Port Townsend, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-I coverage cap
- 25% (40% with ADU/multi-unit)
- R-II coverage cap
- 35% (60% with ADU/multi-unit)
- R-III coverage cap
- 65% of lot
- R-IV coverage cap
- 75% of lot
- Governing section
- PTMC 17.16.030 bulk table
Summary
Port Townsend limits building lot coverage to 25-75% of a parcel depending on the residential zoning district, with higher caps allowed when a lot includes an accessory dwelling unit.
MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE
25% except 40% where an ADU or multiple units are included in the lot
35% except 60% where an ADU or multiple units are included in the lot
65%
75%
MAXIMUM FENCE HEIGHT*
Any lot line abutting a public r-o-w = 4'; any lot line not abutting a public r-o-w = 8'; rear abutting a public street r-o-w = 4'; see note below
Any lot line abutting a public r-o-w = 4'; any lot line not abutting a public r-o-w = 8'; rear abutting a public street r-o-w = 4'; see note below
Any lot line abutting a public r-o-w = 4'; any lot line not abutting a public r-o-w = 8'; rear abutting a public street r-o-w = 4'; see note below
Any lot line abutting a public r-o-w = 4'; any lot line not abutting a public r-o-w = 8'; rear abutting a public street r-o-w = 4'; see note below
*Note: Maximum heights for up to 100 percent solid fences apply within any required front, side, or rear setback area or along the lot line except within the clear vision area; refer to Chapter 17.68 PTMC, Fences, Walls, Arbors and Hedges, for specific requirements. Standards apply to open and unopened right-of-way (r-o-w).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
PTMC 17.16.030's bulk table caps lot coverage by residential district: 25 percent in R-I (40 percent if the lot has an ADU or multiple units), 35 percent in R-II (60 percent with an ADU or multiple units), 65 percent in R-III, and 75 percent in R-IV. Lot coverage is measured as the ground footprint of buildings and structures from the outside walls, including accessory buildings, but excludes at-grade parking, decks, terraces, walkways, and driveways. Separate, often stricter impervious-surface limits apply in shoreline and critical-area overlays under Title 19.
Violations & Fines
Building beyond the district's coverage cap without approval draws a $250-per-day civil penalty under PTMC 1.20.075; ignoring a stop-work order is a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 and 180 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the maximum lot coverage in Port Townsend's R-I zone?
Does lot coverage include driveways and decks?
Are impervious-surface limits the same as lot-coverage limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port Townsend
Compare Port Townsend to another location·View the Washington building setbacks & zoning overview
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