Permitted and prohibited locations for all minor communication utilities, and development standards for minor communication utilities with freestanding transmission towers in all zones.
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.57.009
in effectA. Permitted and Prohibited Locations for All Minor Communication Utilities. New minor communication utilities and accessory communication devices shall be regulated as provided in Sections 23.57.010 , 23.57.011 , 23.57.012 , 23.57.013 , 23.57.014 , and 23.57.015 . However, minor communication utilities shall be permitted at any location if the applicant can demonstrate by technical studies that 1) the facility is for commercial mobile service, unlicensed wireless services, fixed wireless service, or common carrier wireless exchange access service as defined by applicable federal statutes or regulations; and 2) a facility at the site proposed is necessary to close an existing significant gap or gaps in the availability of a wireless carrier's communication service or to provide additional call capacity and that, absent the proposed facility, remote users of a wireless carrier's service are unable to connect with the land-based national telephone network, or to maintain a connection capable of supporting a reasonably uninterrupted communication; and 3) that the facility and the location proposed is the least intrusive facility at the least intrusive location consistent with effectively closing the service gap. In considering the degree of intrusiveness, the impacts considered shall include but not be limited to visual, noise, compatibility with uses allowed in the zone, traffic and the displacement of residential dwelling units in a residential zone. B. Interior Locations. Minor communication utilities located entirely within the interior of a structure shall be permitted outright on lots developed with non-single family principal uses in neighborhood residential zones, and on all lots in all other zones. The installation of the utility shall not result in the removal of a dwelling unit in a residential zone. C. Minor communication utilities with freestanding transmission towers shall be subject to the access, setback, screening and landscaping requirements for major communication utilities in subsections B, C, E and H of Section 23.57.008 in addition to the standards of each zone as described in this chapter. (Ord. 126509 , § 83, 2022 [zone name change]; Ord. 120928 § 30, 2002: Ord. 116295 , § 25, 1992.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026