Additional Use and Development Regulations

In addition to the base zone standards, the overlay zone standards, and the plan district requirements, there are additional use and development regulations.

• Landscaping and screening
  • Review Chapter 33.248. More on Landscaping and screening.
• Parking, Loading and Transportation and Parking Demand Management
  • Standards for parking, parking lots, loading areas, bicycle parking, and vehicles in residential zones.
  • Standards include maximum parking, allowed vehicle areas, and landscaping.
  • Review Chapter 33.266 and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plans in Commercial / Mixed Use Zones.

If your use or development falls into any of the following categories, you will want to check the zoning code for other requirements.

• Accessory Home Occupations
  • Standards for running a business out of a home, whether for office work only, or if you have customers or an employee.
  • Regulations include hours of operation, types of businesses allowed, and permitting procedures.
  • Review Chapter 33.203.
• Accessory Dwelling Units
  • Standards for adding a small second dwelling unit to a single-family home, whether it is attached or detached.
  • Regulations include size, design, and placement of the accessory dwelling unit.
  • Review Chapter 33.205.
• Accessory Short-Term Rentals
  • Regulations for short-term rental of bedrooms in Residential Zones, including permit and inspection requirements.
  • Note: Short-term rentals in Commercial Zones may be treated as Retail Sales and Service uses, not subject to this Chapter.
  • Review Chapter 33.207.
• Aviation
  • Regulations regarding airports and seaplane ports.
  • Review Chapter 33.209.
• Community Design Standards
  • Design Standards that are an alternative to Design Review.
  • These standards may be used instead of going through Design Review under some circumstances for some districts with a “d” Design overlay zone or in historic Conservation Districts.
  • Review Chapters 33.420 and 33.445 to determine whether Community Design Standards are an option.
  • Review Chapter 33.218.
• Drive-Through Facilities
  • Standards for Drive-Through facilities, including stacking lanes, landscaping, and access.
  • Note: Consult the base-zone standards for a property to determine if Drive-Through facilities are allowed in the zone.
  • Review Chapter 33.224.
• Elderly and Disabled High-Density Housing
  • Standards for gaining density increases or parking reductions for housing designated for elderly or disabled populations.
  • Regulations include interior and exterior design standards and the development of a covenant.
  • Review Chapter 33.229.
• Floating Structures
  • Standards for floating structures, including houseboats, restaurants, and bars.
  • Review Chapter 33.236.
• Helicopter Landing Facilities
  • Standards for Helicopter Landing Facilities, including where they are allowed, noise, safety, and other standards.
  • Review Chapter 33.243.
• Inclusionary Housing
  • Standards and rates for inclusionary housing.
  • Review Chapter 33.245.
• Landscaping and Screening
  • Standards for different types of landscaping and screening.
  • Review Chapter 33.248.
• Manufactured Housing and Mobile Home Parks
  • Standards for both Manufactured Homes on individual lots and for Mobile Home Parks.
  • Regulations include size, design, vehicle and pedestrian circulation, and outdoor area.
  • Review Chapter 33.251.
• Mining and Waste-Related
  • Regulations for Mining and Waste-related uses, including standards for vehicle areas, landscaping and screening, and reclamation plans for landfills.
  • Review Chapter 33.254.
• Neighborhood Contact Requirement
  • The Neighborhood Contact process provides a setting for an applicant and neighborhood residents to discuss a development proposal informally.
  • It is a required step for certain building permits and land use review applications and must be satisfied before a building permit or land use review application.
  • Among other requirements, the applicant must post a sign on the site and, in some cases, hold a meeting.
  • Review Chapter 33.705.
• Non-conforming Situations
  • Regulations regarding non-conforming development, residential densities, and uses.
  • This includes clauses regarding damage, destruction, continuance, and expansion, as well as documentation of a legal non-conforming situation.
  • Review Chapter 33.258.
  • Please note: Requirements for certain types of non-conforming upgrades for additions and alterations with a project value of more than $356,300 are suspended until Jan. 1, 2029. Please visit this page to see if this may apply to your project or schedule a free 15-minute appointment to discuss general zoning and land use questions.
• Off-Site Impacts
  • Standards for non-residential uses and their impact on uses in the commercial, residential, and open space, including standards for noise, vibration, glare, and odor.
  • Review Chapter 33.262.
• Parking, Loading and Transportation, and Parking Demand Management
  • Standards for parking, parking lots, loading areas, bicycle parking, and vehicles in residential zones.
  • Standards include maximum parking, allowed vehicle areas, landscaping, and what types of vehicles are allowed in residential zones.
  • Standards also include thresholds for required transportation and parking demand management requirements in commercial/mixed-use zones and campus institutional zones.
  • Review Chapter 33.266.
• Planned Development
  • Regulations that provide an opportunity for different housing types and uses, as well as regulations for development using the planned development bonus option.
  • Review Chapter 33.270.
• Major Public Trails
  • Standards for the construction, use, and maintenance of Major Public Trails.
    • Major Public Trails are noted on the official zoning maps.
    • If a Major Public Trail designation runs through your site, you may need to build a trail as part of a proposed development. Alternatively, you may need to provide an easement to allow for a trail to be built in the future.
  • The City has clear rules for how trails must be built, used, and maintained.
  • A set formula helps determine whether you need to provide an easement or build a trail. This is based on your project’s relative impact.
    • Review the Determination of Rough Proportionality for Major Public Trail Requirements.
    • Application requirement: Rough proportionality for major public trails worksheet.
  • Review Chapter 33.272.
• Radio Frequency Transmission Facilities
  • Regulations for Radio Frequency Transmission Facilities, including radio towers and cellular towers.
  • Standards include landscaping and screening, and whether a facility requires a Conditional Use review.
  • Review Chapter 33.274.
• Recreational Fields for Organized Sports
  • Regulations for recreational fields used for organized sports located on a school, school site, or in a park.
  • Review Chapter 33.279.
• Schools and School Sites
  • Regulations for schools, including landscaping and screening, bus loading, and whether a Conditional Use review is required.
  • Review Chapter 33.281.
• Self-Service Storage
  • Standards for uses that fall in the Self-Service Storage use category, as described in Chapter 33.920, Use Categories.
  • Regulations include design standards, storage size, and internal circulation standards.
  • Note: Consult the base zone to determine whether Uses are allowed in the zone.
  • Review Chapter 33.284.
• Short Term Housing and Mass Shelters
  • Regulations for Short-Term Housing and Mass Shelters as defined in 33.910, Definitions.
  • Standards include where the facilities are allowed, design standards, hours of operation, and whether a Conditional Use review is required.
  • Review Chapter 33.285.
• Special Street Setbacks
  • Standards for streets with special setbacks noted on the zoning maps, such as parts of SE Powell Boulevard and SE 82nd Avenue.
  • Review Chapter 33.288.
• Superblocks
  • Standards for sites that contain a specified amount of vacated street, including pedestrian circulation and landscaping standards.
  • Review Chapter 33.293.
• Temporary Activities
  • Standards for temporary activities such as carnivals, parking lot sales, staging areas, residential sales offices, and others.
  • Review Chapter 33.296.
• Wind Turbines
  • Regulations for small, urban-scale wind turbines.
  • Review Chapter 33.299.

Need help?

If you have questions after reviewing the information on this page, please schedule a free 15-minute appointment with a city planner or set up an Early Assistance meeting for a deeper discussion.