The definitions in this chapter apply for this code. Also see definitions contained in Chapter 83 KZC for shoreline management, Chapter 95 KZC for tree management and required landscaping, and Chapter 113 KZC for middle housing that are applicable to those chapters. (Ord. 4905 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 4701 § 1, 2020; Ord. 4551 § 4, 2016; Ord. 4357 § 1, 2012; Ord. 4252 § 1, 2010; Ord. 4120 § 1, 2007)

The following definitions apply throughout this code unless, from the context, another meaning is clearly intended:

The definitions in this chapter apply for this code. Also see definitions contained in Chapter 83 KZC for shoreline management, Chapter 95 KZC for tree management and required landscaping, and Chapter 113 KZC for middle housing that are applicable to those chapters. (Ord. 4905 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 4701 § 1, 2020; Ord. 4551 § 4, 2016; Ord. 4357 § 1, 2012; Ord. 4252 § 1, 2010; Ord. 4120 § 1, 2007)

The following definitions apply throughout this code unless, from the context, another meaning is clearly intended:

Knowing relinquishment of right or claim to the subject property or structure on that property.

A use, activity, structure or part of a structure which is subordinate and incidental to the main activity or structure on the subject property.

A subordinate residence added to, created within, or detached from a single-family structure, that provides basic requirements for living and sanitation that are independent from the primary dwelling unit. (Ord. 4715 § 1, 2020)

Property that touches or is directly across a street, other than a principal or minor arterial, from the subject property. For the purposes of applying the regulations that limit the height adjoining a low density zone, the regulations shall only apply within an area 100 feet of and parallel to the boundary line of a low density zone (as shown on Plate 18). In cases where the zoning boundary is drawn at the centerline of the right-of-way, the 100-foot area considered to be adjoining shall be determined by measuring from the perimeter property lines of the low density zone. (Ord. 4450 § 1, 2014; Ord. 4437 § 1, 2014; Ord. 3954 § 1, 2004; Ord. 3852 § 1, 2002)

All of the following:

The right to in some manner control the use of the space above the surface of the ground.

Buildings that only uses electricity to heat and cool spaces, and heat water. (Ord. 4788 § 1, 2022)

Soil deposits transported by surface waters.

A change or rearrangement of the structural members or exits in a building; or a change or rearrangement of nonstructural components of a building; or an increase in the height or length or depth of the exterior walls of a building; or the movement of a structure from one location to another; or, for office or commercial buildings, the changing by the use of partitions of more than one-third of the gross floor area of a single floor. (Ord. 4876 § 1, 2024)

To change the Zoning Map, text of the Zoning Code, or Comprehensive Plan in accordance with this code.

A person who applies for any permit or approval to do anything governed by this code and who is the owner of the subject property, the authorized agent of the owner, or the City.

Portion of a critical area or its buffer where the ground surface or vegetation has been legally altered as part of a development action other than a mitigation area. (Ord. 4551 § 4, 2016)

A state-licensed multi-unit establishment which provides living quarters and a variety of limited personal care and at least a minimal amount of supportive health care to individuals who are unable to live independently due to infirmity of age, physical or mental handicap, but who do not need the skilled nursing care of a convalescent center or nursing home. Supportive health care may include health care monitoring, such as assistance with medication, but is limited to health care services which may be provided by a boarding home licensed under Chapter 18.20 RCW. These facilities may consist of individual dwelling units with a full kitchen, partial kitchen or no kitchen. In addition, these facilities may have a communal dining area, recreational facilities (library, lounge, game room, open space), and/or laundry facilities. Assisted living facilities do not include adult family homes, as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.

A living unit in which a resident receives medical or health care services. A bedroom is the equivalent of a unit for the purpose of calculating the number of assisted living units.

Establishment primarily engaged in automotive repair, including the sale and installation of lubricants, tires, batteries, mufflers, and similar accessories.

The weighted average elevation of the topography, prior to any development activity, either (1) under the footprint of a building as measured by delineating the smallest rectangle which can enclose the building footprint and then averaging the elevations taken at the midpoint of each side of the rectangle, or (2) at the center of all exterior walls of a building or structure. (Ord. 4121 § 1, 2008; Ord. 4072 § 1, 2007; Ord. 3852 § 1, 2002; Ord. 3814 § 1, 2001)

The average elevation of the topography, prior to any development activity, at the center of all sides of the structure or improvement.

The average elevation of all corners of a lot as measured from natural or existing topography.

The average of the distance from the ordinary high water mark to the public right-of-way or vehicular access easement road, whichever provides the direct access to the subject property as measured along the side property lines or the extension of those lines where the water frontage of the subject property ends, the center of the ordinary high water mark of the subject property and the quarter points of the ordinary high water mark of the subject property. See Plate 19. (Ord. 4252 § 1, 2010)

The average of the distance from the north to the south property lines as measured along the ordinary high water mark and the front property line, or along the east and west property lines if the parcel does not abut the ordinary high water mark of Lake Washington. (Ord. 4252 § 1, 2010; Ord. 4072 § 1, 2007)

The average grade of a site within each land area representing a distinct topographic change.

Material placed into an excavated area, pit, trench or behind a constructed retaining wall or foundation.

An electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles, which meet or exceed any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by Chapter 19.28 RCW as amended and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540 as amended. The terms 1, 2, and 3 are the most common electric vehicle charging levels, and include the following specifications:

Any vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that is stored in the vehicle’s batteries, and produces zero tailpipe emissions or pollution when stationary or operating. (Ord. 4350 § 1, 2012)

A facility that will enable an electric vehicle with a swappable battery to enter a drive lane and exchange the depleted battery with a fully charged battery. (Ord. 4350 § 1, 2012)

A projecting bay from an exterior wall of a structure that contains window glazing over at least 50 percent of any surface of the bay that does not lie perpendicular to the exterior wall. The bay window may be directly supported by a foundation or it may be cantilevered out from an exterior wall. (Ord. 4072 § 1, 2007)

The ability of a soil to support a structure, as measured in pounds per square foot.

An owner-occupied detached dwelling unit that contains guest rooms where lodging with or without meals is provided for compensation. Bed and breakfast houses, as defined, are home occupations pursuant to this code.

Current scientific information used in the process to designate, protect, or restore critical areas; that is, derived from a valid scientific process as defined by WAC 365-195-900 through 365-195-925, as amended. (Ord. 4551 § 4, 2016)

Conservation practices or systems of practices and management measures that:

A low-nutrient, acidic peat wetland with organic soils and characteristic bog plants. (Ord. 4551 § 4, 2016)

A written certificate guaranteeing to pay up to a specified amount of money if specified work is not performed; or any similar mechanism whereby the City has recourse to an identified fund from which to secure performance of specified work.

Any structural, earth or vegetative form that is located along a boundary for the purpose of minimizing visual and noise impacts. Land use buffers may include, but are not limited to, berms, high shrubs, dense stands of trees, trellises and fences. (Ord. 4010 § 3, 2005)

A roofed structure used for or intended for human occupancy.

All of the following: wall-mounted signs, marquee signs, under marquee signs and projecting signs.

Knowing relinquishment of right or claim to the subject property or structure on that property.

A use, activity, structure or part of a structure which is subordinate and incidental to the main activity or structure on the subject property.

A subordinate residence added to, created within, or detached from a single-family structure, that provides basic requirements for living and sanitation that are independent from the primary dwelling unit. (Ord. 4715 § 1, 2020)

Property that touches or is directly across a street, other than a principal or minor arterial, from the subject property. For the purposes of applying the regulations that limit the height adjoining a low density zone, the regulations shall only apply within an area 100 feet of and parallel to the boundary line of a low density zone (as shown on Plate 18). In cases where the zoning boundary is drawn at the centerline of the right-of-way, the 100-foot area considered to be adjoining shall be determined by measuring from the perimeter property lines of the low density zone. (Ord. 4450 § 1, 2014; Ord. 4437 § 1, 2014; Ord. 3954 § 1, 2004; Ord. 3852 § 1, 2002)

All of the following:

The right to in some manner control the use of the space above the surface of the ground.

Buildings that only uses electricity to heat and cool spaces, and heat water. (Ord. 4788 § 1, 2022)

Soil deposits transported by surface waters.

A change or rearrangement of the structural members or exits in a building; or a change or rearrangement of nonstructural components of a building; or an increase in the height or length or depth of the exterior walls of a building; or the movement of a structure from one location to another; or, for office or commercial buildings, the changing by the use of partitions of more than one-third of the gross floor area of a single floor. (Ord. 4876 § 1, 2024)

To change the Zoning Map, text of the Zoning Code, or Comprehensive Plan in accordance with this code.

A person who applies for any permit or approval to do anything governed by this code and who is the owner of the subject property, the authorized agent of the owner, or the City.

Portion of a critical area or its buffer where the ground surface or vegetation has been legally altered as part of a development action other than a mitigation area. (Ord. 4551 § 4, 2016)

A state-licensed multi-unit establishment which provides living quarters and a variety of limited personal care and at least a minimal amount of supportive health care to individuals who are unable to live independently due to infirmity of age, physical or mental handicap, but who do not need the skilled nursing care of a convalescent center or nursing home. Supportive health care may include health care monitoring, such as assistance with medication, but is limited to health care services which may be provided by a boarding home licensed under Chapter 18.20 RCW. These facilities may consist of individual dwelling units with a full kitchen, partial kitchen or no kitchen. In addition, these facilities may have a communal dining area, recreational facilities (library, lounge, game room, open space), and/or laundry facilities. Assisted living facilities do not include adult family homes, as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.

A living unit in which a resident receives medical or health care services. A bedroom is the equivalent of a unit for the purpose of calculating the number of assisted living units.

Establishment primarily engaged in automotive repair, including the sale and installation of lubricants, tires, batteries, mufflers, and similar accessories.

The weighted average elevation of the topography, prior to any development activity, either (1) under the footprint of a building as measured by delineating the smallest rectangle which can enclose the building footprint and then averaging the elevations taken at the midpoint of each side of the rectangle, or (2) at the center of all exterior walls of a building or structure. (Ord. 4121 § 1, 2008; Ord. 4072 § 1, 2007; Ord. 3852 § 1, 2002; Ord. 3814 § 1, 2001)

The average elevation of the topography, prior to any development activity, at the center of all sides of the structure or improvement.

The average elevation of all corners of a lot as measured from natural or existing topography.

The average of the distance from the ordinary high water mark to the public right-of-way or vehicular access easement road, whichever provides the direct access to the subject property as measured along the side property lines or the extension of those lines where the water frontage of the subject property ends, the center of the ordinary high water mark of the subject property and the quarter points of the ordinary high water mark of the subject property. See Plate 19. (Ord. 4252 § 1, 2010)

The average of the distance from the north to the south property lines as measured along the ordinary high water mark and the front property line, or along the east and west property lines if the parcel does not abut the ordinary high water mark of Lake Washington. (Ord. 4252 § 1, 2010; Ord. 4072 § 1, 2007)

The average grade of a site within each land area representing a distinct topographic change.

Material placed into an excavated area, pit, trench or behind a constructed retaining wall or foundation.

An electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles, which meet or exceed any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by Chapter 19.28 RCW as amended and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540 as amended. The terms 1, 2, and 3 are the most common electric vehicle charging levels, and include the following specifications:

Any vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that is stored in the vehicle’s batteries, and produces zero tailpipe emissions or pollution when stationary or operating. (Ord. 4350 § 1, 2012)

A facility that will enable an electric vehicle with a swappable battery to enter a drive lane and exchange the depleted battery with a fully charged battery. (Ord. 4350 § 1, 2012)

A projecting bay from an exterior wall of a structure that contains window glazing over at least 50 percent of any surface of the bay that does not lie perpendicular to the exterior wall. The bay window may be directly supported by a foundation or it may be cantilevered out from an exterior wall. (Ord. 4072 § 1, 2007)

The ability of a soil to support a structure, as measured in pounds per square foot.

An owner-occupied detached dwelling unit that contains guest rooms where lodging with or without meals is provided for compensation. Bed and breakfast houses, as defined, are home occupations pursuant to this code.

Current scientific information used in the process to designate, protect, or restore critical areas; that is, derived from a valid scientific process as defined by WAC 365-195-900 through 365-195-925, as amended. (Ord. 4551 § 4, 2016)

Conservation practices or systems of practices and management measures that:

A low-nutrient, acidic peat wetland with organic soils and characteristic bog plants. (Ord. 4551 § 4, 2016)

A written certificate guaranteeing to pay up to a specified amount of money if specified work is not performed; or any similar mechanism whereby the City has recourse to an identified fund from which to secure performance of specified work.

Any structural, earth or vegetative form that is located along a boundary for the purpose of minimizing visual and noise impacts. Land use buffers may include, but are not limited to, berms, high shrubs, dense stands of trees, trellises and fences. (Ord. 4010 § 3, 2005)

A roofed structure used for or intended for human occupancy.

All of the following: wall-mounted signs, marquee signs, under marquee signs and projecting signs.