The multifamily ordinance, 123495, became effective on April 19, 2011. The ordinance establishes new lowrise zoning and a streamlined administrative design review process for townhouse development. Some of the new standards apply across zones, such as applying the existing shoreline code height measurement technique. Permit applicants have the option to use the existing height measurement technique or the new one until July 18, 2011.
In addition, the lowrise multifamily clean-up ordinance, 123564, was adopted by the Council on March 21, and will go in effect on May 2, 2011.
The City contracts with a publishing company to publish the Municipal Code and updates are prepared every quarter. The main lowrise ordinance, 123495, will be published in May 2011. The clean-up ordinance, 123564, will follow sometime in July.
Once published, zoning may be obtained at the Municode website for Seattle: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=13857&stateId=47&stateName=Washington. Paper copies will be available for purchase at the municode.com website. Prior to publication, the adopted ordinances are the source for the updated regulations and may be obtained at the City Clerk’s website: http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/leghome.htm.
For more information on the multifamily code and streamlined design review process, please see this webpage: www.seattle.gov/DPD/Planning/Multifamily_Code_Update/.