2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.40.070
in effectA. Applications 1. Enrollment period. The enrollment period for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program expires on the earlier of December 31, 2025, or when applications meeting the requirements of subsection 23.40.060.A.2 have been submitted for 20 pilot projects from the effective date of the ordinance introduced as Council Bill 119252. 2. Application requirements. In order to qualify for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program, an applicant shall submit a complete Master Use Permit application pursuant to Section 23.76.010 and a plan demonstrating how the project will meet the provisions of subsection 23.40.070.B. B. Minimum standards. A project shall qualify for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program if: 1. It is located within an regional center excluding lots within the shoreline jurisdiction, and lots within the International Special Review District. 2. It is reviewed in accordance with the full design review process provided in Section 23.41.014 , except for development subject to special district review under Chapter 23.66 or historic review under Chapters 25.12 through 25.30 , in which case the applicable review board shall conduct the design review with the authority to recommend design departures as provided to the Design Review Board pursuant to Section 23.41.012 . 3. It includes renovation of an existing structure that complies with the provisions for substantial alterations in the Seattle Energy Code and the Seattle Existing Building Code. 4. It retains either the opaque portions of all exterior walls, or the superstructure of existing structures. The Director may allow openings in the exterior walls to be relocated or resized. For the purposes of this subsection 23.40.070.B, "superstructure" shall mean the foundation, structural frame, floor framing, and slabs of the structure. 5. Additions comply with the requirements of Table A for 23.40.070. Table A for 23.40.070 Size of Additions Height limit of the zone Minimum height of existing buildings Maximum increase in area of existing building footprint Zones with height limits of 85 feet or less 47 percent of the maximum height limit of the zone 20 percent of the area of the footprint of existing buildings Zones with height limits greater than 85 feet 60 percent of the maximum height limit of the zone 6. It meets all of the following: a. Total annual building energy use that is 25 percent less than a baseline defined as the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets in the Target Performance Path of Seattle Energy Code Section C401.3; b. None of the space heating and water heating in the project shall be provided using on-site combustion of fossil fuel; c. Combined annual stormwater runoff and potable water use is 50 percent lower than the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program baselines, which are as follows: 1) The stormwater baseline is the annual average rainfall on a development site in gallons to be calculated as follows: total site area in square feet x 2.1 feet (Seattle's average annual runoff depth) x 7.48 (conversion of cubic feet to gallons) = stormwater baseline; 2) The annual potable water baselines are shown in Table B for 23.40.070. Table B for 23.40.070 Potable water baselines Uses 1, 2 Potable water baseline usage (gallons/square feet/year) Restaurant 125.99 Lodging uses 50.07 Multifamily residential use 41.14 Manufacturing uses 32.53 Nursing or assisted living facilities 30.11 Hospital 26.12 Sales and services, general 24.77 Medical services 21.00 Offices 14.21 Warehouses 13.00 Entertainment uses 12.88 Sales and services, automotive 11.74 Religious facilities 11.31 Schools elementary or secondary 11.09 College or university 11.00 Footnotes to Table B for 23.40.070 1 If a use is not listed, the Director may determine that a proposed use is substantially similar to other uses listed. 2 Baselines for a development are prorated by use based on the proportion of gross floor area occupied within the development. d. The project exceeds 2014 mode share baselines such that the project meets mode share percentages pursuant to the Seattle Comprehensive Plan as shown in Tables C and D for 23.40.070 for trips made by travel modes other than driving alone for all work trips and non-work trips, respectively. Table C for 23.40.070 Work trips by modes other than driving alone Regional center 2014 Mode share baselines Mode share for work trips Downtown 77 percent 85 percent First Hill/Capitol Hill 58 percent 70 percent Uptown 48 percent 60 percent South Lake Union 67 percent 80 percent University District 73 percent 85 percent Northgate 30 percent 50 percent Table D for 23.40.070 Non-work trips other than driving alone Regional center 2014 Mode share baselines Mode share for non-work trips Downtown 88 percent 90 percent First Hill/Capitol Hill 80 percent 85 percent Uptown 82 percent 85 percent South Lake Union 76 percent 85 percent University District 79 percent 90 percent Northgate 46 percent 55 percent C. Extra floor area and/or structure height beyond otherwise applicable maximums 1. Projects qualifying for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program are allowed: a. Twenty-five percent more gross floor area than the otherwise applicable maximum floor area ratio under the provisions of the zone; or b. In the case of projects not regulated by floor area ratio, including residential development in Downtown or certain Seattle Mixed zones, 25 percent more floor area than the maximum floor area otherwise resulting from the application of development standards. The Director may promulgate rules to define the measurement of floor area according to this subsection 23.40.070.C.1.b. 2. Projects qualifying for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program that include the renovation of an unreinforced masonry structure by seismic strengthening, in compliance with Appendix Chapter A1 of the Seattle Existing Building Code, may gain: a. Thirty percent more gross floor area than the otherwise applicable maximum floor area ratio under the provisions of the zone; or b. In the case of projects not regulated by floor area ratio, including residential development in Downtown or certain Seattle Mixed zones, 30 percent more floor area than the maximum floor area otherwise resulting from the application of development standards. The Director may promulgate rules to define the measurement of floor area according to this subsection 23.40.070.C.2.b. 3. A project qualifying for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program may employ additional structure height as shown in Table E for 23.40.070. Table E for 23.40.070 Additional height Height Limit of the Zone Additional height above the otherwise applicable maximum height limit for residential use Additional height above the otherwise applicable maximum height limit for non-residential use Zones with height limits of 85 feet or less 12.5 feet 15 feet Zones with height limits greater than 85 feet 25 feet 30 feet 4. A rooftop feature of a project qualifying for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program may extend above the additional structure height provided in subsection 23.40.070.C.3 if the extension is consistent with the applicable standards established for that rooftop feature within the zone. In such cases, the additional structure height shall be deemed the height limit above which rooftop features are permitted. 5. Additional floor area or structure height available pursuant to subsections 23.40.070.C.1 through 23.40.070.C.3 shall be in addition to any bonus, extra, or otherwise additional floor area or structure height available according to any other provision of this Title 23 , which shall be obtained in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Title 23 . Additional floor area or structure height, including additional stories, approved pursuant to subsections 23.40.070.C.1 through 23.40.070.C.3 shall be disregarded in the application of the limit on the number of stories in a structure in a Lowrise zone that achieves extra height pursuant to subsection 23.45.514.F. 6. Additional floor area or structure height included in a project pursuant to subsections 23.40.070.C.1 through 23.40.070.C.3 shall be excluded for the purposes of calculating performance or payment amounts pursuant to subsections 23.58B.040.A.1, 23.58B.050.A.1, 23.58C.040.A.1, and 23.58C.050.A.1, and shall also be exempt from satisfying any non-housing-related requirements for obtaining bonus, extra, or otherwise additional floor area or structure height according to Chapter 23.49 or Chapter 23.58A . 7. For a development containing residential and non-residential uses, the additional floor area or structure height included in a project pursuant to subsections 23.40.060.C.1 through 23.40.060.C.3 is that which corresponds to the use that occupies the most gross floor area in the development. 8. As an allowance for mechanical equipment fully contained within a structure related to participation in the pilot: a. One-half percent shall be deducted in computing gross floor area subject to floor area limits in addition to any allowance for mechanical equipment included in the applicable zone; and b. Four percent shall be deducted for all mechanical equipment in computing gross floor area subject to floor area limits in zones that do not include an allowance for mechanical equipment; and c. Calculation of the allowance excludes gross floor area exempt for floor area limits pursuant to the applicable zone(s). D. For a project qualifying for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program, the provisions of the remainder of this Title 23 apply unless specifically modified by the provisions of this Section 23.40.070 . In the event of a conflict, the provisions of this Section 23.40.070 prevail. E. Compliance with minimum standards 1. The approved project plans and any other documents, together with any subsequent changes or amendments to those project plans and documents, shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director that the completed building as designed will meet all of the minimum standards in subsection 23.40.070.B. 2. The project shall be constructed and completed in accordance with the approved project plans and documents. 3. No later than two years after issuance of a final Certificate of Occupancy for the project, or such later date as may be allowed by the Director for good cause or a phased project, the owner shall submit to the Director a report demonstrating how the project complies with the standards contained in subsection 23.40.070.B. Compliance must be demonstrated through an independent report produced by an independent entity approved by the Director. 4. If the Director determines that the report submitted provides satisfactory evidence that the project has complied with the standards contained in subsection 23.40.070.B, the Director shall send the owner a written statement that the project has complied with the standards of the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program. If the Director determines that the project does not comply with the standards in subsection 23.40.070.B, the Director shall notify the owner of the aspects in which the project does not comply. Components of the project that are included in order to comply with the minimum standards of the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program shall remain for the life of the project. 5. Within 90 days after the Director notifies the owner of the aspects in which the project does not comply with the standards in subsection 23.40.070.B, or such longer period as the Director may allow for good cause, the owner will have the opportunity to take corrective action and submit a supplemental report demonstrating that the project complies with the standards in subsection 23.40.070.B. 6. If the owner fails to timely submit the report required by subsection 23.40.070.E.1 or to timely demonstrate compliance with the standards contained in subsection 23.40.070.B, or if the owner fails to submit a supplemental report within the time allowed pursuant to subsection 23.40.070.E.3, the Director shall determine that the project has failed to demonstrate compliance with the standards contained in subsection 23.40.070.B, and the owner shall be subject to the applicable penalty in subsection 23.40.070.F. F. Penalties for the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program 1. Failure to submit the report required by subsection 23.40.070.E.1 by the date required is subject to a penalty of $500 per day from the date the report was due to the date it is received by the Department. 2. Failure to demonstrate compliance with the provisions contained in subsection 23.40.070.B is subject to a minimum penalty of one and one-half percent up to a maximum penalty of five percent of the construction value set forth in the building permit for the structure based on the extent of noncompliance with the standards contained in subsection 23.40.070.B. A minimum penalty of one and one-half percent will be applied if any of the provisions contained in 23.40.070.B are not achieved in their entirety. Additional penalties will be based on the extent of noncompliance compared to the baselines provided in 23.40.070.B.6 and calculated according to the methodology below in subsections 23.40.070.F.2.a through 23.40.070.F.2.c for each component. Penalties shall be calculated according to Tables F through H for 23.40.070 : a. Energy: Percentage of noncompliance = 100 × [[(Metered Energy Use Intensity) − (2030 Target)] / [(SEC target) − (2030 Pilot Target)]]; b. Water: Percentage of noncompliance = 100 × [[(2030 Pilot Target) − (water managed (%))] / [(2030 Pilot Target)]]; c. Transportation: Percentage of noncompliance = 100 × [[(Mode share result) − (2030 Pilot Target)] / [(2014 baseline) − (2030 Pilot Target)]]; where "2030 Pilot Target" means the 2030 Challenge High Performance Existing Building Pilot Program Target. Table F for 23.40.070 Percentage of Noncompliance for Energy Penalty (percentage of construction value) Greater than zero up to 10 0.15 Greater than 10 up to 20 0.30 Greater than 20 up to 30 0.45 Greater than 30 up to 40 0.60 Greater than 40 up to 50 0.75 Greater than 50 up to 60 0.90 Greater than 60 up to 70 1.05 Greater than 70 up to 80 1.20 Greater than 80 up to 90 1.35 Greater than 90 1.50 Table G for 23.40.070 Percentage of Noncompliance for Water Penalty (percentage of construction value) Greater than zero up to 10 0.1 Greater than 10 up to 20 0.2 Greater than 20 up to 30 0.3 Greater than 30 up to 40 0.4 Greater than 40 up to 50 0.5 Greater than 50 up to 60 0.6 Greater than 60 up to 70 0.7 Greater than 70 up to 80 0.8 Greater than 80 up to 90 0.9 Greater than 90 1.0 Table H for 23.40.070 Percentage of Noncompliance for Transportation Penalty (percentage of construction value) Greater than zero up to 10 0.1 Greater than 10 up to 20 0.2 Greater than 20 up to 30 0.3 Greater than 30 up to 40 0.4 Greater than 40 up to 50 0.5 Greater than 50 up to 60 0.6 Greater than 60 up to 70 0.7 Greater than 70 up to 80 0.8 Greater than 80 up to 90 0.9 Greater than 90 1.0 3. A project shall be established in the SDCI Construction and Inspections Fund to receive revenue from penalties under this subsection 23.40.070.F. Revenue from penalties under this subsection 23.40.070.F shall be restricted to use only for programs that aim to improve energy efficiency and water efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, of Seattle buildings. The SDCI Director shall recommend allocations of these penalty revenues to the Mayor and City Council. (Ord. 127375 , § 28, 2025; Ord. 125612 , § 2, 2018.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026