11357 5th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146

Urban Residential Zone

The purpose of the urban residential zone (R) is to implement comprehensive plan goals and policies for housing quality, diversity and affordability, and to efficiently use urban residential land, public services and energy. These purposes are accomplished by: Providing, in the R-12 through R-48 zones, for a mix of predominantly apartment and townhouse dwelling units, mixed-use and other development types, with a variety of densities and sizes in locations appropriate for urban densities; Allowing only those accessory and complementary nonresidential uses that are compatible with urban residential communities; and Establishing density designations to facilitate advanced area-wide planning for public facilities and services, and to protect environmentally sensitive sites from over development; Use of this zone is appropriate in urban areas, activity centers, or Rural Towns designated by the Comprehensive Plan as follows: The R-12 through R-48 zones next to Unincorporated Activity Centers, in Community or Neighborhood Business Centers, in mixed-use development, on small, scattered lots integrated into existing residential areas, or in Rural Towns, that are served at the time of development by adequate public sewers, water supply, roads and other needed public facilities and services.