Seattle zoning code, explained
What Seattle's zoning code allows on a residential lot, from setbacks to height.
Quick answers for a house in Neighborhood Residential
How close to the lot lines can I build a house?
The front setback is 10 to 15 ft and the rear setback 0 to 15 ft, depending on the lot. The side setback is 5 ft on average and never less than 3 ft. See the details ›
How tall can a house be?
Up to 32 ft. See the details ›
How much of my lot can buildings cover?
All buildings together can cover up to 50% of the lot. See the details ›
How much floor area can I build?
The floor area ratio is up to 0.6 to 1.6, depending on the lot. All the buildings' square footage on the lot added up, divided by the lot area. 0.6 on a 6,000 sf lot is 3,600 sf. See the details ›
Can eaves go into the setback?
Eaves and gutters can reach up to 2 ft into a required setback, if they stay at least 3 ft from the lot line. The first 36″ of an eave is not counted in lot coverage. See the details ›
Where do these numbers come from?
Every number quotes the Seattle Municipal Code. Rules last updated 2026-11-05.
Rules by building type
How the code measures
Visualize these on your property
Enter an address and Feasy draws these rules on your actual lot.