The purpose of this chapter shall be to:
A. 
Further the comprehensive plan;
B. 
Promote the public health, safety, and general welfare;
C. 
Protect and enhance property values, minimize discordant and unsightly surroundings, and avoid inappropriate or poor design;
D. 
Protect and enhance the city's unique and valuable social, cultural, economic, environmental, aesthetic, and natural values;
E. 
Promote construction and maintenance practices that improve visual quality; and
F. 
Recognize environmental and aesthetic design as an integral part of the planning process.
(Ord. 1960 § 3, 1998; Ord. 2803 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 2815 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025)
These design regulations apply to all property improvements except the following, which will not materially affect implementation of the comprehensive plan's design goals, or are addressed in the context of other permit approvals, and are therefore exempt:
A. 
Development permits not immediately associated with any physical improvements, such as short plats or rezones unaccompanied by any building permit application;
B. 
Single-family residences and accessory uses constructed in accordance with an approved planned unit development (PUD);
C. 
Construction activities which do not require a building permit (example: the repainting of buildings), sign permit (example: change in copy of existing signs), or any other permit from the building official;
D. 
Modifications to existing structures which will not be visible from outside the structure;
E. 
Single-family and duplex residential development. Both new construction and modifications/additions of single-family developments are subject to Chapter 19.13 EMC;
F. 
Modifications or additions to existing multifamily, commercial, industrial, office, and public properties when the modification or addition:
1. 
Constitutes less than 10 percent of the existing horizontal square footage of the use or structure; and
2. 
Constitutes less than 10 percent of the existing building's exterior facade; and
3. 
Is estimated to cost under $50,000;
4. 
Accessory structures that are not visible from the public right-of-way or are 200 square feet or less;
G. 
Signs to which Chapter 19.10 EMC does not apply, per EMC § 19.10.040;
H. 
Multifamily residences and accessory uses. Both new construction and modifications/additions of multifamily developments are subject to Chapter 19.40 EMC;
I. 
Mixed use developments. Both new construction and modifications/additions of mixed use developments are subject to Chapter 19.38 EMC;
J. 
"Designated manufactured homes" (as defined in Chapter 15.04 EMC) and any other structures in approved mobile home parks.
(Ord. 1960 § 3, 1998; Ord. 2416 § 1 (Exh. A), 2009; Ord. 2626 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2660 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2803 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 2815 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025)
A. 
The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition with the streetscape and to provide for adequate planting and pedestrian movement.
B. 
Parking and service areas shall be located, designed and screened to be obscured from public view consistent with the nature of the improvement and topographical considerations.
C. 
The height and scale of each building shall be compatible with its site and adjoining buildings.
(Ord. 1960 § 3, 1998; Ord. 2803 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 2815 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025)
A. 
In locations where plants will be susceptible to injury by pedestrian or motor traffic, they shall be protected by appropriate curbs, tree guards or other devices.
B. 
Screening of service yards and other places which tend to be unsightly shall be accomplished by use of walls, fencing, planting, or combinations of these. Screening shall be effective in winter and summer.
C. 
In areas where general planting will not prosper, other materials, such as fences, walls and pavings of wood, brick, stone, gravel, etc., shall be used.
D. 
Exterior lighting, when used, shall be part of the architectural concept. Lighting shall enhance the building design and the adjoining landscaping. Lighting standards, fixtures and all exposed accessories shall be of a design and size compatible with the building and adjacent areas. Lighting shall be shielded and restrained in design. Excessive brightness shall be avoided.
E. 
Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware on roof, ground or buildings shall be screened from the public right-of-way.
(Formerly 19.12.050; Ord. 1960 § 3, 1998; Ord. 2068 § 1, 2000; Ord. 2803 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 2815 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025)
These design standards apply to all property improvements except for those listed in EMC § 19.12.020 and the light industrial (LI) zoning district. These standards are supplemented and further defined or explained by that document titled "City of Enumclaw Design Manual." A copy of the manual shall be available from the community development department.
A. 
Prominent facades should have no unbroken wall plane wider than two and one-half times the height of the wall plane. Excluding projects within CB1 and CB2.
B. 
Wall and roof surfaces shall be broken down into smaller planes using effective vertical features (which may include columns), or by using substantial shifts in building footprints which result in substantial shifts in rooflines as follows:
1. 
Horizontal Shift. No portion of a prominent facade should exceed 80 feet in length without a shift in the building footprint measuring one-tenth of the facade length. This shift may be broken down into smaller shifts of at least six feet each. Horizontal shifts, when required, shall be reflected by a shift or alteration in the roof design. To ensure that footprint shifts are evenly distributed across the building facade, shifted wall planes should have a width proportion of between 1/1 and 3/1 to the width of the adjacent wall planes on the same facade.
2. 
Vertical Shift. No single run of ridge, cornice, fascia or parapet should exceed 80 feet without a five-foot transition in height.
Excluding projects within CB1 and CB2.
C. 
All structures must have a visual "cap" in order to prevent a truncated look at the top of the building. This may include either a pitched roof or a flat roof. Roof designs must conform to one of the following options:
1. 
Lower pitched roofs with extends eaves (minimum pitch of 4/12).
2. 
Steep pitch hip or gable roof form (maximum pitch of 12/12 except for bell towers, steeples and other ancillary structures).
3. 
False pitch roof with appearance of true hip or gable.
4. 
Flat roof with projecting cornice.
D. 
Unusual or atypical roof forms such as A-frame, modified A-frame, curvilinear, domed, mansard style and sawtooth gables are discouraged and require special approval of the design review board.
E. 
Window placement shall be balanced.
F. 
Windows and doors shall constitute a minimum of 25 percent of prominent facade wall planes. In cases where this is absolutely not practical, an exception shall be made if one or more of the following options are utilized and approved by the director:
1. 
Vertical and/or horizontal shifts in the facade combined with roof forms which accentuate facade variations.
2. 
Variations in texture.
3. 
Variations in exterior lighting.
G. 
The use of reflective or colored glass shall not be allowed; this excludes decorative stained glass.
H. 
Traditional building materials such as brick, stone or wood are to be encouraged for siding and trim. The following materials are not permitted:
1. 
Corrugated metal panels (uncoated).
2. 
Sheet siding (e.g., T1-11, ACM).
3. 
Concrete panels.
I. 
Repealed by Ord. 2815. (Formerly K)
J. 
Inconsistent multiple awning designs are not permitted on a single building.
K. 
Awnings, canopies and marquees may not obscure architectural details of the facade and shall not be the prominent design element of the building.
L. 
Roof materials on visible roofs shall provide texture and shadow lines; bright-colored or reflective roofing is not permitted. The following materials are not permitted:
1. 
Gravel.
2. 
Untreated aluminum or metal (copper may be used).
3. 
Reflective materials (including aluminized hot-mopped roofs, white or light gray metals which have a metallic appearance in bright sun).
4. 
Brightly colored, highly visible roofing materials.
M. 
Contrasting color shall not be used to provide unusual graphic design to the building exterior.
(Formerly 19.12.060; Ord. 1960 § 3, 1998; Ord. 2066 § 1, 2000; Ord. 2068 § 2, 2000; Ord. 2803 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 2815 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025)
A. 
Building sites shall be designed to be safe for pedestrians. This is typically achieved by:
1. 
Separating pedestrians from automobile traffic, either horizontally or via curbs and similar grade separations;
2. 
Outdoor lighting where appropriate; and
3. 
Avoiding obstacles that might cause pedestrians to trip or fall.
B. 
Building sites shall be designed to be convenient for pedestrians. This is typically achieved by incorporating direct, smooth-flowing walkways between internal activity areas.
(Formerly 19.12.065; Ord. 2003 § 3, 1999; Ord. 2803 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 2815 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025)
A. 
Miscellaneous structures and street furniture located on private property, public ways and other public property shall be designed to be part of the architectural concept of design and landscape. Materials shall be compatible with buildings, scale shall be appropriate, colors shall be in harmony with buildings and surroundings and proportions shall be to scale.
B. 
Lighting in connection with miscellaneous structures and street furniture shall meet the criteria applicable to site, landscape, buildings and signs.
(Ord. 1960 § 3, 1998; Ord. 2803 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025)