Abandoned vehicle. Any vehicle left upon the property of another without the consent of the owner of such property for a period of 24 hours or longer, except that a vehicle shall not be considered abandoned if its owner or operator is unable to remove it from the place where it is located and so notifies law enforcement officials and requests assistance.

Accessible electric vehicle charging station. An electric vehicle charging station where the battery charging station equipment is located within accessible reach of the barrier-free access aisle (minimum 36-inch width) and the electric vehicle.

Accessory dwelling unit. An attached, detached, or stacked dwelling unit located on the same lot as a single-family or multifamily dwelling unit.

Accessory living quarters. Living quarters in an accessory building for the use of the occupant or persons employed on the premises, or for temporary use of guests of the occupant. Such quarters have no kitchen and are not otherwise used as a separate dwelling unit.

Accessory use, commercial.

Accessory use, residential.

Adjustment factor. A factor that, when applied to the reference evapotranspiration, adjusts for plant factors and irrigation efficiently.

Adult use facility. An enterprise predominantly involved in the selling, renting, or presenting for commercial purposes of books, magazines, motion pictures, films, video cassettes, cable television, live entertainment, performance, or activity distinguished or characterized by a predominant emphasis on the depiction, simulation, or relation to “specified sexual activities” as defined in this chapter for observation by patrons therein. Examples of such facilities include, but are not limited to, adult book or video stores and establishments offering panorams, peep shows, or topless or nude dancing.

“Affordable housing” and “affordable unit.” A dwelling unit(s) reserved for occupancy by eligible households and having monthly housing expenses to the occupant no greater than 30 percent of a given monthly household income, adjusted for household size, as follows:

Agricultural product sales. The retail sale of items resulting from the practice of agriculture, including crops such as fruits, vegetables, grains, seed, feed, and plants, or animal products such as eggs, milk, and meat.

Airport/heliport. Any runway, landing area, or other facility, excluding facilities for the primary use of the individual property owner that are classified as helistops, designed or used by public carriers or private aircraft for the landing and taking off of aircraft, including the following associated facilities:

AKART. All known, available, and reasonable methods of prevention, control, and treatment.

Alley. An improved thoroughfare or right-of-way, whether public or private, usually narrower than a street, that provides vehicular access to an interior boundary of one or more lots, and is not designed for general traffic circulation.

Alteration. Any human activity that results or is likely to result in an impact upon the existing condition of a critical area is an “alteration” that is subject to specific limitations as specified for each critical area. Alterations include, but are not limited to, grading, filling, dredging, draining, channelizing, applying herbicides or pesticides or any hazardous substance, discharging pollutants, except stormwater, grazing domestic animals, paving, constructing, applying gravel, modifying for surface water management purposes, cutting, topping, relocating or removing vegetation or any other human activity that results or is likely to result in an impact to existent vegetation, hydrology, fish or wildlife, or fish or wildlife habitat. Alterations do not include walking, fishing, or any other passive recreation or other similar activities.

Alternative water sources. Stored rainwater or treated or recycled wastewater of a quality suitable for uses such as landscape irrigation. Such water is not considered potable.

Amenity space. A designated space intended for recreational and social use, and the enjoyment and benefit of on-site residents and their guests. Shared amenity spaces are shared among all the units and must include some combination of seating, open lawn, barbeques, plantings, gardens for the use of residents, water features, or other recreational facilities. Private amenity spaces are for the exclusive use of one unit and may include some combination of the shared amenity space features.

Amusement arcades. A building or part of a building in which five or more pinball machines, video games, or other such player-operated amusement devices (excluding juke boxes or gambling-related machines) are operated.

Anadromous fish. Those that live part or the majority of their lives in saltwater, but return to freshwater to spawn.

Ancillary structure. For the purposes of this chapter, any form of development associated with a wireless communications facility, including but not limited to: foundations, concrete slabs on grade, guy anchors, generators, and feed lines; however, specifically excluding base stations.

Animal, small. Any animal other than livestock or animals considered to be predatory or wild that are kept outside a dwelling unit all or part of the time. Animals considered predatory or wild, excluding those in zoo animal breeding facilities, shall be considered small animals when they are taken into captivity for the purposes of breeding, domestication, training, hunting, or exhibition.

Applicant. A property owner or a public agency or public or private utility that owns a right-of-way or other easement or has been adjudicated the right to such an easement pursuant to RCW 8.12.090, or any person or entity designated or named in writing by the property or easement owner to be the applicant, in an application for a development proposal, permit or approval.

Application rate. The depth of water applied to an area expressed in inches per hour.

Area median income. The area median income for the Seattle-Bellevue, WA Metro Fair Market Rent (FMR) Area as most recently determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In the event that HUD no longer publishes area median income figures for the Seattle-Bellevue FMR Area or King County, the City may use any other method for determining the median income.

Artist studio. An establishment providing a place solely for the practice or rehearsal of various performing or creative arts, including, but not limited to, acting, dancing, singing, drawing, painting, and sculpting.

Attached housing. Horizontal residential building configuration in which individual dwelling units share at least one wall. Examples include fee-simple or condominium townhomes or side-by-side duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes. Accessory dwelling units attached to a principal residence are also considered attached housing.

Auction house. An establishment where the property of others is sold by a broker or auctioneer to persons who attend scheduled sales periods or events.

Barn. A large agricultural building for storage of agricultural products and sheltering livestock.

Base flood. A flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, often referred to as the “100-year flood.”

Base flood elevation. The water surface elevation of the base flood in relation to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929.

Battery charging station. An electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles, which meets or exceeds applicable state and federal standards.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV). 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 (see “Electric vehicle”).

Battery exchange station. A fully automated 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 through a fully automated process, which meets or exceeds applicable state and federal standards.

Bed and breakfast guesthouse. A dwelling unit or accessory building within which bedrooms are available for paying guests.

Beehive. A structure designed to contain one colony of honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Berm. A constructed area of compacted earth.

Best available science. The process used and information developed consistent with requirements in RCW 36.70A.172 and WAC 365-195-900 through 365-195-925. Additionally, consistent with federal guidance to recognize and incorporate indigenous knowledge (IK) in decision making, best available science may include IK as appropriate.

Billboard. A sign, including both the supporting structural framework and attached billboard faces, used principally for advertising a business activity, use, product, or service unrelated to the primary use or activity of the property on which the billboard is located; excluding off-premises directional, or temporary real estate signs.

Biologist. A person who has earned at least a Bachelor of Science degree in the biological sciences from an accredited college or university or who has equivalent educational training and experience.

Bioretention. A flow control best management practice consisting of a shallow landscaped depression designed to temporarily store and promote infiltration of stormwater runoff. Standards for bioretention design, including soil mix, plants, storage volume and feasibility criteria, are specified in Appendix C of the King County Surface Water Design Manual.

Book, stationery, video, and art supply store. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of books and magazines, stationery, records and tapes, video, and art supplies, including only uses located in SIC Industry Nos.:

Broadleaf tree. A tree characterized by leaves that are broad in width and may include both deciduous and evergreen species.

Buffer. A designated area contiguous to a steep slope or landslide hazard area intended to protect slope stability, attenuation of surface water flows and landslide hazards, or a designated area contiguous to a habitat conservation area, stream or wetland intended to protect the habitat, stream or wetland and be an integral part of the habitat, stream or wetland ecosystem.

Building. Any structure having a roof, including every building, house, structure, or other like object.

Building envelope. Area of a lot that delineates the limits of where a building may be placed on the lot.

Building facade. That portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending from the grade of the building to the top of the parapet wall or eaves, for the entire width of the building elevation

Building, hardware, and garden materials store. An establishment engaged in selling lumber and other building materials, feed, or lawn and garden supplies, including, but not limited to, uses located in SIC Major Group No. 52, Building materials, hardware, garden supply; excluding mobile home dealers.

Bulk gas storage tank. A tank from which illuminating, heating, or liquefied gas is distributed by piping directly to individual users.

Bulk retail. An establishment offering the sale of bulk goods to the general public, including limited sales to wholesale customers. These establishments offer a variety of lines of merchandise including but not limited to food, building, hardware and garden materials, dry goods, apparel and accessories, home furnishings, housewares, drugs, auto supplies, hobby, toys, games, photographic, and electronics.

Campground. An area of land developed for recreational use in temporary occupancy, such as tents or recreational vehicles without hook-up facilities.

Capacity, school. The number of students a school district’s facilities can accommodate district-wide, based on the district’s standard of service, as determined by the school district.

Capital facilities plan, school. A district’s facilities plan adopted by the school board consisting of:

Catastrophic collapse. The collapse of the ground surface by overburden caving into underground voids created by mining. Catastrophic collapse does not include the effects from trough subsidence.

Cattery. A place where adult cats are temporarily boarded for compensation, whether or not for training. An adult cat is of either sex, altered or unaltered, that has reached the age of six months.

Cemetery, columbarium or mausoleum. Land or structures used for interment of the dead or their remains. For purposes of the code, pet cemeteries are considered a subclassification of this use.

Certified arborist. An individual that has successfully passed the certified arborist examination administered by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and possesses a minimum of three years’ full-time experience working in the professional tree care industry.

Channel relocation and stream meander areas. Those areas subject to risk due to stream bank destabilization, rapid stream incision, stream bank erosion, and shifts in the location of stream channels.

Charging levels. The standardized indicators of electrical force or voltage at which an electric vehicle’s battery is recharged. Levels 1, 2, and 3 are the most common EV charging levels, and include the following specifications:

Church, synagogue, or temple. A place where religious services are conducted, including those uses located in SIC Industry No. 866 and including accessory uses in the primary or accessory buildings such as religious education, reading rooms, assembly rooms, and residences for nuns and clergy. This definition does not include facilities for training of religious orders.

City Council. The Sammamish City Council.

Classrooms, school. Educational facilities of the district required to house students for its basic educational program. The classrooms are those facilities the district determines are necessary to best serve its student population. Specialized facilities as identified by the district, including but not limited to gymnasiums, cafeterias, libraries, administrative offices, and child care centers, shall not be counted as classrooms.

Clearing. The limbing, pruning, trimming, topping, cutting or removal of vegetation or other organic plant matter by physical, mechanical, chemical or other means.

Co-living housing. A residential development with sleeping units that are independently rented and lockable and provide living and sleeping space, and residents share kitchen facilities with other sleeping units in the building. Co-living housing includes, but is not limited to, congregate living facilities, single room occupancy, rooming house, boarding house, lodging house, and residential suites.

Code interpretation. A formal statement regarding the meaning or requirements of a particular provision in the City of Sammamish’s development regulations.

Cogeneration. The sequential generation of energy and useful heat from the same primary source or fuel for industrial, commercial, or residential heating or cooling purposes.

Collective garden. Any area or location where qualifying patients engage in the production, processing, transporting, and delivery of marijuana for medical use.

Community identification sign. A sign identifying the location of a community or geographic area such as unincorporated activity centers or rural towns designated by the comprehensive plan or communities recognized and delineated by a recognized unincorporated area council.

Commuter parking lot. Vehicle parking specifically for the purpose of access to a public transit system or for users of carpools or vanpools.

Compensatory storage. New, excavated storage volume equivalent to any flood storage which is eliminated by building filling or grading within the floodplain. For the purpose of this definition, equivalent flood storage capacity is that which is replaced by equal volume between corresponding one-foot contour intervals that are hydraulically connected to the floodway through their entire depth.

Conditional use permit. A permit granted by the City to locate a permitted use on a particular property subject to conditions placed on the permitted use to ensure compatibility with nearby land uses.

Conference center. An establishment developed primarily as a meeting facility, including only facilities for recreation, overnight lodging, and related activities provided for conference participants.

Conservation easement. A legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its nondevelopment values. It allows the landowner to continue to own and use the land, to sell it, or to pass it on to heirs. A conservation easement is placed on a sending site at the time development rights are sold from the property. The conservation easement typically prohibits any further development of the property but allows resource uses, such as farming and forestry, to continue.

Construction and trades. Establishments that provide services related to construction of buildings and infrastructure, and other improvements to property. Such establishments include SIC Major Group Nos. 15 – 17, and SIC Industry Group No. 078, Landscape and horticultural services.

Construction cost per student, school. The estimated cost of construction of a permanent school facility in the district for the grade span of school to be provided, as a function of the district’s facilities standard per grade span and taking into account the requirements of students with special needs.

Conversion factor. A number that converts the water budget allowance from acre-inches per acre per year to gallons per square foot per year or cubic feet per year.

Cooperative. An entity with up to four members located in the domicile of one of the members, registered with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, and meeting the requirements under Chapter 69.51A RCW where qualifying patients and designated providers share responsibility for acquiring and supplying the resources needed to produce and process marijuana for medical use of members of the cooperative.

Cottage cluster. A cottage cluster, or “cluster” when referred to in the context of cottage housing, refers to all units oriented towards and within 25 feet of a shared yard.

Courtyard apartment. Up to four attached dwelling units arranged on two or three sides of a yard or court.

Critical aquifer recharge areas. Those areas in the City of Sammamish with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water as defined by WAC 365-190-0302. CARAs have prevailing geologic conditions associated with infiltration rates that create a high potential for contamination of groundwater resources or contribute significantly to the replenishment of groundwater. CARAs shall be classified based on the following criteria:

Critical area enhancement. The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a critical area to heighten, intensify, or improve specific function(s). Enhancement does not result in a gain in the size of a critical area.

Critical area restoration. Voluntary measures taken to restore an altered or damaged natural feature, including:

Critical areas. Those areas in the City that are geologically hazardous areas, including erosion hazard areas, landslide hazard areas, seismic hazard areas (WAC 365-190-120); frequently flooded areas; critical aquifer recharge areas; wetlands, streams; and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas.

Critical facility. A facility necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare and that is defined under the occupancy categories of “essential facilities,” “hazardous facilities,” and “special occupancy structures” in the Uniform Building Code. Critical facilities also include nursing homes, public roadway bridges, and sites for hazardous substance storage or production, not including the temporary storage of consumer products containing hazardous substances intended for household use or for retail sale on the site.

Daily care. Medical procedures, monitoring and attention that are necessarily provided at the residence of the patient by the primary provider of daily care on a 24-hour basis.

Daycare. An establishment for group care of nonresident adults or children.

DBH. The diameter of a tree as measured at breast height (54 inches above the ground).

Deciduous. A plant species with foliage that is shed annually.

Demolition. Removal of more than 50 percent of a structure. For residential buildings, the removal of more than 50 percent of exterior walls. A wall, or portion of a wall, is deemed “removed” when its structure is removed or moved to another location or elevation on site, or when the wall is enclosed behind newly constructed space.

Density credit, transfer (TDC). The ability to transfer potentially buildable dwelling units from an eligible sending site to an eligible receiving site as provided in this code.

Department. The City’s Department of Community Development.

Department and variety store. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of a variety of lines of merchandise, such as dry goods, apparel and accessories, home furnishings, housewares, including only uses located in SIC Major Group and Industry Nos.:

Designated accessible space. A WAC 51-50-005 required accessible parking space designated for the exclusive use of parking vehicles with a State Disabled Parking Permit.

Destination resort. An establishment for resource-based recreation and intended to utilize outdoor recreational opportunities, including related services, such as food, overnight lodging, equipment rentals, entertainment, and other conveniences for guests of the resort.

Detached housing. Stand-alone dwelling units in which individual units are contained within discrete structures. Examples include but are not limited to traditional single-family homes, detached accessory dwelling units, manufactured homes, and cottage housing.

Developer or “applicant.” The person or entity who owns or holds purchase options or other development control over property for which development activity is proposed. (See “Applicant.”)

Development. The construction or exterior expansion of structures or buildings; clearing or grading; paving, landscaping, or placing of obstructions; and any project of a permanent or temporary nature exterior to a building.

Development activity. Any residential construction or expansion of a building, structure or use, any change in use of a building or structure, or any change in the use of land that creates additional demand for school facilities.

Development or activity of a linear nature. One that usually involves multiple parcels and/or that runs along a corridor or pathway defined in an adopted plan. Linear development and activities may be straight, curved or a combination of both. Examples include roads, trails, sidewalks, utility corridors, and other transportation facilities such as bikeways and railroads.

Development proposal. Any activities requiring a permit or other approval from the City of Sammamish relative to the use or development of land.

Development proposal site. The legal boundaries of the parcel or parcels of land for which an applicant has or should have applied for authority from the City of Sammamish to carry out a development proposal.

Development regulation. The controls placed on development or land use activities by the City, including but not limited to zoning ordinances, critical areas ordinances, shoreline master program requirements, official controls, subdivision ordinances, and binding site plan ordinances, together with any amendments thereto. A development regulation does not include a decision to approve a project permit application, as defined in RCW 36.70B.020, even though the decision may be expressed in an ordinance by the City.

Development right. An interest in and the right under current law to use and/or subdivide a lot for any and all residential, commercial, and industrial purposes.

Director. The Director of the City of Sammamish Department of Community Development or his/her designee.

DNS. Determination of nonsignificance.

Dormitory. A residential building that provides sleeping for residents such as students or those belonging to a religious organization. The building does not contain separate dwelling units, except for those created for resident administrator habitation, and may include common dining, cooking, recreation, or bathing facilities.

Drip line. An area encircling the base of a tree, the minimum extent of which is delineated by a vertical line extending from the outer limit of a tree’s branch tips down to the ground.

Drop box facility. A facility used for receiving solid waste and recyclables from off-site sources into detachable solid waste containers, including the adjacent areas necessary for entrance and exit roads, unloading and vehicle turnaround areas. Drop box facilities normally service the general public with loose loads and may also include containers for separated recyclables.

Drug store. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of prescription drugs, nonprescription medicines, cosmetics and related supplies, including only uses located in SIC Industry Group and Industry Nos.:

DS. Determination of significance.

Duplex. A residential building with two attached or stacked dwelling units.

Dwelling unit. One or more rooms designed for occupancy by a person or persons for living and sleeping purposes, containing kitchen facilities and rooms with internal accessibility, for use solely by the dwelling’s occupants.

Dwelling unit, apartment. A dwelling unit contained in a building consisting of two or more dwelling units that may be stacked, or one or more dwellings with nonresidential uses.

Dwelling unit, single detached. A detached building containing one dwelling unit.

Dwelling unit, townhouse. A building containing one dwelling unit that occupies space from the ground to the roof, and is attached to one or more other townhouse dwellings by common walls.

Earth station. A communication facility that transmits and/or receives signals to and from an orbiting satellite using satellite dish antennas.

EIS. Environmental impact statement.

Electric scooters and motorcycles. Any two- or three-wheeled vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that is stored in the vehicle’s batteries and produces zero emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.

Electric vehicle. Any vehicle that operates, either partially or exclusively, on electrical energy from the grid, or an off-board source, that is stored on-board for motive purposes. “Electric vehicle” includes (but is not limited to): 1. a battery electric vehicle; 2. a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle; 3. a neighborhood electric vehicle; and 4. a medium-speed electric vehicle.

Electric vehicle charging station. A public or private parking space located together with battery charging station equipment that has as its purpose the transfer of electric energy (by conductive or inductive means) to a battery or other storage device in an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicle charging station – public. An electrical charging station that is 1. publicly owned and publicly available (e.g., park and ride lots, City Hall parking, other public lots) or privately owned and publicly available (e.g., shopping centers, apartment complexes, parking garages, etc.).

Electric vehicle charging station – restricted. An electrical charging station that is 1. privately owned and restricted access (e.g., single-family, assigned parking, etc. or 2. publicly owned and restricted (fleet parking with no access to the public).

Electric vehicle infrastructure. Structures, machinery, and equipment necessary and integral to support an electric vehicle, including battery charging stations and battery exchange stations.

Electric vehicle parking space. Any marked parking space (public or private) that identifies the use to be for an electric vehicle.

Electrical substation. A site containing equipment for the conversion of high voltage electrical power transported through transmission lines into lower voltages transported through distribution lines and suitable for individual users.

Emergency. An unforeseen occurrence during which there is imminent danger to the public health, safety, and welfare, or which poses an imminent risk to property, as a result of a natural or manmade catastrophe as so declared by the director.

Emergency housing. Temporary indoor accommodations for individuals or families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless that is intended to address the basic health, food, clothing, and personal hygiene needs of individuals or families. Emergency housing may or may not require occupants to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement.

Emergency shelter. A facility that provides a temporary shelter for individuals or families who are currently homeless. Emergency shelters may not require occupants to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement. Emergency shelter facilities may include day and warming centers that do not provide overnight accommodations.

Energy resource recovery facility. An establishment for recovery of energy in a usable form from mass burning or refuse-derived fuel incineration, pyrolysis, or any other means of using the heat of combustion of solid waste.

Enhancement. An action that increases the functions and values of a stream, wetland, or other sensitive area or buffer.

Equipment, heavy. High-capacity mechanical devices for moving earth or other materials, and mobile power units including, but not limited to:

Erosion. The process by which soil particles are mobilized and transported by natural agents such as wind, rainsplash, frost action or surface water flow.

Erosion hazard areas. Those areas in the City underlain by soils that are subject to severe erosion when disturbed. Such soils include those on slopes 15 percent or more and mapped by the USDA as one of the following soil types:

Eutrophic. A trophic status characterized by moderately high algal productivity, more serious oxygen depletion in the bottom waters, some recreational use impairment, summer chlorophyll a concentration greater than 10 micrograms/liter, a summer Secchi depth of less than two meters, and a winter total phosphorus concentration greater than 20 micrograms/liter.

Evergreen. A plant species with foliage that persists and remains green year-round.

Examiner. The Hearing Examiner as established by SMC 21.09.020.

Existing corridors. Areas that have been previously cleared of native vegetation, have historically been used for transportation or recreation purposes, have currently little or low-quality vegetation and habitat value, or that contain improvements such as graded or filled areas. Examples include but are not limited to utility corridors, road or railroad rights-of-way, roadbeds and rail beds.

Existing grade. The existing elevation of land prior to any cuts and fills or other disturbances, which may, at the discretion of the Director, be determined by a topographic survey or soil sampling.

FAA. The Federal Aviation Administration.

Fabric shop. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of sewing supplies and accessories, including only uses located in SIC Industry Nos.:

Facilities standard. The space required by grade span, and taking into account the requirements of students with special needs, which is needed in order to fulfill the educational goals of the school district as identified in the district’s capital facilities plan.

Factory-built commercial building. Any structure that is either entirely or substantially prefabricated or assembled at a place other than a building site, and designed or used for nonresidential human occupancy.

Fairground. A site permanently designated and improved for holding a county fair, as provided in Chapters 15.76 and 36.37 RCW, or for holding similar events, including, but not limited to:

Family. One or more persons, either related or unrelated, living together as a single housekeeping unit.

Farmers’ market. An outdoor market held in public spaces which allows farmers and other vendors to sell produce and other locally produced products directly to the public.

FCC. The Federal Communications Commission.

Feasible. That an action, such as a development project, mitigation, or preservation requirement, meets all of the following conditions:

Feed lines. Cables used as the interconnecting media between the transmission/receiving base station and the antenna.

Feed store. An establishment engaged in retail sale of supplies directly related to the day to day activities of agricultural production.

Fence. A barrier for the purpose of enclosing space or separating lots, composed of:

Financial guarantee. A form of financial security posted to ensure timely and proper completion of improvements, to ensure compliance with the interim Sammamish Development Code, and/or to warranty materials, workmanship of improvements, and design. Financial guarantees include assignments of funds, cash deposit, and surety bonds, and/or other forms of financial security acceptable to the Director. For the purposes of this chapter, the terms “performance guarantee,” “maintenance guarantee,” and “defect guarantee” are considered subcategories of financial guarantee.

Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. Those areas that serve a critical role in sustaining needed habitats and species for the functional integrity of the ecosystem, and which, if altered, may reduce the likelihood that the species will persist over the long term. These areas may include, but are not limited to, rare or vulnerable ecological systems, communities, and habitat or habitat elements including seasonal ranges, breeding habitat, winter range, and movement corridors; and areas with high relative population density or species richness. The City of Sammamish has designated locally important habitats and species in SMC 21.03.020.W.1.

Fish and wildlife habitat corridors. Those corridors set aside and protected for preserving connections between habitats on development proposal sites that contain streams and/or wetlands with a moderate to high habitat score greater than or equal to six on the Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington (Department of Ecology 2014 or as revised) that are located within 200 feet of an on-site or off-site stream and/or wetland with a moderate to high habitat score greater than or equal to six on the Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington. Fish and wildlife habitat corridors do not increase stream buffers, except as required to provide a connection between two features as described above.

Flag. A fabric sheet of square, rectangular or triangular shape which is mounted on a pole, cable or rope at one end.

Flag, government. Any flag or badge or insignia of the United States, state of Washington, King County, City of Sammamish, or official historic plaque of any governmental jurisdiction or agency.

Flood fringe. That portion of the floodplain outside of the zero-rise floodway that is covered by floodwaters during the base flood, generally associated with standing water rather than rapidly flowing water.

Flood hazard areas. Those areas in the City of Sammamish subject to inundation by the base flood and those areas subject to risk from channel relocation or stream meander including, but not limited to, streams, lakes, wetlands, and closed depressions.

Flood insurance rate map. The official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated some areas of flood hazard.

Flood insurance study for King County. The official report provided by the Federal Insurance Administration that includes flood profiles and the flood insurance rate map.

Flood protection elevation. An elevation that is one foot above the base flood elevation.

Floodplain. The total area subject to inundation by the base flood.

Floodproofing. Adaptations that will make a structure that is below the flood protection elevation substantially impermeable to the passage of water and resistant to hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads including the impacts of buoyancy.

Floodway, zero-rise. The channel of a stream and that portion of the adjoining floodplain which is necessary to contain and discharge the base flood flow without any measurable increase in flood height. A “measurable increase in base flood height” means a calculated upward rise in the base flood elevation, equal to or greater than .01 foot, resulting from a comparison of existing conditions and changed conditions directly attributable to development in the floodplain. This definition is broader than that of the FEMA floodway, but always includes the FEMA floodway. The boundaries of the 100-year floodplain, as shown on the flood insurance study for King County, are considered the boundaries of the zero-rise floodway unless otherwise delineated by a sensitive area special study.

Floor to area ratio. A measure of development intensity which is determined by dividing gross floor area by lot area.

Florist shop. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of flowers and plants, including only uses located in SIC Industry Nos.:

Footprint. A two-dimensional outline of a structure or building where it intersects or covers the ground surface, including upper story eaves and cantilevers where they cover or overhang the ground surface.

Forest practice. Any activity regulated by the Washington Department of Natural Resources in WAC Title 222 or Chapter 76.09 RCW for which a forest practice permit is required, together with:

Forest product sales. The sale of goods produced, extracted, consumed, gathered or harvested from a forest including, but not limited to:

Forest research. The performance of scientific studies relating to botany, hydrology, silviculture, biology and other branches of science in relation to management of forest lands, including only uses located in SIC Industry Nos.:

Frequently flooded areas. Those lands in the City in the floodplain subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year and those lands that provide important flood storage, conveyance, and attenuation functions, as determined by the City in accordance with WAC 365-190-0803. Frequently flooded areas perform important hydrologic functions and may present a risk to persons and property. Frequently flooded areas include all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the City of Sammamish.

Fourplex. A residential building with four attached or stacked dwelling units.

Furniture and home furnishings store. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of household furniture and furnishings for the home, including only uses located in SIC Major Group and Industry Nos.:

General business service. An establishment engaged in providing services to businesses or individuals, with no outdoor storage or fabrication, including only uses located in SIC Major Group Nos.:

Geologist. A professional who holds a current geologist license from the Washington State Geologist Licensing Board.

Geotechnical engineer. A practicing geotechnical/civil engineer licensed as a professional civil engineer by the state of Washington who has at least four years of professional employment as a geotechnical engineer.

Golf course. A recreational facility, under public or private ownership, designed and developed for golf activities with accessory uses including, but not limited to:

Grade span. The categories into which a district groups its grades of students; i.e., elementary, middle or junior high school, and high school.

Grading. Any excavation, filling, removing the duff layer or any combination thereof.

Grazing area. Any open land area used to pasture livestock in which suitable forage is maintained over 80 percent of the area at all times of the year.

Gross square footage, residential accessory structures. Gross square footage includes all gross area that is above grade. Any visible wall height of more than three feet shall count towards the gross building square footage.

Gross square footage, single-family residence. Gross square footage includes all gross area that is above grade including garages. Any visible wall height of more than three feet shall count towards the gross building square footage.

Groundcover. Living plants designed to grow low to the ground (generally one foot or less) and intended to stabilize soils and protect against erosion.

Habitable space. Space in a structure for human activity including living, sleeping, eating, cooking, working, shopping, or bathroom facilities. Habitable space excludes parking garages, self-service storage facilities, warehouses, display windows separated from retail activity, closets, halls, storage, or utility spaces, and similar areas.

Hardscape coverage. Any impervious surface, area covered with gravel or other material that is not vegetation, area that precludes the growth of vegetation, and areas under overhangs that exceed 18 inches.

Hazardous household substance. A substance as defined in RCW 70.105.010.

Hazardous substance. A substance as defined in RCW 70.105.010.

Hazardous trees. Those trees with a structural defect, combination of defects or disease resulting in a structural defect that, under the normal range of environmental conditions at the site, will result in the loss of a major structural component of the tree in a manner that will:

Heavy equipment and truck repair. The repair and maintenance of self-powered, self-propelled, or towed mechanical devices, equipment, and vehicles used for commercial purposes, such as tandem axle trucks, graders, backhoes, tractor trailers, cranes, lifts, but excluding automobiles and pick-up trucks under 10,000 pounds, recreational vehicles, boats, and their trailers.

Hedge. A row of five or more trees of the same species, densely planted to provide a landscape barrier or screen, maintained with ongoing pruning and shearing.

Helistop. An area on a roof or on the ground used for the takeoff and landing of helicopters for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or cargo but not including fueling service, hangers, maintenance or overhaul facilities.

High voltage electrical transmission tower. A structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of overhead support of high voltage transmission lines. For purposes of this term, “high voltage transmission lines” shall generally mean and refer to a 68 kV or greater electric transmission line.

Historic resource. A district, site, building, structure or object significant in national, state or local history, architecture, archaeology, and culture.

Hobby, toy, and game shop. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of toys, games, hobby and craft kits, including only uses located in SIC Industry Nos.:

Home business. A business or profession which is incidental to the use of a residential dwelling unit by a resident of the dwelling unit. Home businesses do not include uses where the use of the premises as a dwelling unit is secondary to the operation of the business or profession. In no case shall the area used for a home business exceed 50 percent of the area of the residential dwelling unit.

The home business use definition does not include other residential accessory uses identified in Chapter 21.05 SMC and defined in this section, including but not limited to:

Home businesses are further subclassified as follows:

Home size. The gross square footage of a single-family residence.

Homeless encampment. A site for a group of homeless persons temporarily residing on a site, either out of doors or in a building.

House front. The facade of the house that faces a street with a clearly defined main entrance and walkway.

House rear. The facade of the house that faces the rear lot line or in the case of a lot with double frontages, the portion of the house facing the secondary street.

House side. The facade of the house that faces a side lot line; or for a house on a corner lot the side facing the secondary street frontage without the main entrance or a walkway.

Household pets. Small animals that are kept within a dwelling unit.

Housemover. Any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of moving houses, buildings, structures, or other like object.

Hydroelectric generation facility. An establishment for the generation of electricity using water sources.

Hypereutrophic. A trophic status characterized by high algal productivity, intense algal blooms, fish kills due to oxygen depletion in the bottom waters, frequent recreational use impairment, summer chlorophyll a concentration greater than 10 micrograms/liter, a summer Secchi depth generally less than two meters, and a winter total phosphorus concentration greater than 30 micrograms/liter.

Imminent risk. A risk to public health, safety, welfare, or property with a high probability of occurring at any time; an active and ongoing risk. See “Emergency.”

Impervious surface. For purposes of this chapter, a hard surface area that either prevents or retards the entry of water into the soil mantle as under natural conditions before development; or that causes water to run off the surface in greater quantities or at an increased rate of flow compared to the flow present under natural conditions prior to development.

Improved public roadways. Public road rights-of-way that have been improved with at least two travel lanes and are maintained by either the City of Sammamish or the state of Washington.

Individual transportation and taxi. An establishment engaged in furnishing individual or small group transportation by motor vehicle, including only uses located in SIC Industry Group and Industry Nos.:

Infiltration rate. The rate of water entry into the soil expressed in inches per hour.

Interested person. Any person who receives written notice of a proposed land use action under the requirements of the SMC, or has requested of the responsible City official or the Community Development Director notification of proceedings or copies of orders, reports, recommendations, or decisions issued in the particular case, or who participates in a hearing by providing evidence, comment, or argument, or who participates in a neighborhood meeting.

Interim recycling facility. A site or establishment engaged in collection or treatment of recyclable materials, which is not the final disposal site, and including:

Interlocal agreement. A legal contract between two or more local jurisdictions (cities and counties) that specifies the conditions under which development rights may be transferred (typically from an unincorporated county into an incorporated city). Interlocal agreements must be endorsed by the legislative bodies of both jurisdictions.

Irrigation efficiency. The coefficient of the amount of water beneficially used divided by the amount of water applied. This coefficient is derived from actual measurements and an evaluation of the general characteristics of the type of irrigation system and management practices proposed.

Jail. A facility operated by a governmental agency, designed, staffed and used for the incarceration of persons for the purposes of punishment, correction and rehabilitation following conviction of an offense.

Jewelry store. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of a variety of jewelry products, including only uses located in SIC Industry Nos.:

Joint use driveway. A jointly owned and/or maintained vehicular access to two residential properties.

Kennel. A place where adult dogs are temporarily boarded for compensation, whether or not for training. An adult dog is one of either sex, altered or unaltered, that has reached the age of six months.

Kitchen or kitchen facility. An area within a building intended for the preparation and storage of food and containing:

Lake management plan. The plan (and supporting documents as appropriate) describing the lake management recommendations and requirements.

Lakes. An open body of surface water, not including streams or rivers, that is 20 acres or greater in total area.

Landfill. A disposal site or part of a site at which refuse is deposited.

Landscape water features. A pond, pool or fountain used as a decorative component of a development.

Landscaping. Live vegetative materials required for a development. Said materials provided along the boundaries of a development site are referred to as perimeter landscaping.

Landslide. Episodic downslope movement of a mass including, but not limited to, soil, rock or snow.

Landslide hazard areas. Those areas in the City of Sammamish potentially subject to risk of mass movement due to a combination of geologic, topographic, and hydrologic factors. These areas are typically susceptible to landslides because of a combination of factors including: bedrock, soil, slope gradient, slope aspect, geologic structure, groundwater, or other factors. Landslide hazard areas include the following:

Least visually obtrusive profile. The design of a wireless communication facility intended to present a visual profile that is the minimum profile necessary for the facility to properly function.

Level of service (LOS), traffic. The City’s defined performance standards for its adopted concurrency intersections, road corridors, and road segments, as defined in the City’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations.

Light equipment. Hand-held tools and construction equipment, such as chain saws, wheelbarrows, and post-hole diggers.

Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board which carries out Washington liquor, marijuana, and tobacco laws and regulations.

Livestock. Grazing animals kept either in open fields or structures for training, boarding, home use, sales, or breeding and production, including but not limited to:

Livestock, large. Cattle, horses, and other livestock generally weighing over 500 pounds.

Livestock sales. The sale of livestock but not including auctions.

Livestock, small. Hogs, excluding pigs weighing under 120 pounds and standing 20 inches or less at the shoulder that are kept as household pets or small animals, sheep, goats, miniature horses, llamas, alpaca, and other livestock generally weighing under 500 pounds.

Loading space. A space for the temporary parking of a vehicle while loading or unloading cargo or passengers.

Lot. A physically separate and distinct parcel of property and on lakefront properties above ordinary high water mark, which has been created pursuant to SMC 21.02.060, Land Division, or state law.

Lot coverage. The amount of a lot that a building footprint may cover. Lot coverage is expressed as a percent of the total lot area that a building or buildings may cover; for example, a 45 percent lot coverage standard indicates that 45 percent of the area of a lot may be covered by a building or combination of buildings.

Lot line, front yard. The property boundary or property line abutting a street right-of-way. For property that does not abut a street right-of-way and abuts an access easement or private street the front yard is that property boundary or property line from which the lot gains primary access.

Lot line, interior. Lot lines that delineate property boundaries along those portions of the property that do not abut a street.

Lot line, rear yard. The property boundary or property line opposite the front yard lot line. Provided, lots with more than one front yard, or triangular shaped lots with three sides, shall have no rear yard lot line.

Lot line, side yard. The property boundary or property line that delineates the property boundaries along the side portion of the property.

Lot, parent. A lot which is subdivided into unit lots through the unit lot subdivision process.

Lot, unit. A subdivided lot, that allows up to one dwelling unit, created from a parent lot and approved through the unit lot subdivision process.

Low impact development (LID). A stormwater and land use management strategy that strives to mimic predisturbance hydrological processes of infiltration, filtration, storage, evaporation and transpiration by emphasizing conservation, use of on-site natural features, site planning, and distributed stormwater management practices that are integrated into a project design.

Maintenance. Those usual acts to prevent a decline, lapse or cessation from a lawfully established condition or use. Maintenance may include an activity that restores the character, scope, size, and design of a serviceable area, structure, or land use to its previously authorized and undamaged condition. Activities that change the character, size, or scope of a project beyond the original design; expand impervious surfaces; or drain, dredge, fill, flood, or otherwise alter critical areas are not included in this definition.

Managing agency. An organization that is responsible for organizing and managing a homeless encampment. (Note: The managing agency may be the same entity as the sponsor.)

Marijuana or “marihuana.” All parts of the plant Cannabis, whether growing or not, with a THC concentration greater than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin. The term does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination.

Marijuana concentrates. Products consisting wholly or in part of the resin extracted from any part of the plant Cannabis and having a THC concentration greater than 10 percent.

Marijuana-infused products. Products that contain marijuana or marijuana extracts, are intended for human use, are derived from marijuana, and have a THC concentration no greater than 10 percent. The term “marijuana-infused products” does not include either marijuana concentrates or useable marijuana.

Marijuana processor. A person or entity licensed by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (“LCB”) to process marijuana into marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products, package and label marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products for sale in retail outlets, and sell marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products at wholesale to marijuana retailers.

Marijuana producer. A person or entity licensed by the LCB to produce and sell marijuana at wholesale to marijuana processors and other marijuana producer.

Marijuana retailer. A person or entity licensed by the LCB to sell marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products in a retail outlet.

Marina. An establishment providing docking, moorage space and related activities limited to the provisioning or minor repair of pleasure boats and yachts; and accessory facilities including, but not limited to:

Master telecommunications plan. A plan developed to establish public policy and applicable development standards related to the deployment of wireless telecommunications infrastructure.

Material error. Substantive information upon which a permit decision is based that is submitted in error or is omitted at the time of permit application.

Medium-speed electric vehicle. A self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle, equipped with a roll cage or crush-proof body design, whose speed attainable in one mile is more than 25 miles per hour but not more than 35 miles per hour and otherwise meets or exceeds the federal regulations set forth in 49 CFR 571.500.

Mesotrophic. A trophic status characterized by moderate algal productivity, oxygen depletion in the bottom waters, usually no recreational use impairment, summer chlorophyll a concentration averaging four to 10 micrograms/liter, a summer Secchi depth of two to five meters, and a winter total phosphorus concentration ranging from 10 to 20 micrograms/liter.

Microclimate. A climatic condition in a relatively small area, within a few feet above and below the Earth’s surface and within canopies of vegetation. Microclimates are affected by such factors as temperature, humidity, wind and turbulence, dew, frost, heat balance, evaporation, the nature of the soil and vegetation, the local topography, latitude, elevation, and season. Weather and climate are sometimes influenced by microclimatic conditions, especially by variations in surface characteristics.

Microwave. Electromagnetic waves with a frequency range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz).

Middle housing. Dwelling units that are compatible in scale, form, and character with single-family houses and contain two or more attached, stacked, or clustered homes including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, stacked flats, courtyard apartments, and cottage housing.

Mitigation bank. A property that has been protected in perpetuity, and approved by appropriate City, state, and federal agencies expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation in advance of authorized impacts through restoration, creation, and/or enhancement of wetlands and, in exceptional circumstances, preservation of adjacent wetlands, wetland buffers, and/or other aquatic resources.

Mitigation banking. A system for providing compensatory mitigation in advance of authorized wetland impacts of development in the City in which credits are generated through restoration, creation, and/or enhancement of wetlands and, in exceptional circumstances, preservation of adjacent wetlands, wetland buffers, and/or other aquatic resources.

Mobile home. A structure transportable in one or more sections; that in the traveling mode is eight body feet or more in width or 32 body feet or more in length; or when erected on site is 320 square feet or more in area; built on a permanent chassis; designed to be used as a dwelling unit, with or without permanent foundation, when connected to the required utilities; which contains plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and electrical systems; and shall include any structure that meets all the requirements of this section, or of Chapter 296-150B WAC, except the size requirements for which the manufacturer voluntarily complies with the standards and files the certification required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Mobile home park. A development with two or more improved pads or spaces designed to accommodate mobile homes.

Monitoring. Evaluating the impacts of development proposals on biologic, hydrologic, and geologic systems and assessing the performance of required mitigation through the collection and analysis of data for the purpose of understanding and documenting changes in natural ecosystems, functions and features including, but not limited to, gathering baseline data.

Monuments, tombstones, and gravestones sales. The retail sale of custom stonework products including only uses located in SIC Industry No. 5599, Monuments, finished to custom order, tombstones and gravestones finished.

Motor vehicle, boat, and mobile home dealer. An establishment engaged in the retail sale of new and/or used automobiles, motor homes, motorcycles, trailers, boats, or mobile homes, including only uses located in SIC Major Group and Industry Group Nos.: