This chapter contains performance standards that apply to nonresidential uses. Nonresidential land uses regulated in this chapter include commercial, tourism, office, light and heavy industry, and certain public/semi-public uses. These standards regulate building development and are applied over and above those standards imposed by other sections of the zoning code. These supplemental standards are necessary for those land uses having characteristics that may have negative impacts without the additional regulations.
(Ord. 1244-16 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 1263-17 § 3 (Exh. C); Ord. 1418-25, 7/24/2025)
The following categories of land use shall be subject to the standards contained in this chapter:
A. 
Public/semi-public: institutional and public services facilities.
B. 
Offices.
C. 
Commercial establishments: general commercial enterprises, commercial recreational facilities, automobile-oriented commercial enterprises (gas stations, auto repair shops, tire shops, etc.), home building supply stores, plant and landscape nurseries, and shopping centers.
D. 
Industrial facilities: manufacturing, wholesaling, warehousing, distribution, and other industrial facilities.
E. 
Tourist facilities: hotels, motels, lodging houses, recreation facilities, and entertainment facilities.
(Ord. 1244-16 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 1263-17 § 3 (Exh. C); Ord. 1418-25, 7/24/2025)
The development of a nonresidential use shall be allowed only in full compliance with the standards of this and other relevant sections of the zoning code.
A. 
Subdivision of Land. Any land proposed to be subdivided for the purposes of nonresidential activity shall adhere to all of the requirements for the subdividing of land in the city contained in SMC Title 19 and the Public Works Engineering, Design and Development Standards.
B. 
Building Placement.
1. 
There is no minimum required distance between adjacent buildings on the same lot; provided that when a building exceeds two stories in height, the minimum distance from an adjacent building or property line shall be increased by two feet for each story above two.
2. 
Certain nonresidential development in the UC Zoning District may build up to the right-of-way line of the abutting roadway. These are enumerated in the table of dimension and density requirements for the UC Zoning District contained within the zoning code. However, buildings, signs, or other structures shall not be placed in the sight clearance triangle specified in the landscape performance standards in SMC § 16.58.230.
3. 
Access driveways to any commercial development on an individual parcel in the HOC Zoning District shall meet the Public Works Engineering, Design and Development Standards.
(Ord. 1244-16 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 1263-17 § 3 (Exh. C); Ord. 1418-25, 7/24/2025)
A. 
Purpose. Supplemental standards are provided for uses with drive-through facilities to ensure protection from potential traffic hazards. These standards are to be applied in addition to all other applicable standards of the zoning code.
B. 
Standards.
1. 
Driveways proposed to service commercial development shall meet the Public Works Engineering, Design and Development Standards. Where driveways are each one-way and each no more than 12 feet wide, the two driveways shall be counted as a single unit. When, because of existing development, it is mathematically impossible to achieve this requirement for a proposed commercial project, the applicant shall attempt to secure an access easement from an adjoining commercial development. If this is impossible to secure (as evidenced by a written denial by both adjoining property owners of the request), the development director may permit a waiver of this requirement. However, in doing so, any new access driveway shall be located as far as possible from all existing access drives.
2. 
Approach lanes for the drive-through facilities shall have the following minimum widths: one lane - 12 feet; two or more lanes - 10 feet per lane.
3. 
Minimum linear distance for queue of automobiles in the drive-through window lanes (measured from the commercial window at the building location):
a. 
One drive-through window = 10 feet;
b. 
Two drive-through windows = 10 feet;
c. 
Three drive-through windows = 95 feet;
d. 
Four drive-through windows = 80 feet;
e. 
Five drive-through windows = 65 feet.
4. 
The minimum distance from the proposed drive-through facility to the right-of-way shall be 65 feet, where no turns are required. This distance shall be measured from the drive-through station farthest from the main building. Where turns are required in the exit lane, the minimum distance from any drive-through window to the beginning point of the turn shall be 34 feet. The minimum turning radius shall be 17 feet.
5. 
The minimum distance from a drive-through facility to any residential building shall be 25 feet. This distance shall be measured at the narrowest point between the main building, an off-street parking area, or vehicle lanes, whichever is closer.
6. 
Alleys or driveways in residential areas adjacent to drive-through facilities shall not be used for circulation of customer traffic.
(Ord. 1244-16 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 1263-17 § 3 (Exh. C); Ord. 1418-25, 7/24/2025)
A. 
When a parcel of land is proposed to accommodate a building that contains two or more uses in the UC or HOC Zoning District it shall not be necessary for the minimum land area requirements for each use to be met.
B. 
However, where a building containing two or more uses is proposed to be built, the following conditions must be met:
1. 
Every use or activity proposed to be included must be a permitted use in the zoning district where the building is proposed to be built;
2. 
The minimum lot area, dimensional and density requirements (setbacks, lot coverage, etc.) for the most restrictive use proposed in the building must be met;
3. 
To compute the number of off-street parking spaces required for such a development, it will be necessary to calculate the requirements for each use and total them (unless it is demonstrated that certain proposed future uses shall not utilize the parking area at the same times, i.e., schools and churches); and
4. 
If off-street loading and unloading space(s) is required for any use, it must be provided.
(Ord. 1244-16 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 1263-17 § 3 (Exh. C); Ord. 1418-25, 7/24/2025)
A. 
The maximum permitted gross density for any recreational vehicle park shall be 20 units per acre.
B. 
Space allocations for recreational vehicles shall be on a basis of 1,000 square feet per vehicle, the minimum dimensions of which shall be 32 feet wide by 30 feet long.
C. 
The space shall abut on a driveway not less than 20 feet in width, which shall have unobstructed access to a public street or highway.
D. 
Recreation vehicles shall be parked on each space so that there will be at least 12 feet of clearance between RVs, six feet between RVs and any adjoining property lines, and 12 feet between RVs and any building or structure.
E. 
Each recreation vehicle strip shall include a strip of ground 10 feet wide along one side for automobile parking purposes.
F. 
All internal recreation vehicle park roads shall be of impervious surfaces.
G. 
No less than 5% of the total site shall be defined recreational space. Said space shall be readily accessible to all patrons and shall be maintained in such a manner as to present a neat and clean appearance.
H. 
Rental of any recreational vehicle space shall be for a period consistent with Washington State law.
I. 
Every recreational vehicle space shall meet health department minimum requirements with regard to provisions for potable water and sanitary sewage facilities.
J. 
Any recreational vehicle park may provide an office, convenience commercial store, restroom and laundry facilities, and on-site residence for the manager of the operation. However, in no case shall the land area for these facilities exceed a total of 15,000 square feet.
K. 
A five-foot landscape buffer shall be installed around the perimeter of the site per SMC §§ 16.58.210 and 16.58.220.
L. 
Recreational vehicle spaces shall be charged a rate up to but not exceeding 0.25 equivalent residential units (ERUs) for utilities.
(Ord. 1244-16 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 1263-17 § 3 (Exh. C); Ord. 1418-25, 7/24/2025)
A mobile home park (tiny homes) is a permitted use in all residential and highway-oriented commercial (HOC) zones and shall be allowed where all applicable standards below and other requirements of the zoning code are met. Mobile homes (tiny homes) are allowed only in established parks and the following steps shall be taken:
A. 
An application for approval to locate or relocate a mobile home/tiny home shall be obtained from the City of Sultan.
B. 
Upon inspection by the city's building inspector, the mobile home/tiny home must be found to be in excellent or good condition prior to the move. Criteria for determining condition shall be the same as those applied to housing inspections for health and safety. After moving or relocation of the mobile home/tiny home, a second inspection shall be required to verify that the mobile home/tiny home remains in no less than good condition. An occupancy permit shall not be issued until such conditions are met.
C. 
In addition, the following site design standards for mobile parks shall apply:
1. 
The minimum land area shall be 1/2 acre.
2. 
Every mobile home/tiny home shall be located at least eight feet from any internal abutting street.
3. 
The minimum distance between a mobile home/tiny home (including allowable accessory buildings) and an adjacent mobile home/tiny home (including accessory buildings) shall be 15 feet. This distance shall be measured at the narrowest space between structures, whether they be the living units or accessory buildings (e.g., carport, storage building).
4. 
Provisions for utilities, public streets and access, private roads/driveways, and sidewalks/walkways shall be required in the design and development of a mobile home/tiny home park.
D. 
Applications for mobile home/tiny home parks are reviewed and approved or denied following the procedures for binding site plans in SMC §§ 19.18 and 19.20.
(Ord. 1244-16 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 1263-17 § 3 (Exh. C); Ord. 1418-25, 7/24/2025)