Edmonds City Zoning Code

16.55 CW

Commercial Waterfront

16.55.000 Purposes.

The CW zone has the following specific purposes in addition to the general purposes listed in Chapter 16.40 ECDC:

A. To reserve areas for water-dependent and water-related uses and for uses which will attract pedestrians to the waterfront;

B. To protect and enhance the natural features of the waterfront, and encourage public use of the waterfront;

C. To ensure physical and visual access to the waterfront for the public. [Ord. 4213 § 1 (Att. A), 2021].

16.55.010 Uses.

1. Marine-oriented services;

2. Retail uses which are either marine oriented or pedestrian oriented, excluding drive-in businesses;

3. Petroleum products storage and distribution;

4. Offices, above the ground floor, excluding medical, dental and veterinary clinics;

5. Local public facilities with marine-oriented services or recreation;

6. Neighborhood parks, natural open spaces, and community parks with an adopted master plan subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.070;

7. Hotels.

1. Off-street parking and loading in connection with a permitted use;

2. Outdoor dining meeting the criteria of Chapter 17.75 ECDC.

1. Aircraft landings as regulated by Chapter 4.80 ECC;

2. Regional parks and community parks without a master plan subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.070. [Ord. 4314 § 46 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 4213 § 1 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 3353 § 6, 2001; Ord. 2366 § 9, 1983; Ord. 2307, 1982; Ord. 2283 § 6, 1982].

16.55.020 Site development standards.

This section was recently amended by Ordinance No. 4397, codified in September 2025.

	Minimum Lot Area	Minimum Lot Width	Minimum¹Setbacks	Maximum Height	Maximum Coverage
CW	None	None	15' landward of bulkheads for buildings; 60' landward of bulkheads for parking	30'²	None

1Fifteen feet from lot lines adjacent to R zoned property.

2Tanks which are part of a petroleum products storage and distribution facility are allowed to be 48 feet in height.

B. Signs, Parking and Design Review. See Chapters 17.50, 20.10 and 20.60 ECDC.

C. Satellite Television Antennas. Satellite television antennas shall be regulated as set forth in ECDC 16.20.065 and reviewed by the architectural design board. [Ord. 4397 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 4213 § 1 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 2526 § 7, 1985].

16.55.030 Operating restrictions.

A. Enclosed Building. All uses shall be carried on entirely within a completely enclosed building except for:

1. Petroleum products storage and distribution;

2. Sales, storage, repair and limited building of boats;

3. Public parks;

4. Limited outdoor display of merchandise meeting the criteria of Chapter 17.65 ECDC;

5. Motorized and nonmotorized mobile vending units meeting the criteria of Chapter 4.12 ECC.

B. Nuisances. All uses shall comply with Chapter 17.60 ECDC, Property Performance Standards. [Ord. 4213 § 1 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 3902 § 4, 2012; Ord. 3320 § 4, 2000].

16.55.040 Green building incentives.

A. General. New buildings, as well as additions or remodels to existing permitted buildings, may earn reduced site development standards by receiving U.S. Green Building Council® Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™ (LEED) Gold certification or better. The appropriate LEED rating system depends on the project. Each building receives incentives independently for their individual certification.

B. Eligibility. See Chapter 17.100 ECDC for incentives for community facilities.

C. Height. Certified development can receive an additional five feet above the stated height limit in ECDC 16.55.020. Building heights remain subject to the Shoreline Management Act – Chapter 90.58 RCW.

D. Parking. Development certified LEED Gold or better must provide at least one parking space per 500 square feet of commercial floor area instead of parking required by Chapter 17.50 ECDC. Electric vehicle parking standards of Chapter 17.115 ECDC remain calculated off standard parking requirements.

E. Enforcement. Development granted these incentives but then failing to achieve the requirements is subject to the enforcement measures of Chapter 19.00 ECDC.

F. Permit Review. Green buildings are eligible to receive the expedited plan review, as established by ECDC 19.00.050. [Ord. 4375 § 5, 2024].

Edmonds City Zoning Code

16.55 CW

Commercial Waterfront

16.55.000 Purposes.

The CW zone has the following specific purposes in addition to the general purposes listed in Chapter 16.40 ECDC:

A. To reserve areas for water-dependent and water-related uses and for uses which will attract pedestrians to the waterfront;

B. To protect and enhance the natural features of the waterfront, and encourage public use of the waterfront;

C. To ensure physical and visual access to the waterfront for the public. [Ord. 4213 § 1 (Att. A), 2021].

16.55.010 Uses.

1. Marine-oriented services;

2. Retail uses which are either marine oriented or pedestrian oriented, excluding drive-in businesses;

3. Petroleum products storage and distribution;

4. Offices, above the ground floor, excluding medical, dental and veterinary clinics;

5. Local public facilities with marine-oriented services or recreation;

6. Neighborhood parks, natural open spaces, and community parks with an adopted master plan subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.070;

7. Hotels.

1. Off-street parking and loading in connection with a permitted use;

2. Outdoor dining meeting the criteria of Chapter 17.75 ECDC.

1. Aircraft landings as regulated by Chapter 4.80 ECC;

16.55.020 Site development standards.

This section was recently amended by Ordinance No. 4397, codified in September 2025.

	Minimum Lot Area	Minimum Lot Width	Minimum¹Setbacks	Maximum Height	Maximum Coverage
CW	None	None	15' landward of bulkheads for buildings; 60' landward of bulkheads for parking	30'²	None

1Fifteen feet from lot lines adjacent to R zoned property.

2Tanks which are part of a petroleum products storage and distribution facility are allowed to be 48 feet in height.

B. Signs, Parking and Design Review. See Chapters 17.50, 20.10 and 20.60 ECDC.

16.55.030 Operating restrictions.

A. Enclosed Building. All uses shall be carried on entirely within a completely enclosed building except for:

1. Petroleum products storage and distribution;

2. Sales, storage, repair and limited building of boats;

3. Public parks;

4. Limited outdoor display of merchandise meeting the criteria of Chapter 17.65 ECDC;

5. Motorized and nonmotorized mobile vending units meeting the criteria of Chapter 4.12 ECC.

B. Nuisances. All uses shall comply with Chapter 17.60 ECDC, Property Performance Standards. [Ord. 4213 § 1 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 3902 § 4, 2012; Ord. 3320 § 4, 2000].

16.55.040 Green building incentives.

B. Eligibility. See Chapter 17.100 ECDC for incentives for community facilities.

E. Enforcement. Development granted these incentives but then failing to achieve the requirements is subject to the enforcement measures of Chapter 19.00 ECDC.

F. Permit Review. Green buildings are eligible to receive the expedited plan review, as established by ECDC 19.00.050. [Ord. 4375 § 5, 2024].

Edmonds City Zoning Code

16.55 CW

Commercial Waterfront

16.55.000 Purposes.

The CW zone has the following specific purposes in addition to the general purposes listed in Chapter 16.40 ECDC:

A. To reserve areas for water-dependent and water-related uses and for uses which will attract pedestrians to the waterfront;

B. To protect and enhance the natural features of the waterfront, and encourage public use of the waterfront;

C. To ensure physical and visual access to the waterfront for the public. [Ord. 4213 § 1 (Att. A), 2021].

16.55.010 Uses.

1. Marine-oriented services;

2. Retail uses which are either marine oriented or pedestrian oriented, excluding drive-in businesses;

3. Petroleum products storage and distribution;

4. Offices, above the ground floor, excluding medical, dental and veterinary clinics;

5. Local public facilities with marine-oriented services or recreation;

6. Neighborhood parks, natural open spaces, and community parks with an adopted master plan subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.070;

7. Hotels.

1. Off-street parking and loading in connection with a permitted use;

2. Outdoor dining meeting the criteria of Chapter 17.75 ECDC.

1. Aircraft landings as regulated by Chapter 4.80 ECC;

16.55.020 Site development standards.

This section was recently amended by Ordinance No. 4397, codified in September 2025.

	Minimum Lot Area	Minimum Lot Width	Minimum¹Setbacks	Maximum Height	Maximum Coverage
CW	None	None	15' landward of bulkheads for buildings; 60' landward of bulkheads for parking	30'²	None

1Fifteen feet from lot lines adjacent to R zoned property.

2Tanks which are part of a petroleum products storage and distribution facility are allowed to be 48 feet in height.

B. Signs, Parking and Design Review. See Chapters 17.50, 20.10 and 20.60 ECDC.

16.55.030 Operating restrictions.

A. Enclosed Building. All uses shall be carried on entirely within a completely enclosed building except for:

1. Petroleum products storage and distribution;

2. Sales, storage, repair and limited building of boats;

3. Public parks;

4. Limited outdoor display of merchandise meeting the criteria of Chapter 17.65 ECDC;

5. Motorized and nonmotorized mobile vending units meeting the criteria of Chapter 4.12 ECC.

B. Nuisances. All uses shall comply with Chapter 17.60 ECDC, Property Performance Standards. [Ord. 4213 § 1 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 3902 § 4, 2012; Ord. 3320 § 4, 2000].

16.55.040 Green building incentives.

B. Eligibility. See Chapter 17.100 ECDC for incentives for community facilities.

E. Enforcement. Development granted these incentives but then failing to achieve the requirements is subject to the enforcement measures of Chapter 19.00 ECDC.

F. Permit Review. Green buildings are eligible to receive the expedited plan review, as established by ECDC 19.00.050. [Ord. 4375 § 5, 2024].