Street-level uses
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.66.326
in effectA. To retain and strengthen the King Street business core as a pedestrian-oriented retail shopping district, street-level uses are required on streets within the Retail Core designated on Map B for 23.66.326. Required street-level uses shall satisfy the standards of this Section 23.66.326 . B. Preference shall be given to pedestrian-oriented retail shopping and service businesses that are highly visible or prominently display merchandise in a manner that contributes color and activity to the streetscape, including but not limited to: Apparel shops; Asian arts, crafts, and specialty goods shops; Bakeries; Banks; Barbecue shops; Bookstores; Coffee shops; Floral shops; Groceries; Museums; Personal services such as beauty shops and barbershops; Restaurants; Sidewalk cafes; Tea shops; Travel agencies; Variety stores. C. The Board may, following a special review of potential impacts, including, but not limited to traffic, parking, noise and the scale and character of the pedestrian environment, recommend to the Director of Neighborhoods that the following uses at street level be approved if the impacts of such uses are not significantly adverse: Appliance repair shops; Research and development laboratories; Radio and television studios; Residential uses; Taxidermy shops; Upholstery establishments; Vocational or fine arts schools; Warehouses or wholesale showrooms, especially if they include storage of jewelry, optical or photographic goods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other similar high-value, low-bulk articles. The Board may recommend, and the Director may impose, conditions to mitigate the impacts of approved uses. D. Standards for Required Street-level Uses. 1. Street-level uses within the Retail Core designated on Map B for 23.66.326 shall not exceed 50 feet of street frontage per use if located within the interior portion of a block, or 145 feet of street frontage per use if located on a corner. 2. Street-level uses shall comply with exterior building finish requirements of Section 23.66.336 . E. Within the Retail Core, nonpedestrian-oriented uses and businesses that are not typically visible from the sidewalk may not exceed 25 feet of street frontage per use if located within the interior portion of a block, or 145 feet of street frontage per use if located on a corner. Nonpedestrian-oriented uses include but are not limited to: Community clubs or centers; Family associations; Human service uses; Nonprofit community service organizations; Theaters and spectator sports facilities. F. Outside the Retail Core, development on lots abutting S. Jackson Street east of Interstate 5 and/or 12 th Avenue S. as shown on Map B for 23.66.326 shall comply with the street-level use requirements set forth in Section 23.49.009 . G. To promote street-level activity in commercial structures outside the Retail Core, street level uses identified in subsection 23.66.326.B are required along a minimum of 50 percent of each street frontage of any structure that contains no residential uses and that is in an IDR zone or is in an IDM 75/85-150 zone. This standard may be waived by the Director of Neighborhoods, after consultation with the Board, if it is determined that the proposed uses and design of the structure at street-level are compatible with the character of the surrounding neighborhood and the goals and objectives of the International Special Review District and of the zone in which the structure is located. (Ord. 123589, § 87, 2011; Ord. 122311 , § 81, 2006; Ord. 116744 § 49, 1993; Ord. 112303 § 10, 1985: Ord. 112134 § 1(part), 1985.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026