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

Section 16.13.050 of the Lacey Municipal Code sets the maximum height for the Low Density Residential District in the City of Lacey, Thurston County. A main building and an accessory dwelling are limited to 25 feet, or 35 feet where the roof pitch is at least four feet vertical to twelve feet horizontal. Townhouses are limited to 30 feet, or 35 feet with the same minimum roof pitch. An accessory building is limited to the height of the primary building, but a structure over 16 feet in height requires design review, and the design must demonstrate compatibility with the primary structure and must not dominate the site visually. A structure with a green roof covering at least 50 percent of the roof area gets an additional 2 feet of height.

The district's permitted-use section adds a second trigger: under section 16.13.020, accessory buildings or structures over 16 feet in height must comply with the design requirements of LMC 14.23.071. The pitch-based bonus therefore rewards steeper roofs, while the 16 foot line marks where accessory buildings leave the simple permit track and enter design review.

Other residential areas of Lacey print different limits. In the McAllister Springs Geologically Sensitive Area Residential District, section 16.10.050 sets 35 feet for a main building and accessory dwelling and 16 feet for an accessory building. Section 16.21.050 in the urban agriculture chapter sets 35 feet for a residential building, 16 feet for an accessory building, and 50 feet for barns, silos and the like. A planned residential development waives specific height limits under section 11.10.030, subject to the design standards of Chapter 11.10.