Urbanismo Seattle Design Guidelines

SEATTLE'S COMMERCIAL ZONES
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some areas have neighborhood-specific regulations that are not reflected here. Please consult with DPD staff for individual projects.

THIS ZONING CHART IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY
General standards are shown. Please refer to the Land Use Code for exceptions and specific regulations. Due to the complexity of the code, zoning questions cannot beanswered by phone. If you have questions about commercial zoning, please visit the Department of Planning and Development, located on the 20th floor of Seattle Municipal Tower at 700 Fifth Ave.

Regulations common to all Commercial zones
Landscaping and the Green Factor
Landscaping, equivalent to 30% of a parcel, in the form of planting areas, green roofs and/or vegetated walls is requiredfor most new development. Proposed development must achieve a 0.30 score by using the green factor calculation. Planting strips and/or screening is required along a street to screen parking areas from the street and abutting residential lots, and to lessen the impact of blank facades; street trees are also generally required.

Floor Area Ratio

Applied by height limit and use mix as per the FARChart below. An FAR of 2 would permit a building with gross floor area equal to 2 times the area of a lot. Higher FARs are allowed in the Light Rail Station Area Overlay district.

FAR Chart
Type of Development Height Limit Residentialonly or nonresidentialonly 2.25 3.00 4.25 4.50 5.00 5.00 Mix of residential and nonresidential uses 2.50 3.25 4.75 6.00 6.00 7.00

Residential Amenities ParkingQuantity

5% of residential floor area, open to the outdoors. Depends on land use. Required amounts for all land uses are listed in section 23.54.015 of the Land Use Code. No parking is required for the first 1,500 square feet of any business. No parking is required in urban centers or in light rail station area overlay districts. 30’ 40’ 65’ 85’ 125’ 160’

Height Limits

Appliedindependent of zone designations. Height limits may be 30', 40', 65', 85', 125', 160' dependent on locational criteria. Refer to the Zoning Map for site-specific limits. Changes to height limits require a rezone.

Design Review

Projects that undergo Design Review may be granted departures from certain development standards.

City of Seattle Department of Planning & Development Diane Sugimura,Director Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor

January 2007 Printed on 100% recycled paper containing 30% post-consumer waste

NC1

Neighborhood Commercial 1
A small shopping area that provides primarily convenience retail sales and services to the surrounding residential neighborhood
Typical Land Uses
Small grocery store, hair salon, coffee shop, and apartments above.

NC3

Neighborhood Commercial 3A larger pedestrian-oriented shopping district serving the surrounding neighborhood and a larger community, citywide or regional clientele; allowing comparison shopping among a range of retail businesses
Typical Land Uses
Supermarkets, restaurants, offices, hotels, clothing shops, business support services, and residences that are compatible with the area’s mixed-use character.

C1Commercial 1
An auto-oriented, primarily retail/service commercial area that serves surrounding neighborhoods as well as a citywide or regional clientele
Typical Land Uses Building Types
Large supermarkets, building supplies and household goods, auto sales and repairs, and apartments. A variety of commercial building types and site layouts including one-story commercial structures with extensivesurface parking, and multi-story office or residential buildings.

Building Types

Small commercial structures, multi-story mixed-use and residential structures. Non-residential uses typically occupy the street front.

Building Types

Street-level Uses

Non-residential uses required at street-level on arterial streets. Residential uses are limited to 20% of the facade on an arterial street,...