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

Building and structure height in Sammamish is set by zoning district. According to the City's Accessory Structures handout (No. 240), citing SMC 21.04.030.C, the maximum height is 35 feet in the R-1, R-4, R-6, and R-8 zones and 60 feet in the higher-density R-12 and R-18 zones; these height caps apply to both the main residence and accessory structures. The City's published R-4 development standards add a maximum sidewall (eave) height of 24 feet alongside the 35-foot overall building-height limit, which shapes how tall the walls can be before the roof. Height is measured from the average existing grade of the land, determined before cuts, fills, or other disturbance, to the highest point of the structure or roof; the average grade is found by enclosing the building in the smallest square or rectangle and averaging the grade at the midpoint of each side. Certain rooftop elements, such as chimneys, flagpoles, steeples, antennas, and equipment screening, may extend above the height limit. Additional height above the maximum may be allowed only where the structure provides extra setback for each foot of added height. These are city-specific limits adopted under Sammamish's development code, not King County standards.