Bellingham, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Bellingham uses a unique two-layer zoning system: BMC Chapter 20.00 contains neighborhood-specific zoning tables for each of 25 neighborhoods (Birchwood, Columbia, Cordata, Edgemoor, Fairhaven, Happy Valley, Lettered Streets, Meridian, Roosevelt, Samish, Sehome, Silver Beach, South, South Hill, Sunnyland, etc.), while BMC Chapters 20.30 (Residential Single), 20.32 (Residential Multi), 20.36 (Commercial), and 20.40 (Institutional) contain the development standards keyed to those tables. BMC 20.30.040 Table 20.30.040 sets the standard yard minimums for RS districts: typical front yard 20-25 ft, side yard 5-7 ft (with a larger street-facing side on corner lots), and rear yard 20-25 ft, with variations by neighborhood plan. The setback flexibility provision at BMC 20.30.040 allows the average depth of built-up front yards on a block to substitute for the standard front when 40 percent or more of lots have shallower built depths (not applicable to garages or carports). Maximum main-building height under BMC 20.30.040 is 35 ft under BMC 20.08.020 height definition No. 1 or 20 ft under height definition No. 2 — Bellingham uses two coordinated height definitions to manage both ridge height and the apparent bulk from the street. Detached accessory buildings (sheds, detached garages, carports, workshops) follow BMC 20.30.100 — 5 ft typical side/rear setbacks, located in the rear yard or rear 22 ft of an interior side yard, max one story / 12 ft height, max 800 sq ft. Detached ADUs follow BMC 20.10.036 with their own envelope — 5 ft side/rear (zero from alley), max 24 ft height under definition 1, max 1,000 sq ft habitable floor (1,800 sq ft total). Yard encroachments allowed under BMC 20.10.080 Table 20.10.080: architectural features (eaves, chimneys, bay windows, fireplaces, cantilevers) may project into required yards subject to the table. Setbacks measured from the property line per BMC 20.10.080 (Yards) — surveyed corners are the controlling reference. Variances from these standards require a Type III Hearing Examiner review under BMC Chapter 21.10 with findings of unnecessary hardship not self-created, appealable to Whatcom County Superior Court under LUPA (RCW 36.70C). WA HB 1110 (RCW 36.70A.635) requires Bellingham as a city over 75,000 population (~95K) to permit duplex, triplex, and fourplex middle-housing forms in all areas zoned predominantly for residential use — Bellingham adopted an interim middle-housing ordinance on May 19, 2025 implementing BMC 20.28 Infill Housing citywide (except in the Lake Whatcom Reservoir watershed). WA HB 1337 (RCW 36.70A.680) requires Bellingham to allow at least two ADUs per single-family lot — already implemented in BMC 20.10.036 effective August 22, 2023. Setbacks for these middle-housing and ADU forms are designed to remain workable for typical residential lots.