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.
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.
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.
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