Auburn, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Building height in Auburn is regulated through the underlying zoning district set by ACC Title 18. Single-family residential zones (R-5, R-7, R-10) limit principal dwellings to approximately 35 feet measured as the vertical distance from average grade to the highest point of the roof structure. Accessory dwelling units and detached accessory structures have tighter caps, typically 16 to 24 feet. Multifamily R-16 and R-20 zones allow buildings up to 45 feet, and the Downtown Urban Center (DUC) and other mixed-use districts allow significantly greater heights of 55 to 75 feet or more with step-backs, design review, and incentives for affordable housing, public space, or green building. State middle housing legislation (HB 1110) permits more units on some single-family lots, and Auburn zoning amendments implement that framework with adjusted height and bulk standards. Height is measured from average grade and does not include specific exempt features such as chimneys, antennas, elevator overruns, or small parapet walls within set limits. Hillside properties on Lea Hill and Lakeland Hills, and shoreline properties along the Green River, must also meet view-corridor and shoreline envelope requirements. Calculations often hinge on grade-averaging and critical areas; Auburn Community Development at (253) 931-3090 can confirm the allowed height on a specific parcel.