20 feet (Exhibit B for 23.47A.014). Exhibit B for 23.47A.014 Setback abutting a side or rear lot line of a lot zoned LR, MR, or HR 3. An upper-level setback is required along any rear or side lot line that abuts a lot in a neighborhood residential zone, that is across an alley from a lot in a neighborhood residential zone, or that abuts a lot that is zoned both commercial and neighborhood residential if the commercial zoned portion of the abutting lot is less than 50 percent of the width or depth of the lot as follows: a. Fifteen feet for portions of structures above 13 feet in height to a maximum of 40 feet; and b. For each portion of a structure above 40 feet in height, additional setback at the rate of 3 feet of setback for every 10 feet by which the height of such portion exceeds 40 feet (Exhibit C for 23.47A.014). Exhibit C for 23.47A.014 Setback abutting or across an alley from a lot zoned single-family 4. One-half of the width of an abutting alley may be counted as part of the required setback. For the purpose of this Section 23.47A.014 , the alley width and the location of the rear lot line shall be determined prior to any dedication that may be required for alley improvement purposes. 5. No entrance, window, or other opening is permitted closer than 5 feet to an abutting residentially-zoned lot. C. Upper-level setbacks for street-facing facades. For zones with a height limit of 75 feet, 85 feet, or 95 feet, the street-facing facade shall be set back as follows: 1. For zones with a height limit of 75 feet, portions of structures above 65 feet must be set back from the front lot line by an average depth of 8 feet. 2. For zones with a height limit of 85 feet or 95 feet, portions of structures above 75 feet must be set back from the front lot line by an average depth of 8 feet. 3. Where a portion of the facade is set back more than 15 feet, the setback depth for that portion of the facade shall be considered 15 feet for purposes of calculating the average setback. No more than 20 percent of the portion of the structure that must be set back may have a setback of less than 5 feet. D. Facade modulation. For structures with a width of more than 250 feet, at least one portion of the structure 30 feet or greater in width must be set back a minimum of 15 feet from the front property line. For structures with a width of more than 500 feet, at least two portions of the structure 30 feet or greater in width and separated by at least 100 feet must be set back a minimum of 15 feet from the front property line. E. A minimum 5-foot landscaped setback may be required under certain conditions and for certain uses according to Section 23.47A.016 , Screening and landscaping standards. F. Mobile home parks. A minimum 5-foot setback is required along all street lot lines of a mobile home park. The setback must be landscaped according to the provisions of subsection 23.47A.016.D.2. G. Structures and projections in required setbacks 1. Decks and balconies a. Decks with open railings may extend into the required setback, but are not permitted within 5 feet of a lot in a residential zone, except as provided in subsection 23.47A.014.G.1.b. b. Decks that are accessory to residential uses and are no more than 18 inches above existing or finished grade, whichever is lower, are permitted within 5 feet of a lot in a residential zone. 2. Eaves, cornices, and gutters projecting no more than 18 inches from the structure facade are permitted in required setbacks. 3. Ramps or other devices necessary for access for the disabled and elderly, which meet Seattle Building Code, Chapter 11, are permitted in required setbacks. 4. Uncovered, unenclosed pedestrian bridges, necessary for access and less than 5 feet in width, are permitted in required setbacks. 5. Fences, bulkheads, freestanding walls, and other similar structures a. Fences, freestanding walls, and other similar structures 6 feet or less in height above existing or finished grade, whichever is lower, are permitted in required setbacks. The 6-foot height may be averaged along sloping grade for each 6-foot-long segment of the fence, but in no case may any portion of the fence exceed 8 feet. b. Bulkheads and retaining walls used to raise grade may be placed in any required setback when limited to 6 feet in height, measured above existing grade. A guardrail no higher than 42 inches may be placed on top of a bulkhead or retaining wall existing as of September 30, 1994. If a fence is placed on top of a new bulkhead or retaining wall, the maximum combined height is limited to 9.5 feet. c. Bulkheads and retaining walls used to protect a cut into existing grade may not exceed the minimum height necessary to support the cut or 6 feet, whichever is greater. When the bulkhead is measured from the low side and it exceeds 6 feet, an open guardrail of no more than 42 inches meeting Building Code requirements may be placed on top of the bulkhead or retaining wall. A fence must be set back a minimum of 3 feet from such a bulkhead or retaining wall. 6. Setback requirements do not limit underground structures. 7. Detached solar collectors are permitted in required setbacks. Such collectors may be no closer than 5 feet to any other principal or accessory structure, and no closer than 3 feet to any lot line that abuts a residentially zoned lot. 8. Dumpsters and other trash receptacles, except for trash compactors, located outside of structures are not permitted within 10 feet of any lot line that abuts a residential zone and must be screened per the provisions of Section 23.47A.016 . 9. Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) features are allowed without setback restrictions if: a. Each above-grade GSI feature is less than 4.5 feet tall, excluding piping; b. Each above-grade GSI feature is less than 4 feet wide; and c. The total storage capacity of all above-grade GSI features is no greater than 600 gallons. 10. Above-grade GSI features larger than what is allowed in subsection 23.47A.014.G.9 are allowed within a required setback if: a. Above-grade GSI features do not exceed ten percent coverage of any one setback area; b. No portion of an above-grade GSI feature is located closer than 2.5 feet from a side lot line; c. No portion of an above-grade GSI feature projects more than 5 feet into a front or rear setback area; and d. Above-grade GSI features meet all applicable Building Code and Plumbing Code requirements. H. Setback requirement for loading adjacent to an alley. Where access to a loading berth is from the alley, and truck loading is parallel to the alley, a setback of 12 feet is required for the loading berth, measured from the centerline of the alley (Exhibit D for 23.47A.014 ). This setback must be maintained up to a height of 12 feet. Exhibit D for 23.47A.014 Structure setback for truck loading I. A setback may be required in order to meet the provisions of Section 23.53.015 , Improvement requirements for existing streets in residential and commercial zones, and Section 23.53.030 , Alley improvements in all zones. (Ord. 126685 , § 27, 2022; Ord. 126509 , § 66, 2022 [zone name change]; Ord. 125791 , § 54, 2019; Ord. 125603 , § 29, 2018; Ord. 125081 , § 4, 2016; Ord. 124952 , § 15, 2015; Ord. 124843 , § 32, 2015; Ord. 124378 , § 43, 2013; Ord. 123649, § 21, 2011; Ord. 122935, § 8, 2009; Ord. 122311 , § 44, 2006.)