Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Bellingham, WA (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
Bellingham lets multifamily developers exceed standard density caps by up to 50% in exchange for affordable housing, development-rights transfers, park space, or habitat restoration, under BMC 20.32.040(B)(5) -- but never on land draining to the Lake Whatcom reservoir.
Bellingham Multifamily Density Bonus
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 20.32.040(B)(5)
A density bonus may be obtained for a multifamily development proposal that has not previously been granted a density bonus under a different development proposal. A density bonus shall not establish a density greater than the maximum specified density of the applicable subarea unless as allowed under a separate code provision. Density bonuses shall not be allowed for properties that drain to B...
Downtown Design Guide
Bellingham's downtown is a designated Urban Village Design Review District: new buildings and developments there need Design Review Board approval, and no building permit issues until that review is complete.
Bellingham Downtown Design Review Rules
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 20.25.020(C)(1)
The following areas and developments are subject to design review under this chapter. No building permit shall be issued for projects regulated under this chapter until design review approval has been issued unless the activity is exempt... All development activities within an urban village design review district listed in Table 20.25.020 ... shall obtain design review approval unless exempted ...
Looking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Whatcom County →