Edmonds City Zoning Code
16.30 RM
Multiple Residential
16.30.000 Purposes.
The RM zone has the following specific purposes in addition to the general purposes for residential zones of ECDC 16.00.010 and 16.10.000:
A. To reserve and regulate areas for a variety of housing types, and a range of greater densities than are available in the middle housing residential zones, while still maintaining a residential environment;
B. To provide for those additional uses which complement and are compatible with multiple residential uses. [Ord. 4397 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 3943 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2013; Ord. 3627 § 1, 2007].
16.30.010 Uses.
A. Permitted Primary Uses.
3. Retirement homes or congregate care facilities, assisted living facilities;
4. Group homes for the disabled, foster family homes and state-licensed group homes for foster care of minors; provided, however, that halfway houses and group homes licensed for juvenile offenders are not permitted uses in a residential zone of the city;
5. Boarding houses and rooming houses;
6. Housing for low income elderly in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 20.25 ECDC;
7. Churches, subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.020;
8. Primary schools subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.050(G) through (R);
9. Local public facilities that are planned, designated, and sited in the capital improvement plan, subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.050;
10. Neighborhood parks, natural open spaces, and community parks with an adopted master plan subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.070.
B. Permitted Secondary Uses.
1. All permitted secondary uses in the LDR zone;
2. Home occupations, subject to the requirements of Chapter 20.20 ECDC;
3. The following accessory uses:
a. Private parking,
b. Private swimming pools and other private recreational facilities,
c. Private greenhouses covering no more than five percent of the site in total;
4. Commuter parking lots containing less than 10 designated parking spaces in conjunction with a church, school, or local public facility allowed or conditionally permitted in this zone. Any additionally designated parking spaces that increase the total number of spaces in a commuter parking lot to 10 or more shall subject the entire commuter parking lot to a conditional use permit as specified in subsection (D)(2) of this section, including commuter parking lots that are located upon more than one lot as specified in ECDC 21.15.075.
C. Primary Uses Requiring a Conditional Use Permit.
1. Offices, other than local public facilities;
2. Local public facilities not planned, designated, or sited in the capital improvement plan, subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.050;
3. Day care centers and preschools for 13 or greater children;
4. Hospitals, convalescent homes, rest homes, sanitariums, and assisted living facilities;
5. Museums, art galleries, zoos, and aquariums of primarily local concern that do not meet the criteria for regional public facilities as defined in ECDC 21.85.033;
6. Counseling centers and residential treatment facilities for current alcoholics and drug abusers;
7. High schools, subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.050(G) through (R);
8. Regional parks and community parks without a master plan subject to the requirements of ECDC 17.100.070.
D. Secondary Uses Requiring a Conditional Use Permit.
1. Day care facilities or preschools of any size to be operated in a separate, nonresidential portion of a multifamily residential dwelling primary permitted structure operated primarily for the benefit of the residents thereof;
2. Commuter parking lots with 10 or more designated parking spaces in conjunction with a church, school, or local public facility allowed or conditionally permitted in this zone. [Ord. 4397 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 4333 § 7 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 3988 § 8, 2015; Ord. 3943 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2013; Ord. 3627 § 1, 2007].
16.30.020 Subdistricts.
There are established four subdistricts of the RM zone, in order to provide site development standards for areas which differ in topography, location, existing development and other factors. [Ord. 3943 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2013; Ord. 3627 § 1, 2007].
16.30.030 Site development standards.
A. Table.
Subdistrict | Minimum Lot Area Per Dwelling Unit3 (Sq. Ft.) | Minimum Street Setback2 | Minimum Side Setback2 | Minimum Rear Setback | Maximum Height | Maximum Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RM-1.5 | 1,500 | 15' | 10' | 15' | 25'1 | 45% |
RM-EW | 1,500 | 15' | 10' | 15' | 25'4 | 45% |
RM-2.4 | 2,400 | 15' | 10' | 15' | 25'1 | 45% |
RM-3 | 3,000 | 15' | 15' | 15' | 25'1 | 45% |
1Roof only may extend five feet above the stated height limit if all portions of the roof above the stated height limit have a slope of four inches in 12 inches or greater.
2LDR-S setbacks may be used for single-family homes on lots of 10,000 square feet or less in all RM zones.
3See definition of townhouse.
4The maximum base height of any building fronting on Edmonds Way may be increased to 35 feet if the following apply to the site and proposed development:
(a)At least two of the following techniques shall be incorporated into the building and/or site’s design:
(1)Achievement of at least LEED gold certification or comparable green building certification;
(2)Inclusion of housing units affordable to persons at low/moderate income as determined by Snohomish County Tomorrow. The number of affordable units must be at least 15 percent of the gross number of units proposed;
(3)Low impact development (LID) techniques are employed. LID best management practices include, but are not limited to: bioretention/rain gardens, permeable pavements, roof downspout controls, dispersion, soil quality and depth, minimal excavation foundations, vegetated roofs, and water re-use.
B. See Parking (Chapter 17.50 ECDC), Design Review (Chapter 20.10 ECDC), and Sign Code (Chapter 20.60 ECDC) for additional standards. The following design standards shall also apply to buildings within the RM-EW zone:
1. Seventy-five percent of a building facade facing a public right-of-way shall be clad with preferred building materials which include natural stone, wood, architectural metal, brick and glass. Concrete, laminates, veneers, fiber cement products and the like may be permitted if they replicate the appearance of the listed preferred materials. At least 55 percent of building facade materials must be salvaged, recycled content, bio-based or indigenous.
C. Location of Parking. No parking spaces may be located within the street setback. [Ord. 4397 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 3943 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2013; Ord. 3627 § 1, 2007].
16.30.040 Site development exceptions.
A. Maximum height for accessory structures is 15 feet.
B. Satellite Television Antenna. Satellite television antennas shall be regulated as set forth in ECDC 16.20.065.
C. Setback Encroachments.
1. Eaves and chimneys and bay windows, utility lines and meters, and “similar minor improvements,” etc., may project into a required setback not more than 30 inches.
2. Except as authorized by subsection (C)(3) of this section, uncovered and unenclosed porches, steps, patios, and decks may project into a required setback not more than one-third of the required setback, or four feet, whichever is less; provided, that they are no more than 30 inches above the ground level at any point.
3. In the RM – Edmonds Way zone, uncovered and unenclosed porches, steps, patios, and decks may occupy up to one-half of the required street setback area along Edmonds Way; provided, that these structures or uses are located no more than 20 feet above the ground level at any point.
D. Corner Lots. Corner lots shall have no rear setback; all setbacks other than street setbacks shall be side setbacks. [Ord. 4397 § 2 (Exh. B), 2025; Ord. 3943 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2013; Ord. 3652 § 1, 2007; Ord. 3627 § 1, 2007].
16.30.050 Green building incentives.
A. General. New multifamily residential buildings, as well as additions and remodels to existing multifamily residences, may earn reduced site development standards by receiving U.S. Green Building Council® Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™ (LEED) Gold, Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties Built Green® 4-Star certification, or better. The appropriate LEED rating system depends on the project.
B. Eligibility. These incentives are available to multifamily residential development only. Other uses permitted in this zone, whether primary or secondary uses, by right or conditionally permitted, or legal nonconforming, are ineligible for these incentives. See Chapter 17.100 ECDC for incentives for community facilities. Each building receives incentives independently for their individual certification.
C. Height. Certified multifamily residences are allowed an additional five feet above the stated height limit of ECDC 16.30.030(A), to a total of 30 feet. Certified development may leverage the five-foot pitched roof height bonus of ECDC 16.30.030(A), note 1, for all portions above 30 feet.
D. Parking. Certified multifamily residential development must provide at least one off-street parking space per dwelling unit rather than the requirements of ECDC 17.50.020(A)(1)(b). Electric vehicle parking standards of Chapter 17.115 ECDC remain calculated off standard parking requirements.
E. Enforcement. Development granted green building incentives but then unable to achieve the requirements is subject to the enforcement measures of Chapter 19.00 ECDC.
F. Permit Review. Green buildings are eligible to receive expedited plan review, as established by ECDC 19.00.050. [Ord. 4375 § 1, 2024].