23.53.006

A. General requirements. Pedestrian access and circulation are required on all streets in all zones as set forth in this Section 23.53.006 . 1. Pedestrian access and circulation improvements shall meet the standards in the Right-of-Way Improvements Manual for sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, curbs, curb ramps, and accessible crossings. 2. Curb ramps are required when: the proposed development is on or creates a corner lot; or when the Director as a Type I decision and in consultation with the Director of Transportation finds a potential for a pedestrian connection exists due to unique lot conditions, including but not limited to a "T" intersection. Curb ramps shall meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. 3. The regulations in this Section 23.53.006 are not intended to preclude the use of Chapter 25.05 to mitigate adverse environmental impacts. B. Dedication of new streets. Sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required when new streets are dedicated. C. Within regional, urban, and neighborhood centers, sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required when new lots, other than unit lots, are created through the full or short subdivision platting process or when development is proposed on a lot that abuts any existing street in any zone, except as specified in subsection 23.53.006.F. If the existing street includes sidewalks, curbs, curb ramps, and accessible crossings that do not comply with the Streets Illustrated Right-of-Way Improvements Manual or successor rule, they shall be brought into compliance. D. Outside regional, urban, and neighborhood centers, sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required on an existing street in any of the following circumstances, except as provided in subsection 23.53.006.F. 1. In any zone with a pedestrian designation, sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required when new lots, other than unit lots, are created through the full or short subdivision platting process or when development is proposed. 2. In industrial zones, on streets designated on Map A for 23.50A.190, sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required when new lots are created through the full or short subdivision platting process or when development is proposed. Sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required only for the portion of the lot that abuts the designated street. 3. On arterials, except in the MML zone, sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required when new lots, other than unit lots, are created through the full or short subdivision platting process or when development is proposed. Sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required only for the portion of the lot that abuts the arterial. 4. In neighborhood residential zones, sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required when ten or more lots are created through the full subdivision platting process or when ten or more dwelling units are developed. 5. Except in neighborhood residential zones and the MML zone, sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required when six or more lots, other than unit lots, are created through the full or short subdivision platting process or when six or more dwelling units are developed. 6. In all zones, except the MML zone, sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps are required when the following nonresidential uses are developed: a. Seven hundred and fifty square feet or more of gross floor area of major and minor vehicle repair uses and multi-purpose retail sales; or b. Four thousand square feet or more of nonresidential uses not listed in subsection 23.53.006.D.6.a. E. Requirements for pedestrian walkways in the MML zone. In the MML zone, when development is proposed on existing streets that do not have curbs, and when sidewalks are not otherwise required by subsection 23.53.006.D, a pedestrian walkway with accessible crossings is required, except as provided in subsection 23.53.006.F. F. Exceptions. The following exceptions to pedestrian access and circulation requirements and standards apply: 1. Projects exempt from requirements. Pedestrian access and circulation improvements are not required for the following types of projects: a. Change of use; b. Alterations to existing structures; c. Additions to existing structures that are exempt from environmental review; d. Construction of a detached structure that does not contain a dwelling unit and is accessory to an existing dwelling unit in any zone, if the property owner enters into a no-protest agreement, as authorized by chapter 35.43 RCW, to future pedestrian access and circulation improvements and that agreement is recorded with the King County Recorder's Office; e. Construction of one dwelling unit on a lot in any zone, if the property owner enters into a no-protest agreement, as authorized by chapter 35.43 RCW, to future pedestrian access and circulation improvements and that agreement is recorded with the King County Recorder's Office, and if at least one of the following conditions is met: 1) The lot is on a block front where there are no existing pedestrian access and circulation improvements within 100 feet of the lot; or 2) Construction of pedestrian access and circulation improvements is not necessary because, for example, the existing right-of-way has suitable width and surface treatment for pedestrian use; or the existing right-of-way has a limited amount of existing and potential vehicular traffic; or the Director anticipates limited, if any, additional development near the lot because the development near the lot is at or near zoned capacity under current zoning designations; f. Construction of accessory dwelling units; g. Expansions of surface parking, outdoor storage, outdoor sales and outdoor display of rental equipment of less than 20 percent of the parking, storage, sales or display area, or number of parking spaces; h. In the MML zone, the addition of: 1) Fewer than ten artist's studio dwellings; 2) Less than 750 square feet of gross floor area of major and minor vehicle repair uses and multipurpose retail sales; or 3) Less than 4,000 square feet of gross floor area of nonresidential uses not listed in subsection 23.53.006.F.1.h.2; and i. Construction of a new nonresidential structure of up to 4,000 square feet of gross floor area if the structure is at least 50 feet from any lot line abutting an existing street that does not have pedestrian access and circulation improvements. 2. Waiver or modification of pedestrian access and circulation requirements. The Director, in consultation with the Director of Transportation, may waive or modify pedestrian access and circulation requirements when one or more of the following conditions are met. The waiver or modification shall provide the minimum relief necessary to accommodate site conditions while maximizing pedestrian access and circulation. a. Location in an environmentally critical area or buffer makes installation of a sidewalk, curb, and/or curb ramp structurally impracticable or technically infeasible; b. The existence of a bridge, viaduct, or structure such as a substantial retaining wall in proximity to the project site makes installation of a sidewalk, curb, and/or curb ramp structurally impracticable or technically infeasible; c. Sidewalk, curb, and/or curb ramp construction would result in undesirable disruption of existing drainage patterns, or disturbance to or removal of natural features such as significant trees or other valuable and character-defining mature vegetation; or d. Sidewalk, curb, and/or curb ramp construction would preclude vehicular access to the lot, for example on project sites where topography would render driveway access in excess of the maximum 15 percent slope. 3. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 23.76.026 , the applicant for a Master Use Permit or a building permit to which Title 23 in effect prior to October 30, 2009, applies may, by written election, use the exemptions in subsections 23.53.006.F.1 and 23.53.006.F.2. (Ord. 127376 , § 57, 2025; Ord. 127375 , § 86, 2025; Ord. 127219 , § 24, 2025; Ord. 127099 , § 43, 2024; Ord. 126862 , § 9, 2023; Ord. 126685 , § 40, 2022; Ord. 126509 , § 72, 2022 [zone name change]; Ord. 125791 , § 84, 2019; Ord. 125681 , § 2, 2018; Ord. 125272 , § 45, 2017; Ord. 124843 , § 46, 2015; Ord. 124378 , § 55, 2013; Ord. 123589, § 66, 2011; Ord. 123495, § 59, 2011; Ord. 123104, § 1, 2009; Ord. 122615 , § 7, 2007.)