Open space requirement for office uses in the SM-UP zone
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.48.750
in effectA. Quantity of open space. Open space in the amount of 20 square feet for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area in office use is required for the following projects: 1. The project is on a lot located in an SM-UP zone that has a height limit that exceeds 95 feet; and 2. The project includes 85,000 or more square feet of gross floor area in office use. B. Standards for open space. Open space may be provided on-site or on an adjacent lot, as follows: 1. On-site open space and open space on an adjacent lot a. Open space on site or on an adjacent lot directly accessible from the project site shall satisfy the requirement of this Section 23.48.750 if it meets the standards of subsection 23.48.740.B and the open space is accessible to all occupants of the building. b. Open space provided on-site under this requirement is eligible for amenity feature bonuses, where allowed in Section 23.48.021 when the following standards are met: 1) The space has a minimum horizontal dimension of 20 feet; and 2) The space is directly accessible to pedestrians, including persons with disabilities, from the street, or from an outdoor usable open space abutting the street; and 3) The space is available for use during normal business hours; and 4) Enclosed areas providing the connection between the structure's primary pedestrian access to the street and elevator cores, such as lobby space, do not qualify as required open space. 2. Off-site public open space a. Open space satisfying the requirement of this Section 23.48.750 may be on a site other than the project site, provided that it is within an SM-UP zone, within one-quarter mile of the project site, open to the public without charge, and at least 3,000 square feet in contiguous area. The minimum size of off-site open space and maximum distance from the project may be increased or decreased for a project if the Director determines that such adjustments are reasonably necessary to provide for open space that will meet the additional need for open space caused by the project and enhance public access to the open space. b. Open space that is open to the public and provided on a site other than the project site may qualify for a development bonus for the project if the open space meets the standards of Section 23.49.013 . 3. Easement for off-site open space. The owner of any lot on which off-site open space is provided to meet the requirements of this Section 23.48.750 shall execute and record an easement in a form acceptable to the Director assuring compliance with the requirements of this Section 23.48.750 . 4. Open space provided under this Section 23.48.750 shall qualify as the open space required under subsection 23.48.740.B and Section 23.48.750 if it is located within 1/4 mile of the project site. C. Limitations. Open space satisfying the requirement of this Section 23.48.750 for any project shall not be used to satisfy the open space requirement for any other project, nor shall any bonus be granted to any project for open space meeting the requirement of this Section 23.48.750 for any other project. When a transmitting antenna is sited or proposed to be sited on a rooftop where required open space is located, the transmitting antenna is subject to the development standards of Section 23.57.013 . (Ord. 125432 , § 14, 2017.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026