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A. Minimum Building Setbacks for Principal Structures. The standards set forth in Table 6-2 below apply to all new development. Also refer to Chapter 19.22 EMC, Building and Structure Heights.

Table 6-2: Minimum Building Setbacks for Principal Structures

ZONE

R-S

R-1

R-2

R-2(A)

UR3

UR4

NB

B

MU

LI1

LI2

HI

AG

Minimum Setback:

Front

20'

20'

20'

20'

20'

10'

None

None

None

None

20'

None

25'

Rear (with alley)

20'

20'

20'

20'

20'

None

None

None

None

None

None(1)

10'(1)

25'

Rear (no alley)

20'

20'

20'

20'

20'

10'(3)

10'

None(2)

None(2)

None(2)

15'(1)

10'(1)

Side, Street

10'

10'

10'

10'

10'

10'

10'

None

None

20'

None

10'

Side, Interior

5'

5'

5'

5'

5'

5'(4)

5'

(2)

None

None

15'(1)

None(1)

10'

Footnotes:

(1)Twenty-five feet when abutting lots located in residential zones.

(2)Ten feet when abutting lots located in residential zones.

(3)Twenty feet when abutting lots located in the R-S, R-1 and R-2 zones.

(4)No side, interior setback is required within Metro Everett.

B. Average Front Setback—Residential Structures in Residential Zones. In certain instances, existing residential dwellings do not meet the current front setback standard for the applicable zone district. In such cases, the applicant may use the average of the existing front facade setback of the two nearest and adjacent existing residential buildings on the same side of the street as the minimum required front setback for the lot. For corner lots, the applicant may use the same setback as the adjacent building on the same side of the street. This provision shall apply to principal dwellings only. The resulting setback shall not be less than fifty percent of the required setback standard.

Figure 6-1: Building Placement

C. Additional Building Placement Requirements (Applicable Within Metro Everett Only). Front or side street (corner) setbacks ten feet or more. Any principal building set back ten feet or more from the minimum front or side street (corner) setback line shall include design features, such as a plaza or forecourt (see EMC 19.12.140(C)), along the front or side street (corner) lot line in order to provide an impression of a continuous facade line at the front setback.

D. Building Setbacks for Lots Fronting on and Taking Access from a Private Access Drive. For lots that are accessed from a private access drive, the minimum setback shall be five feet from the edge of the easement. Where vehicle parking is provided between the access drive and the dwelling or garage, the minimum setback shall be twenty feet from the edge of pavement or curb face.

E. Building Setbacks for Residential Accessory Structures in Residential Zones. The following setback requirements apply to all buildings which are accessory to residential uses in all residential zones:

Table 6-3: Setbacks for Accessory Buildings (Attached and Detached) in Residential Zones

MINIMUM SETBACK:

STANDARD:

Front and side, street

a)    Accessory buildings shall not be located in front setback areas or street side setback areas for corner lots, except as provided by b) below.

b)    Accessory buildings on a corner lot with doors or openings for vehicles facing and accessing the side street shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from the side street lot line or a minimum of 20 feet from the public sidewalk, whichever is greater. If there is no public sidewalk, the planning director, with input from the city engineer shall determine if there shall be a setback greater than 10 feet from the side street lot line. This determination shall be based on future planned improvements within the right-of-way.

Side, interior

a)    See Table 6-2.

b)    Accessory buildings shall not be located within the interior side setback area, unless the side lot line abuts an alley, in which case there shall be no required side setback from the alley.

Rear

a)    Alley Lots. No minimum rear setback.

b)    Nonalley lots: 5 feet.

c)    The city engineer and planning director shall determine the rear setback for accessory buildings on double fronting lots (lots with street frontages along the front and rear property lines).

F. Building Setbacks for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU). The following table is a summary of the standards required for ADUs:

Table 6-4: Minimum ADU Building Setbacks

Subject

Standard

Front and Side Setbacks

See Table 6-2: Minimum Building Setbacks for Principal Structures

Rear Setbacks:

a)    Alley Lots. No minimum rear setback.

b)    Nonalley Lots. 5-foot rear setback.

(Ord. 3963-23 § 4, 2023; Ord. 3845-21 § 2, 2021; Ord. 3774-20 § 5(F) (Exh. 3), 2020.)