Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Lynnwood, WA

Lynnwood maintains 115 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with zoning overlays & bonuses. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Lynnwood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Downtown Design Guide

Lynnwood's city center is not just zoned, it is design-reviewed. LMC § 8.45.0110(D) incorporates the city's City Center Design Guidelines, adopted May 13, 2019, by reference, applying them to every project in the city center zone plus any Alderwood or planned-commercial-development project over three stories and any RM-45 project taller than 45 feet.

Key details: Guideline document: City Center Design Guidelines. Adoption date: May 13, 2019. Applies to: City center zone; tall Alderwood/PCD; RM-45 over 45 ft. Administrator clarity deadline: 5 calendar days. Governing chapter: LMC Chapter 8.45.

A city center project that does not comply with the incorporated City Center Design Guidelines cannot receive project development review approval under LMC Chapter 8.90; noncompliance is addressed through the permit review process rather than after-the-fact citation, since design standards are a condition of permit issuance, not a standalone infraction.

Density Bonus Law

Lynnwood caps new City Center buildings at a 3.5 floor area ratio (FAR) by right, but LMC 8.30.0420(G) lets a developer earn up to 8.0 FAR for nonresidential space or 10.0 FAR for residential space by adding green-building certification, structured or underground parking, or a public plaza that exceeds the design-guideline minimum.

Key details: Base FAR, City Center: 3.5 nonresidential and residential. Max FAR with bonuses: 8.0 nonres / 10.0 residential. LEED Platinum bonus: 40% increase in floor area. Public plaza bonus: 5 sq ft per sq ft over minimum. Applies only in: City Center (CC) zone.

Constructing floor area beyond the 3.5 base FAR without the city having credited a qualifying bonus feature is a Unified Development Code violation, enforced like any other under LMC Chapter 1.40. The department director can issue a notice of violation and order corrective action; unresolved violations accrue civil penalties starting at $100 for the first day, $200 the second, $300 the third, $400 the fourth, and $500 for each day after that until corrected, plus the possibility of a lien against the property if the penalty goes unpaid 30 days after the order.

The Bottom Line

Lynnwood's zoning overlays & bonuses rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lynnwood is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Lynnwood can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.