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Kittitas County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

32 C-L - LIMITED COMMERCIAL ZONE

[1]
Editor's Note: Legislation previously included in Ch. 17.32: Ords. 69-3 and 76-3.

§ 17.32.010 Purpose and intent.

The purpose and intent of the limited commercial zone is to provide a district with a limited range of shopping and service businesses consisting primarily of small retail shops, stores and eating establishments.
(Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983)

§ 17.32.015 Development within the Ellensburg Urban Growth Area (UGA).

For properties located within the City of Ellensburg UGA, the uses and development standards in KCC § 17.11.030 through § 17.11.039 shall be utilized. Where KCC § 17.11.030 through § 17.11.039 does not identify uses and development standards to be utilized for development within the Ellensburg UGA, this chapter shall apply.
(Ord. 2022-017, 2022)

§ 17.32.020 Allowed uses.

Uses allowed in the limited commercial zone include those uses pursuant to KCC Chapter 17.15.
(Res. 83-10, 1983; Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983; Ord. 96-19 (part), 1996; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2011-013, 2011; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)

§ 17.32.030 Lot size required.

The minimum lot size for all dwelling units shall meet the requirements of the residential zone. No sale or conveyance of any portion of a lot, for other than a public purpose, shall leave a structure on the remainder of the lot with less than the minimum lot, yard or setback requirements of this zone.
(Res. 83-10, 1983; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)

§ 17.32.040 Yard requirements - Front.

There shall be a front yard having a minimum depth of twenty (20) feet, unless a previous building line less than this has been established, in which case the minimum front yard for interior lots shall be the average of the setbacks of the main structures on abutting lots on either side if both lots are occupied; if one lot is occupied and the other vacant, the setback shall be the setback of the occupied lot, plus one-half (½) the remaining distance to the required twenty-(20)-foot setback. If neither of the abutting side lots or tracts are occupied by a structure, the setback shall be twenty (20) feet long.
(Res. 83-10, 1983; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)

§ 17.32.050 Yard requirements - Side.

There are no side yard requirements, except property abutting a residential zone, in which case the side yard on the abutting side shall be the same as that required for the abutting property. Side yards for dwelling units shall meet the requirements of the residential zone.
(Res. 83-10, 1983; Ord. 2013-001, 2013; Ord. 2021-015, 2021)

§ 17.32.060 Yard requirements - Rear.

There are no rear yard requirements. However, if a rear yard is provided, the minimum depth shall be twelve (12) feet.
(Res. 83-10, 1983; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)

§ 17.32.065 Yard requirements - Zones adjacent to Commercial Forest Zone.

Properties bordering or adjacent to the Commercial Forest zone are subject to a two hundred (200)-foot setback from the Commercial Forest Zone. (KCC § 17.57.050(1)). For properties where such setback isn't feasible, development shall comply with KCC § 17.57.050(2).
(Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)

§ 17.32.070 Maximum structure height.

Maximum structure height. No structure shall exceed thirty-five feet (35) in height.
(Res. 83-10, 1983; Ord. 2013-001, 2013; Ord. 2023-010, 2023)

§ 17.32.090 Access requirement.

All lots in this zone shall abut a public street, or shall have such other access as deemed suitable by the Board.
(Res. 83-10, 1983; Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)

§ 17.32.110 Setback for vehicle service businesses.

Setback regulations for drive-in businesses, or minimum site standards for vehicle service businesses shall conform to the diagram below.
(Res. 83-10, 1983)

§ 17.32.120 Off-street parking.

1. 
Residential parking exceptions.
a. 
Garages are not required to meet minimum parking spaces required in Table 17.11.039(4)(a)(i).
b. 
Parking spaces that count towards minimum parking requirements may be enclosed or unenclosed.
c. 
Tandem parking spaces must count towards meeting minimum parking requirements at a rate of one space for every 20 linear feet with any necessary provisions for turning radius.
d. 
Existence of legally nonconforming gravel surfacing in existing designated parking areas may not be a reason for prohibiting utilization of existing space in the parking area to meet local parking standards, up to a maximum of six parking spaces.
e. 
Parking space sizes shall be eight feet by 20 feet, except for required parking for people with disabilities.
f. 
Off-street parking is not required as a condition of permitting a residential project if compliance with tree retention would otherwise make a proposed residential development or redevelopment infeasible.
g. 
Parking spaces that consist of grass block pavers may count toward minimum parking requirements.
h. 
Existing parking spaces that do not conform to the requirements of this section by June 6, 2024, are not required to be modified or resized, except for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act[1]. Existing paved parking lots are not required to change the size of existing parking spaces during resurfacing if doing so will be more costly or require significant reconfiguration of the parking space locations.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.
(Ord. 2026-004, 6/16/2026)

§ 17.32.130 Existing residential exceptions.

1. 
A portion of exterior wall assemblies that include insulation shall be allowed to project up to an additional eight inches into the setbacks on all sides.
2. 
A building shall be allowed to exceed the maximum allowable roof height by eight inches to accommodate additional insulation.
3. 
Gross floor area shall be measured from the interior face of the exterior walls, which includes drywall, as typically depicted on the architectural floor plans.
(Ord. 2026-004, 6/16/2026)