Snohomish County, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Side/rear setback (R-7,200)
- 5 feet minimum
- Setback source
- SCC Tables 30.23.030/.032
- Director reduction
- Up to 25% (3 ft floor)
- Required setback
- Open ground to sky
- Code sections
- SCC 30.23.010, 30.23.032
Summary
In unincorporated Snohomish County, setbacks are set by zone in the SCC 30.23 bulk matrices. In the common urban R-7,200, R-8,400, and R-9,600 residential zones, the minimum side and rear setback is five feet, with larger street and front setbacks fixed per zone.
For design reasons, the director may reduce the property line setbacks established in SCC Tables 30.23.030 and 30.23.032 by up to 25 percent for walls or structures that are 20 feet in length or less; provided, that a minimum setback of three feet is maintained.
(6) Except as otherwise provided in this title, every required setback shall be open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky except for trees and other natural vegetation, eaves, foundations and walls.
(7) A setback or the open space required around any structure or use shall not be calculated in an adjacent development’s setback or open space for a structure or use.
(8) SCC 30.23.250 establishes the setback requirements for aggregated lots.
(9) For the purpose of determining setbacks under Tables 30.23.030 and 30.23.032 only:
(a) The RI zone shall be considered an industrial zone; and
(b) The RB, CRC, and RFS zones shall be considered commercial zones. (Added by Amended Ord. 02-064, Dec. 9, 2002, Eff date Feb. 1, 2003; Amended by Amended Ord. 08-101, Jan. 21, 2009, Eff date Apr. 21, 2009; Amended by Amended Ord. 12-049, Oct. 3, 2012, Eff date Jan. 1, 2013; Amended by Amended Ord. 26-002, Feb. 25, 2026, Eff date Mar. 13, 2026).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
SCC 30.23.010 establishes that Tables 30.23.030 and 30.23.032 contain the setback, lot coverage, building height, and lot-dimension regulations for all unincorporated zones. In Table 30.23.032, the R-9,600, R-8,400, and R-7,200 zones require a five-foot minimum setback from side and rear lot lines adjacent to those same residential zones. Every required setback must be open and unobstructed from ground to sky except for trees, natural vegetation, eaves, foundations, and walls. For design reasons, the director may reduce table setbacks by up to 25 percent for walls or structures 20 feet long or less, provided a minimum three-foot setback is kept.
Violations & Fines
Building within a required setback without an approved variance or reduction is a zoning violation; PDS can deny permits, require redesign, or pursue code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the side-yard setback in a standard residential zone?
Can setbacks ever be reduced?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington building setbacks & zoning overview
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