Everett City Zoning Code
19.03 Zoning
Districts and Maps
19.03.010 Establishment of zone districts.
A. In order to classify, regulate, restrict and segregate the uses of land, water and buildings; to regulate and restrict the location, height and bulk of buildings and other structures; to regulate the area of yards and other open spaces around buildings; and to regulate the intensity of land use and the density of population; the following zones, or zoning districts, are established:
Abbreviation | Name |
|---|---|
AG | Agriculture |
NR-C | Neighborhood Residential-Constrained |
NR | Neighborhood Residential |
UR4 | Urban Residential (4 Floors) |
UR7 | Urban Residential (7 Floors) |
MU4 | |
MU7 | |
MU15 | |
MU25 | |
LI-MU | Light Industrial—Mixed-Use |
LI | |
HI | |
P-OS | Park and Open Space |
WRM | Watershed Resource Management |
B. Unzoned Areas. If areas are not within a zoning district, they shall be: (1) reviewed under the Everett shoreline master program, if applicable; or (2) as an unlisted use in the adjacent zone, subject to the process set forth in EMC 19.05.070. (Ord. 4102-25 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2025; Ord. 3774-20 § 5(C) (Exh. 3), 2020.)
19.03.020 Establishment of overlay zones.
In certain instances, special circumstances warrant the application of special regulations or administrative processes to specific areas. In order to apply these special regulations or administrative processes, the following overlay zones are established:
Abbreviation | Name |
|---|---|
H | Historic |
I | Institutional |
PD | Planned Development |
APN | Airport/Port/Navy Compatibility |
MUC | Mixed-Use Centers |
(Ord. 4102-25 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2025; Ord. 3774-20 § 5(C) (Exh. 3), 2020.)
19.03.030 Purpose and application of zone districts.
A. Agriculture Zone (AG). The purpose of the agricultural use zone is to provide and protect areas for certain agricultural uses on lands which are not appropriate for residential, commercial or industrial development at urban intensities.
B. Residential Zones.
1. Neighborhood Residential-Constrained (NR-C). The purpose of the neighborhood residential-constrained zone is to reduce risk from hazards in areas with limited access by providing for a continuation of established development patterns and limiting growth potential.
2. Neighborhood Residential (NR). The purpose of the neighborhood residential zone is to provide for a variety of housing opportunities while limiting the scale of buildings to three floors or less to be complementary to existing neighborhood scale and bulk.
3. Urban Residential (4 Floors) (UR4). The purpose of the urban residential (4 floors) zone is to permit moderate-scale residential development in buildings up to four floors along with limited opportunities for neighborhood commercial development.
4. Urban Residential (7 Floors) (UR7). The primary purpose of the urban residential (7 floors) zone is to permit moderate-scale residential development in buildings up to seven floors along with limited opportunities for neighborhood commercial development.
C. Mixed-Use Zones.
1. Mixed-Use (4 Floors) (MU4). The purpose of the mixed-use (4 floors) zone is to provide for low-scale residential and commercial development in buildings up to four floors.
2. Mixed-Use (7 Floors) (MU7). The purpose of the mixed-use (7 floors) zone is to provide for medium-scale residential and commercial development in buildings up to seven floors.
3. Mixed-Use (15 Floors) (MU15). The purpose of the mixed-use (15 floors) zone is to provide for intensive mixed-use development along transit corridors and around high-capacity transit stations in buildings up to fifteen floors.
4. Mixed-Use (25 Floors) (MU25). The purpose of the mixed-use (25 floors) zone is to reinforce and enhance the downtown center city that provides local and regional service, retail, entertainment, civic and public uses as well as a variety of urban housing choices in buildings up to twenty-five floors.
D. Industrial Zones.
1. Light Industrial—Mixed Use (LI-MU). The purpose of the light industrial—mixed use zone is to support existing light industrial and manufacturing uses while providing opportunities for the addition of commercial and residential uses.
2. Light Industrial (LI). The purpose of the light industrial zone is to support industrial development and uses and those that are highly complementary, prohibit incompatible uses, concentrate employment, and mitigate adverse impacts on adjacent residential zones.
3. Heavy Industrial (HI). The purpose of the heavy industrial zone is to provide for and protect certain areas of the city for heavy manufacturing uses. This zone is also intended to:
a. Provide and protect areas of the city for marine-related commerce, while striking a balance with the need for limited commercial uses;
b. Preserve Everett’s “working waterfront” character; and
c. Further the goals of the Everett comprehensive plan and shoreline master program relating to public access to and enjoyment of the shoreline.
E. Park and Open Space Zone (P-OS). The purpose of the park and open space zone is to provide a zoning classification for recreational and open space uses and other compatible public uses on current and future city-owned land, or for public properties characterized by environmental sensitivity and value to be preserved, for the most part, in their undisturbed state, and to provide and protect open space and other natural assets of the community.
F. Watershed Resource Management (WRM). The purpose of the watershed resource management zone is to provide a land use classification which allows for the continuation of existing uses and anticipated future uses for land in the city-owned Chaplain Tract within the corporate limits of Everett. These are lands that are not intended for urban development and are located outside the urban growth boundary. These properties are intended to be used only for municipal service purposes that do not conflict with the maintenance of a safe and adequate water supply for the Everett water system, and which are in accordance with applicable license requirements.
G. Overlay Zones.
1. Historic Overlay Zone (H). The purpose of the historic overlay zone is to:
a. Establish a regulatory mechanism for the designation and protection of historic sites, buildings, districts and landmarks;
b. Provide for methods of modifying the development standards of the underlying zone in the interest of preserving or enhancing the historic features or significance of a particular site; and
c. Recognize the depth of historical resources in Everett and their significance to the heritage of the community.
2. Institutional Overlay Zone (I). The purpose of the institutional overlay zone is to allow for various institutional land uses with special needs and impacts to be located in the Everett community in a manner which is compatible with surrounding land uses through a master plan review process which requires public involvement and provides predictability to the institution and the public.
3. Planned Development Overlay Zone (PD). The purpose of the planned development (PD) overlay zone is to allow for commercial, industrial and mixed-use developments which are of a unique character and desirable quality, and which are beneficial to the area in which the property is located and to the community in general. It is the intent of this chapter to provide a public review process through which a planned development may be proposed with alternative standards to those contained in this title, and that the primary basis for city approval of alternative development standards is that the proposal will result in a development which, as a whole, provides public benefits and high quality development that otherwise cannot be realized through conformance to the requirements of this title.
4. Airport/Port/Navy Compatibility Overlay Zone (APN). The purpose of the APN compatibility zone is to protect Paine Field Airport, Port of Everett, and Naval Station Everett from nearby incompatible land uses and development by implementing special development standards and project permit notice procedures.
5. Mixed-Use Centers (MUC). The purpose of mixed-use centers is to support significant housing and employment growth in compact and pedestrian-oriented urban places that are connected to public transit and active transportation networks. Mixed-use centers include Metro Everett. (Ord. 4102-25 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2025; Ord. 3774-20 § 5(C) (Exh. 3), 2020.)
19.03.040 Maps incorporated.
The map or set of maps entitled “city of Everett zoning map” is adopted as part of this title. Printed copies of all maps are available at the planning department. The online versions may be found at the official city website.
A. Zoning. See Map 3-1 below. The official zoning map of the city is on file with the office of the city clerk.
B. Critical Areas. These maps support the critical area regulations in Chapter 19.37 EMC.
C. Street Designations. See Chapter 19.33 EMC.
D. Gateway Corridor Streets. See Chapter 19.09 EMC.
E. Repealed by Ord. 4102-25.
F. Overlay Zones.
1. Airport Compatibility. See Chapter 19.17 EMC.
2. Navy Compatibility. See Chapter 19.17 EMC.
3. Historic Resources. See Chapter 19.28 EMC.
G. Repealed by Ord. 4102-25.
H. Building Heights—Industrial Waterfront. See Chapter 19.22 EMC.
I. Adult Retail/Mini-Casinos. See Chapter 19.13 EMC.
J. Off-Street Parking Areas in Metro Everett. See Chapter 19.34 EMC.
K. Special Building Setbacks for West Marine View Dr.—23rd St./24th St. See Chapter 19.06 EMC.
L. Shoreline Designations. See shoreline master program.
Map 3-1: Zoning
(Ord. 4102-25 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2025; Ord. 3774-20 § 5(C) (Exh. 3), 2020.)
19.03.050 Zoning boundary interpretation.
Where uncertainty exists as to the precise location of zoning district boundaries, as shown on the zoning map, the following rules shall apply:
A. Following Property Lines. Where a zoning boundary is indicated as approximately following a property line, the property line is the zone boundary.
B. Following Streets or Alleys. Where a zone boundary is indicated as following a street or alley, the centerline of the street or alley is the zone boundary. Where this title provides for a minimum separation between a specified use or activity and a particular zone, the measurement shall be taken between the specified use or activity and the nearest lot within the zone, and not between the specified use or activity and the zone boundary within a public right-of-way.
C. Tidelands, Tidal Flats, Rivers, Lakes and Port Gardner Bay. Where a zone boundary abuts a body of water, except as otherwise indicated in the urban deep water port, maritime, and municipal watershed shoreline environment designations as established in the shoreline master program, the zone boundary is the ordinary high water mark.
D. Other Cases. Where a zone boundary is not indicated to follow a property line or public right-of-way, the boundary line is as drawn, based upon the scale shown on the zoning map.
E. Classification of Vacated Rights-of-Way. Where a right-of-way is vacated, the area comprising the vacated right-of-way shall acquire the classification of the property to which it reverts unless otherwise provided by city council action. (Ord. 4102-25 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2025; Ord. 3774-20 § 5(C) (Exh. 3), 2020.)