In November, ordinance 126455 went into effect allowing Seattle to accept the transfer of development rights (TDR) from farms and forests in Snohomish County as part of the existing regional TDR program active in certain areas of Downtown and South Lake Union. Under existing rules, development in parts of Downtown and South Lake Union may achieve extra floor area by providing certain public benefits such as purchasing development rights from farms and forests in King County. This legislation expands the geographic areas where TDR can come from to include Snohomish County as well. 
In November, ordinance 126455 went into effect allowing Seattle to accept the transfer of development rights (TDR) from farms and forests in Snohomish County as part of the existing regional TDR program active in certain areas of Downtown and South Lake Union. Under existing rules, development in parts of Downtown and South Lake Union may achieve extra floor area by providing certain public benefits such as purchasing development rights from farms and forests in King County. This legislation expands the geographic areas where TDR can come from to include Snohomish County as well. The amount of extra floor area earned by transferring TDR from Snohomish County will be determined by the exchange ratios that already exist in the Seattle Municipal Code. The Council bill does not expand the areas of Seattle in which extra floor area can be achieved or change the amount of extra floor area that could be achieved.
More information on Seattle’s Incentive Zoning program can be found in Tip 258, Developer Contributions — Incentive Zoning.