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Updating Seattle's Multifamily Code - Lowrise
The Multifamily Code Update was adopted unanimously by the Seattle City Council in December 2010!
Most of the new regulations will take effect April 19, 2011. For more information, visit the Department of Planning & Development’s website here.
As we updated the MFC we tried to do more than just stop the bad. We used as an opportunity to appeal to our better angels of architecture and planning and try to craft a code that helps us achieve really great outcomes. I've seen inspiring examples from some talented architects and heard great ideas from regular citizens. I think we've worked together to develop a code update that results in great homes and great neighborhoods.
These were the first major revisions for lowrise zoning regulations since the late 1980s. A lot has changed over the last 20 years. I hope this update will improve the look, sustainability, affordability of multifamily development over the next 20 years.
The changes include a new streamlined administrative design review process for townhouses. Some changes, such as a new height measurement technique apply to other zones in addition to multifamily.
The highlights of the new changes include:
- Reduce the number of zones from five to three (LR1, LR2, LR3) for code simplicity;
- Encourage a diversity of housing types among townhomes, rowhouses, cottages, apartments, and auto-court townhomes;
- Require new design features. For example: At least 20 percent of street facing façades must be windows and doors, building materials must be varied, townhouse parking garages must be designed to fit large cars;
- Provide incentives for "green building" and hiding parking underground or at the back of the lot;
- Use the City's "Green Factor" landscaping requirement, which promotes keeping trees or planting new ones;
- Change the lowrise height limits to match the height limit for single-family zones in most cases;
- Allow for shared open space, for larger usable common areas;
- Waive parking requirements for projects in growth areas and within .25 mile of frequent transit service (15 minute headways), allowing the market to dictate the level of parking to provide;
- Waive density limits for certain housing types when good design features are achieved;
- Use a new flexible standard of measuring floor space, "Floor Area Ratio," rather than previously restrictive setback and lot coverage requirements; and
- Streamlined Design Review will be required for townhouses with three or more units, but not for rowhouses, cottages or apartments in multifamily zones.
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Common MFC Acronyms:
- C - Commercial
- DPD - Department of Planning and Development
- HR - Highrise
- LDT - Lowrise Duplex Triplex
- MFC - Multifamily Code
- MR - Midrise
- NC - Neighborhood Commercial
- COBE - Council’s Committee on the Built Environment
Do you know what zone you live in? Click here , enter your address into the search bar, and click the "Detailed Zoning" button.
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