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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

R-I max height
30 feet
R-II max height
30' single-family, 35' multifamily
R-III/R-IV max height
35' single-family, 55' multifamily
Measured from
average natural (preexisting) grade

Summary

Port Townsend caps residential building height by zoning district: 30 feet in R-I, up to 35 feet for single-family homes in R-II through R-IV, and 55 feet for multifamily buildings in R-III and R-IV.

MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT: 30' [R-I]; 30' for detached single-family / 35' for attached units and multifamily [R-II]; 35' for detached and attached single-family / 55' for multifamily [R-III]; 35' for detached and attached single-family / 55' for multifamily [R-IV]

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Port Townsend's residential zoning table (PTMC 17.16.030) sets maximum building height by district: 30 feet in R-I (low-density), 30 feet for detached single-family and 35 feet for attached units and multifamily in R-II, and 35 feet for single-family with 55 feet for multifamily in both R-III and R-IV. Height is measured from average natural grade to the highest roof point, per the PTMC 17.08.020 definition. No building permit issues for plans that exceed these limits, the city's Development Services Department checks every application against the table before construction can begin.

Violations & Fines

No building permit will issue for a structure exceeding its district's height limit; Development Services staff check every building application against the PTMC 17.16.030 table before construction can begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can a single-family house be in Port Townsend's R-I zone?
30 feet, the maximum set for the R-I low-density district in the PTMC 17.16.030 bulk and dimensional table.
Can multifamily buildings be taller than houses in the same zone?
Yes: in R-III and R-IV, multifamily structures can reach 55 feet while single-family units in those zones are capped at 35 feet.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Port Townsend

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsSetback RulesSome RestrictionsLot Coverage LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Wildfire ZonesSome Restrictions

All Port Townsend rules

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