The regulations established in this chapter within each zoning district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land, except as hereinafter provided:
(1) 
No building, structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered unless in conformity with all of the regulations specified in this chapter for the zoning district in which it is located.
(2) 
No buildings or structures shall encroach on any easement or right-of-way.
(3) 
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
(4) 
No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth in this chapter. Yards or lots created after the effective date of this chapter shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this chapter.
(5) 
All structures and uses require connection to public water and sewer systems where available. If public sewer and/or water service is not available to serve a proposed project the proponent shall extend such service unless the reviewing official and all other appropriate agencies authorize the use of interim systems. When interim systems are authorized, the following may be required:
(a) 
“Double plumbing” dry line sewers to connect the structure or use's on-site system to a public sewer when it becomes available;
(b) 
Dry line sewer installation when the town provides construction elevations in sufficient detail to ensure that the dry lines will be able to function;
(c) 
Installation of an interim community sewer system which shall be managed and/or owned by an approved satellite management agency;
(d) 
Permanent or interim community water supply system shall be managed and/or owned by an approved satellite management agency.
(6) 
Uses allowed within a zoning district are specifically those listed as permitted (P) or conditional (C) in the table in CMC § 19.15.020.
(Ord. 900 § 2 (Att. A (§ 6)), 2025)
Zones
R
A
CL
TC
I
P
OS
Minimum Lot Size (Square Feet)
Where sewer not available (1)
12,500
 
12,500
2,000
12,500
 
 
Where sewer available (2)
10,000
 
2,000
 
4,000
 
10 ac
Single-family detached
6,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accessory dwelling unit ADU (11)
6,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duplex
4,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
Triplex
4,500
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fourplex
4,500
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiveplex
 
 
9,500
9,500
 
 
 
Sixplex
 
 
6,000
6,000
 
 
 
Townhouse - three units
 
 
6,500
6,500
 
 
 
Townhouse - five units
 
 
10,200
10,200
 
 
 
Courtyard building
 
 
7,500
7,500
 
 
 
Stacked flats/multiplex
 
 
10,200
10,200
 
 
 
Cottage housing - six units
 
 
12,600
12,600
 
 
 
Minimum Lot Width (Feet)
At building line
 
 
25 ft
25 ft
0 ft
 
 
Single-family detached
50 ft
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) (7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duplex, triplex, fourplex
45 ft
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiveplex
 
 
90 ft
90 ft
 
 
 
Sixplex
 
 
55 ft
55 ft
 
 
 
Townhouse - three units
 
 
80 ft
80 ft
 
 
 
Townhouse - five units
 
 
120 ft
120 ft
 
 
 
Courtyard building
 
 
80 ft
80 ft
 
 
 
Stacked flats/multiplex
 
 
120 ft
120 ft
 
 
 
Cottage housing
105 ft
 
 
 
 
 
 
Minimum Lot Depth (Feet)
Minimum mean depth of lot
 
 
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
 
 
Single-family detached
80 ft
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) (7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duplex, triplex, fourplex
85 ft
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiveplex
 
 
105 ft
105 ft
 
 
 
Sixplex
 
 
100 ft
100 ft
 
 
 
Townhouse - three units
 
 
85 ft
85 ft
 
 
 
Townhouse - five units
 
 
60 ft
60 ft
 
 
 
Courtyard building
 
 
100 ft
100 ft
 
 
 
Stacked flats/multiplex
 
 
85 ft
85 ft
 
 
 
Cottage housing
120 ft
 
 
 
 
 
 
Setbacks (Feet)
Front yard (3)
20 ft
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
 
 
Side yard minimum mean depth (4)
5 ft
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
 
 
Rear yard minimum depth without an alley (5)
20 ft
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
 
 
Accessory structures
(7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exceptions in TC zone
 
 
 
(8)
 
 
(9)
Lot Coverage by Buildings
Total lot coverage (%)
40%
 
100%
100%
100%
 
 
Accessory buildings of rear yard
50%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maximum Height
Main buildings (10)
35 ft
 
35 ft
35 ft
45 ft
 
35 ft
Accessory buildings
28 ft
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes
(1)
Or as necessary to meet applicable state or county on-site septic system requirements, whichever is greater.
(2)
Exclusive of roadways.
(3)
To garage door if residential accessed from a street or 15 feet except 10 feet for lots with a density of three or more. Maximum setback for TC in all other locations, 10 feet from the property line on the street side for new construction. If new construction occurs on a corner lot, the maximum setback shall apply to each boundary line adjacent to a street.
(4)
The total of the two side yards shall be 10 feet. “Side of the building” means the out face of any part of the building roof eaves. Zero feet for attached units internal to the development.
(5)
For R zone, rear yard setback zero feet with access to an accessible and open alley. For I zone, a 20-foot setback shall be required for any and each yard that abuts, adjoins, or is separated by a street less than 50 feet in width, any residentially zone property. This additional setback requirement also applies to residentially zoned property that is unincorporated county land.
(6)
In TC zone, parking shall not be located in front of the building.
(7)
Accessory structures shall conform to the requirements of this section, shall meet all the required setbacks of the zone with the exception that the rear yard setback may be reduced to five feet if the height of the accessory structure does not exceed 16 feet.
(8)
In TC zone, exceptions may be authorized through the town council plan review established as part of the conditional use permit for the drivein use:
(a)
Drive-in businesses shall have the building setback established as part of the conditional use permit for the drive-in use.
(b)
Utility easements.
(c)
When a wider sidewalk or additional landscaping is approved at the building entrance.
(d)
Architectural design features such as a unique building entrance, outside seating area, pocket park, or similar element.
(e)
Irregular shaped lot or lots that do not directly abut the right-of-way.
(f)
Site development that incorporates existing buildings, when needed to preserve existing visual and physical access.
(g)
Other exceptions consistent with the intent of providing a well-defined street edge and pedestrian-oriented streetscape.
(9)
In OS zone, minimum setback requirements for:
(a)
Buildings and other structures shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from any lot in a residential zone.
(b)
Sports play areas and parking lots shall be located to minimize disruption of nearby residential uses.
(10)
Churches may exceed maximum height if approved by plan review (see CMC §§ 19.68.030 and 19.68.040). In I zone, structures that exceed 45 feet shall provide one additional foot of setback for each foot the structure exceeds 45 feet.
(11)
In A zone, development shall comply with:
(a)
This chapter;
(b)
The Mears Field Airport Layout Plan; and
(c)
Applicable FAA standards. Development and landscaping shall not exceed the height limitation of the requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 77 or any applicable state or federal agency.
(Ord. 900 § 2 (Att. A (§ 6)), 2025)
(1) 
Increased density may be allowed consistent with local needs for any affordable housing development of any single-family or middle housing residence located on real property owned or controlled by a religious organization pursuant to RCW 36.70A.545.
(2) 
Additional housing units may be created within existing commercial, mixed-use, and middle housing buildings that are exempt from density limits, parking, and other regulations pursuant to RCW 35.21.990 and 35A.21.440.
(Ord. 900 § 2 (Att. A (§ 6)), 2025)