Design standards
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.44.140
in effectA. Application of provisions. 1. The provisions of this Section 23.44.140 apply to development that includes the construction of new dwelling units, except for new dwelling units added within existing structures. 2. For the purposes of this Section 23.44.140 , requirements for street-facing facades shall only apply to structures located within 40 feet of a street lot line or a vehicle access easement serving ten or more residential units. For structures located within 40 feet of a vehicle access easement serving ten or more residential units but not within 40 feet of a street lot line, the facade that faces the vehicle access easement shall be considered a street-facing facade for the purpose of this Section 23.44.140 . If multiple facades face vehicle access easements, the applicant may decide which facade facing a vehicle access easement is considered the street-facing facade. B. Measurement of street-facing facades. For the purposes of this Section 23.44.140 , a street-facing facade includes all vertical surfaces enclosing interior space, including gables and dormers, as shown in Exhibit A for 23.44.140 . Exhibit A for 23.44.140 Measurement of facades C. Pedestrian access. Each dwelling unit shall have pedestrian access at least 3 feet in width to the sidewalk or, if no sidewalk exists, the front lot line. This pedestrian access may be shared or private. This pedestrian access may cross any required setbacks or interior separation. This pedestrian access may be part of a driveway. D. Entrances. Each structure with a street-facing facade shall have a pedestrian entry on that street-facing facade meeting the requirements of subsections 23.44.140.D.1 through 23.44.140.D.4. For attached and detached dwelling units, the pedestrian entry may be located on a wall perpendicular to the street-facing facade provided that the pedestrian entry abuts a covered porch or recessed entry that also abuts the street-facing facade. 1. For stacked dwelling units, at least one pedestrian entry shall be required for the structure as a whole. 2. For attached and detached dwelling units, each individual dwelling unit with a street-facing facade within 40 feet of the street lot line shall have at least one pedestrian entry on the street-facing facade. 3. For structures or dwelling units with multiple street-facing facades, a pedestrian entry is required on only one of the street-facing facades. 4. Required pedestrian entry on street-facing facades shall have weather protection, such as a covered porch, canopy, recessed entry, or similar feature, measuring at least 3 feet by 3 feet in width and depth for attached and detached dwelling units and at least 6 feet in width and 4 feet in depth for stacked dwelling units. E. Windows and doors. At least 20 percent of the area of each street-facing facade shall consist of windows and/or doors. If front and side facades are street-facing, the two facades shall be combined for the purpose of this calculation. Windows count toward the requirement for facade openings in this subsection 23.44.140.E only if they are transparent. Windows composed of garage doors and doors to utility and service areas do not count. (Ord. 127376 , § 31, 2025.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026