Washington • US zoning
Seattle zoning guide
An introduction to Seattle Land Use Code, selected zoning districts, overlays and the review process in Seattle. Confirm the current zoning designation and applicable provisions for the parcel.
Use this overview to plan your research. Verify current requirements and site-specific conditions against the relevant primary sources. Read our data sources, coverage and limits guide.
Official ordinance and source-check scope
Neighborhood Residential naming date and January 2026 housing-standard changes checked. This directory has not verified current numerical limits for the listed districts. Checked 2026-09-11.
Seattle SDCI — Neighborhood Residential naming (effective June 2022)
Seattle — adopted plan and permanent state zoning compliance legislation
Before applying a number to a parcel
Confirm the current mapped district, lot geometry, permitted use, qualifying housing category, special districts and overlays. A listed FAR example is not a buildable floor-area calculation. Height, setbacks, exclusions, bonuses and other controls require their own checks.
Selected district references
| Code | District reference | FAR source example | Height | Review limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NR1 | Neighborhood Residential 1 | Check current code; no verified value here | Check mapped height/bulk district and applicable exceptions | Confirm the mapped district, permitted uses, special provisions and project eligibility in the official source. |
| LR1 | Low Rise 1 | Check current code; no verified value here | Check mapped height/bulk district and applicable exceptions | Confirm the mapped district, permitted uses, special provisions and project eligibility in the official source. |
| LR3 | Low Rise 3 | Check current code; no verified value here | Check mapped height/bulk district and applicable exceptions | Confirm the mapped district, permitted uses, special provisions and project eligibility in the official source. |
| MR | Midrise | Check current code; no verified value here | Check mapped height/bulk district and applicable exceptions | Confirm the mapped district, permitted uses, special provisions and project eligibility in the official source. |
| HR | Highrise | Check current code; no verified value here | Check mapped height/bulk district and applicable exceptions | Confirm the mapped district, permitted uses, special provisions and project eligibility in the official source. |
| NC2-40 | Neighborhood Commercial 2 - 40ft | Check current code; no verified value here | Check mapped height/bulk district and applicable exceptions | Confirm the mapped district, permitted uses, special provisions and project eligibility in the official source. |
| DOC1 | Downtown Office Core 1 | Check current code; no verified value here | Check mapped height/bulk district and applicable exceptions | Confirm the mapped district, permitted uses, special provisions and project eligibility in the official source. |
Overlay and approval questions
- Does a special district, historic designation, shoreline or flood rule apply?
- Which discretionary approvals or project-specific streamlining criteria must be satisfied?
- Are state or federal provisions relevant, and what conditions or exclusions do they impose?
Review-process context
Confirm the current permit, design-review and environmental-review route with SDCI. The naming and housing-reform source check on this page does not establish project eligibility or an approval threshold.
Questions
What zoning ordinance applies in Seattle?
Seattle Land Use Code
How does the review process work in Seattle?
Confirm the current permit, design-review and environmental-review route with SDCI. The naming and housing-reform source check on this page does not establish project eligibility or an approval threshold.
Explore a site in Seattle
Start with the parcel location and inspect the available site context. Confirm zoning and development requirements with the responsible local authority.
Explore site analysisReview current plans and usage and source coverage for your project.