HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2026-019 Amending Chapter 20.48 of the Arlington Municipal Code Regarding Density and Dimensional Regulations Under City Planning No. PLN1295ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON AMENDING CHAPTER 20.48
OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING DENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL REGULATIONS
UNDER CITY PLANNING NO. PLN1295
WHEREAS, the city has proposed an update to the Supplemental Uses regulations to the
City zoning code; and
WHEREAS, the Arlington Planning Commission considered the revisions on June 2, 2026
and at a public hearing conducted on June 16, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission made findings and provided its recommendations to
the City Council concerning the proposed changes; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered the same at a workshop held on July 13, 2026, a
meeting on July 20, 2026, and considered them along with the Planning Commission
recommendations; and the City Council having determined approving said amendment was in
the best interest of the City; and
WHEREAS, the amendments were presented to the Department of Commerce for
comment and said Department had no comments on the ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the proposed amendment to the municipal
code and finds it to be consistent with city and state law and in the best interests of the citizens;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Arlington does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 01. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.48.020 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.48.020 Residential Density_
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 20.48.094 (Density on Lots Created Through Short
Subdivision Where Portion Dedicated to City for Right -of -Way), and except as provided in
Section 20.44.062 (Mobile Home Parks), every lot developed for residential purposes shall
have the number of square feet per dwelling unit indicated in Table 20.48-1: Density and
Dimensional Standards. In determining the number of dwelling units permissible on a tract
of land, fractions shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
(b) Duplexes +�.r - nri e f-.mily rzon�r--- s •+II be allO A ed r,nl.. OR 10tc haVi __ at_I` r�. rt ����pry1 fifty + F Fi 'm �r•a_± y+a �i .-..d for onr..-�weiling uRit.en_a
l7'CI m P-1r ! f'i ty peFGe Rt O1 [RC. FT i Ti 1�Ui71 UaF�
let w6th°n the
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019 1
Section 02. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.48.040 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.48.040 Building Setback Requirements.
(a) Subject to Section 20.48.050 (Accessory Building Setback Requirements) and the
other provisions of this section, no portion of any building or any freestanding sign may
be located on any lot closer to any lot line than is authorized in Table 20.48-1: Density and
Dimensional Standards.
(1) As used in this section, the term "lot boundary line" refers to lot boundaries other
than those that abut streets. For the purpose of measuring setbacks, alleys shall not be
considered a public street. Setbacks from alleys shall be the same as from a lot
boundary line.
(2) As used in this section, the term "building" includes any substantial structure, which
by nature of its size, scale, dimensions, bulk, or use tends to constitute a visual
obstruction or generate activity similar to that usually associated with a building.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following structures shall be
deemed to fall within this description:
(A) Gas pumps and overhead canopies or roofs.
(B) Fences and hedges running along lot boundaries adjacent to public street rights -
of -way if such fences and hedges exceed forty-two inches (unless located in the
sight visibility area, then thirty inches maximum), except that the setback for
fences or hedges up to seven feet high shall be ten feet from the ultimate right-
of-way along exterior side yard lot boundaries adjacent to public streets
provided that the area between the right-of-way and fence are well landscaped
and maintained by the property owner. Subject to Section 20.48.100 and
Chapter 20.46 (Design). Also see Figure 2 and 3.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a sign may be erected on or affixed
to a structure that (i) has a principal function that is something other than the support
of the sign (e.g., a fence), but (ii) does not constitute a building as defined in this
title, only if such sign is located so as to comply with the setback requirement
applicable to freestanding signs in the district where such sign is located.
(b) Whenever a lot in a non-residential district has a common boundary line with a lot
in a residential district lying in the RMC, R-Mod, RLC, or RULC zone, then the setback
for the non-residential property along that common boundary shall be thirty feet.
(c) Setback distances shall be measured from the property line to a point on the lot that is
directly below the nearest extension of any part of the building that is substantially a part
of the building itself, except eaves, including but not limited to chimneys, and not a mere
appendage to it (such
as a flagpole, etc.).
(d) Whenever a private road that serves more than four lots, more than four rip mars dwelling
units, or that serves any nonresidential use tending to generate traffic equivalent to more
than four dwelling units is located along a lot boundary, then buildings and freestanding
signs shall be set back from the private road just as if such road were a public street.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019 2
(e) In any residential district, front porches may extend into the setback from the street right-
of-way line up to fifty percent of that setback.
(f) All buildings shall be set back a minimum of fifteen feet from any open drainage facility.
(g) All buildings shall have a minimum setback of five feet from any easement.
(h)_Marijuana producing and processing operations on lots abutting residentially zoned lots
shall be set back a minimum of thirty feet for indoor operations and fifty feet for outdoor
operations.
(i) All primary buildings shall maintain a minimum 10-foot distance measurements taken from
foundations) from other buildings, including those on adjacent lots.
(j) In no case shall a primary building have a setback less than the five-foot standard setback
for the zone as specified in this Chapter.
(k) Setbacks from Public Rights -of -Way.
(1) Front yard setbacks of buildings froze public rights -of -way shall be as specified in
Chapter 20.48 Densitv and Dimensional Regulations),orequal to the average of the
two immediately adjacent primary buildings, whichever is less. Where averaging is
used, the new building may be averaged in a stepping attern between the front yards
of the adjacent buildings, or the new building's entire frontage may be built on the
average setback line. The front Vard is defined as being that side of the building facie
the street on which the building is addressed and has its primary entrance.
(2) On a corner lot the exterior side yard setback abutting; the road may be reduced to ten
feet. The exterior side yard is defined as that side of the building adjacent to a public
right-of-way but from which the building is not addressed and does not have its
primary entrance.
Section 03. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.48.050 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.48.050 Accessory Building Setback Requirements.
All accessory buildings in residential districts (i.e., those established by Section 20.36.010
(Residential Districts Established) must comply with the ultimate street right-of-way and side lot
boundary setbacks set forth in Section 20.48.040(Building Setback Requirements .
(a) Accessory buildings shall be subordinate to the primary structure and shall be set back
a minimum of eight (8) feet from the face of the primary structure.
�a.4(b) Accessory h0dings shall be placed to the side or rear of the primary structure.
Section 04. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.48.055 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.48.055 Building Setbacks for Multi -Family Units.
(a) There shall be a minimum separation between every ten attached units or every three
hundred feet.
(h) For rl7ulti-family uses in no instance shall street level parking areas be allowed within 25 feet
of a public right-Ofaway unless it is substantially shielded fromPublic view.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019
Section 05. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.48.060(d) — (e) shall be hereby amended
as follows:
(d) The features listed in Subsection (c) are exempt from the height limitations set forth in
Subsection (b) if they conform to the following requirements:
(1) Such features may consume not more than one-third of the total roof area.
(2) The features described in Subsection fc) (3) above must be set back from the edge of
the roof a minimum distance of one foot for every foot by which such features extend
above the roof surface of the principal building to which they are attached.
(3) The permit -issuing authority may authorize or require that parapet walls be
constructed (up to a height not exceeding that of the features screened) to shield
the features listed in Subsections fc) (1) and (3) from view.
Pe)
gFeuRd te a point of access to a roof surface of any nonresidential building or any multi-
family residential building containing four or more dwelling units may not exceed thirty-
five feet unless the fire chief certifies to the permit -issuing authority that such building is
designed to provide adequate access for firefighting personnel or the building inspector
certifies that the building is otherwise designed equipped te provide adequate
n.rr+4ectien against the dangers of Ti Fe
�f4(e) Towers, monopoles, and antennas are allowed
Section 06. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.48.064(a) shall be hereby amended as
follows:
(a) T*w-+na • .
OeASity- and DiMeRS;9Ral StandaFds. There is no maximum lot coverage for structures,
provided that the development complies with all other applicable requirements of this
title, including but not limited to, requirements for parking, landscaping, setbacks and fire
.1rrPSS-
Section 07. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.48.100(a)(2) shall be hereby amended
as follows:
(2) If the front yard fence is located in the sight visibility area, then a maximum of 30" is
allowed within the triangle area (Per Figure 3). The fence may resume allowed heights
once clear from this area.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019 4
Section 08. Arlington Municipal Code Table 20.48-1 shall be hereby amended as follows:
t
Building Setback
Requirements
—Minimum Distance,
in feet, from.
Non -Arterial
Street
Arterial Street
Rear Lot
Side Lot
BoundaryECA
Minimum
Required
Zone
Lot Size
Right -of -Way'
Right -of -Way'
Boundary
Line o
Buffer
(square
Residential
E
Line
Line
Line'
Alleyo,
feet)
Densities
a
Building andIT
Buildin g
Freestanding Sign
Primary -
Residential Ultra
9'arg or
1-4 Du/Ac
70
25
10
40
10
20 Accessory'
S
15
35
9
Low Capacity
-5
Primary -
Residential Low
7,200 -
600
5-6 Du/Ac
50
20
10
40
10
20
Accessory'"
5
15
35
35
Capacity
-5
Primary -
Residential
20
Moderate
6,200
Du Ac
30
20
10
40
10
Accesso
ry,
5
15
45
45
Capacity
-5
Primary -
Residential
2,800 -
12-16
20
Medium
3,600
Du/Ac
30
20
10
40
—
10
—
Accessory�'�
5
15
45
45
Capacity
5
Primary -
Residential High
4,300
17+
30
20
5
20
10
20
5
15
45
7-5
Capacity
Du/Ac
Accessory?O
-5
Primary -
Old Town
All Density and Dimensional Standards are Regulated by the
20
5
15
Old Town
Residential
Old Town Residential Design Standards4
Accessory')
—
Standards
-5
Primary -
Neighborhood
6,000
05
50
05
10
20
10
20
5
15
45
�'0
Commercial
Accessory -
5
Old Town
07
05
60
05
5
05
5
0--5
0' minimum
5
15
50
-}00
Business 15
5' maximum
Old Town
07
05
60
05
5
0 5
5
9---50
minimum
5
15
50
400
Business 26
5' maximum
Old Town
07
05
60
05
5
05
5
0--5
0' minimum
5
15
50
1 0fl
Business 35
5' maximum
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019
L
Building Setback Requirements
—Minimum Distance, in feet, from:
,,
'
Non Arterial
Street
Arterial Street
Rear Lot
Side Lot
BoundaryECA
Minimum
Required
�
M
Zone
Lot Size
Right -of -Ways
Right-0of-Ways
Line
Boundary
Une2
Line or
Buffer
In
(square
Residential
Line
Alley
o,
feet)
Densities
9
=
Building and
m a
m KM
LL
Buildin gI
FreestandingSi n
25—
25-
61dg. >
6ldg. >
10,000
10,000
Primary —
General
07
N/A
70
sq ft
10
sq ft
10
20
5
15
45
1-W
Commercial
10—
10—
Accessory -
6ldg. <
61dg. <
5
10,000
10,000
sq ft
I sq ft
25—
25-
61dg. >
61dg. >
10,000
10,000
Primary —
Highway
07
N/A
70
sq ft
10
sq ft
5
20
5
15
50
100
Commercial
10—
10—
Accessory -
61dg. <
6ldg. <
5
10,000
10,000
sq ft
I
I sq ft
Commercial
All Density and Dimensional Standards are Regulated by the Mixed -Use Development Regulations AMC 20.1108
Corridor
Mixed -Use
All Density and Dimensional Standards are Regulated by the Mixed -Use Development Regulations AMC 20.1108
Overlay
Primary —
General
10,000
N/A
70
25
10
25
10
20
5
15
50
4W
Industrial
Accessory -
5
Primary —
Light Industrial
10,000
N/A
70
25
5
25
5
20
5
15
50
1-99
Accessory -
5
Primary —
Aviation
10,000
N/A
70
25
5
25
5
20
5
15
505
4-99
Flightline9
Accessory -
5
Medical Services
10,000
N/A
70
1 25
10
25
10
10
10
15
505
400
Primary —
Business Park
10,000
N/A
70
25
5
25
5
20
5
15
50
40
Accessory -
5
Public/Semi-
Same as predominately surrounding zone
Public
Table 20.48-1 Footnotes:
1 As used in this table, "r-o-w" or "right-of-way" means the street's ultimate right-of-way according to its
classification, not existing, actual right-of-way.
2 Rear setback for principal buildings is twenty feet and detached accessory structures is five feet.
3 The lot size in the Residential Ultra Low Capacity (RULC) are primarily to accommodate detached single-family
residential development in areas not currently served by public sewer and water facilities. Larger lots are required
to accommodate a septic system and reserve area as required by the Snohomish Health District.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019 6
'All development within the Old Town Residential district is subject to the requirements of the Old Town
Residential Design Standards.
5 "0" in this column means that there is no density maximum. One can build as many residential units as can fit, as
long as the rest of the requirements of this code are met (e.g., parking, open space, screening, maximum lot
coverage, setbacks, drainage, etc.)
6 Maximum setbacks are required pursuant to Section 20.46.075 and the Development Design Standards for Old
Town Business Districts 1,2, and 3.
' "0" in this column means that there is no minimum parcel size. One can subdivide into as small of lots as one
wants, as long as a permissible use can fit on the lot while meeting the rest of the requirements of this code (e.g.,
parking, open space, screening, maximum lot coverage, setbacks, etc.)
8 All development within the Commercial Corridor and the Mixed -Use Overlay is subject to the requirements of the
Mixed -Use Development Regulations.
9 Airspace restrictions may limit the maximum building height to less than fifty feet.
10 Exception for certain AccessorV Dwelling Units provided under AMC 20.44.042 $ For ADUs abutting an alley.
11 See 20.48.040(k)(2) for additional regulations regarding corner lots
Section 09. Arlington Municipal Code AMC 20.48.120 Figure 15 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
Figure 15: Multi -Family Garden Apartments/Courtyard Apartments
Section 10. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of
this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this ordinance be pre-empted by
state or federal law or regulation, such decision or pre-emption shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 11. Effective Date. The title of this ordinance which summarizes the contents
shall be published in the official newspaper of the City. This ordinance shall take effect and be in
full force five (5) days after the date of publication as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Arlington and APPROVED by the Mayor this
day of �UJ N -, 2026.
CIT F ARLINGTON
Don E. Vanney, Mayor
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019
ATT T:
Rae es, ity erk
APPROVED AS TO FORM.
(1:
Oskar Rey, City Attorney
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019
CERTIFICATION OF ORDINANCE
I, Raelynn Jones, being the duly appointed Clerk of the City of Arlington, Washington, a
municipal corporation, do hereby certify that the following Ordinance No. 2026-019 was
approved at July 20, 2026 City Council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON AMENDING CHAPTER 20.48
OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING DENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL
REGULATIONS UNDER CITY PLANNING NO. PLN1295"
A true and correct copy of the original ordinance is attached.
Dated this 21st day of July 2026.
R Iyn J rye
City Cler fort City of Arlington