In the commercial districts, buildings are placed close to the street to create a vibrant pedestrian environment, to slow traffic down, provide a storefront character to the street, and encourage walk-ing. The setback standards are flexible to encourage public spaces between sidewalks and building entrances (e.g., extra-wide sidewalks, plazas, squares, outdoor dining areas, and pocket parks). The standards also encourage the formation of solid blocks of commercial and mixed-use buildings for a walkable community.
Building setbacks are measured from the nearest vertical wall or foundation to the respective property line. Setbacks for porches are measured from the edge of the deck or porch to the property line. The setback standards, as listed in this section, apply to primary structures as well as accessory structures. The standards may be modified only by approval of a variance, in accordance with Chapter
18.155 PMC.
A. Front Yard Setbacks.
1. Minimum Setback. There is no minimum front yard setback required, except in the O-R zone that shall be a minimum of 10 feet.
2. Maximum Setback. There is no maximum front yard setback required, except in the C-1 zone that shall be a maximum of 20 feet. This standard is met when a minimum of 50 percent of the front building elevation is placed no more than 20 feet back from the front property line. On parcels with more than one building, this standard applies to the building closest to the street. The setback standard may be increased when a usable public space with pedestrian amenities (e.g., extra-wide sidewalk, plaza, pocket park, outdoor dining area or town square with seating) is provided between the building and front property line. (See also pedestrian amenities standards in PMC §
18.40.080, and architectural standards in PMC §
18.40.070 for related building entrance standards.)
B. Rear Yard Setbacks.
1. Minimum Setback. The minimum rear yard setback for all structures shall be zero feet for street-access lots, and six feet for alley-access lots (distance from building to rear property line or alley easement) in order to provide space for parallel parking. However, for those properties abutting a residential zone or separated by only an alley, the setback shall be 25 feet.
2. Through-Lots. For buildings on through-lots (lots with front and rear frontage onto a street), the front yard setbacks in subsection
(A) of this section shall apply.
C. Side Yard Setbacks. There is no minimum side yard setback required, except that buildings shall conform to the vision clearance standards in Chapter
18.65 PMC and the applicable fire and building codes for attached structures, firewalls, and related requirements. However, for those properties abutting a residential zone, the setback shall be 10 feet.
D. Setback Exceptions. Eaves, chimneys, bay windows, overhangs, cornices, canopies, porches, decks, pergolas, and similar architectural features may encroach into setbacks by no more than four feet, subject to compliance with applicable standards of the Uniform Building Code and Uniform Fire Code. Awnings in the C-1 district may encroach into a required setback up to a maximum of eight feet without any ground support posts. Walls and fences may be placed on the property line, subject to the requirements of Chapter
18.72 PMC, Fences, Hedges and Walls.
(Ord. 720 § 7[2.2.120], 2003; Ord. 737 § 1, 2006; Ord. 799 § 8, 2015; Ord. 849 § 1, 2021)