Building Setbacks & Zoning in Kennewick, WA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Kennewick, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Kennewick's residential zoning code sets minimum front, side, rear, and garage setbacks by zone under KMC 18.12.010(A)(2): a 15-foot front/street setback and 15-foot rear setback apply in the RS, RL, RM, RH, RTP, and RMH districts, with a five-foot side yard and a 20-foot garage setback measured from the back of the sidewalk, while the Urban Mixed Use district follows KMC 18.80 instead.
Kennewick Yard Setbacks by Residential Zone
Some RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code § 18.12.010(A)(2) (Ord. 25-6163 Sec. 1, 2025; Ord. 25-6102 Sec. 2, 2025; Ord. 24-6074 Sec. 1, 2024; Ord. 5180 Sec. 1, 2007, et al.)
Min. Front Yard/ Street Setback 2 15' 15' 15' 15' 15' 15' See KMC 18.80 Min. Garage Setback 2 20' 20' 20' 20' 20' 20' N/A Min. Side Yard Setback 2 5' 5' 5' 5' 5' 5' 0' Min. Rear Yard Setback 2 15' 15' 15' 15' 15' 15' 5' ...(2)Yards:(a)Street: Building setback lines will be measured from the back of the sidewalk. Where no sidewalk exists and in the UMU district, building setback lines will be me...
Structure Height Limits
Kennewick caps residential building height by zoning district in the Table of Residential Site Development Standards at KMC 18.12.010(A)(2): 35 feet or 2.5 stories, whichever is less, in the RS, RL and RMH districts, and 45 feet in the RH district. The Planning Director enforces the table through the building permit process, and exceeding it is a Title 18 misdemeanor.
Kennewick Residential Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code § 18.12.010(A)(2) (Ord. 25-6163, Sec. 1, 2025; Ord. 25-6102 Sec. 2, 2025; Ord. 24-6074 Sec. 1, 2024; Ord. 5764 Sec. 1, 2018; Ord. 5743 Sec. 2, 2018; Ord. 5712 Sec. 2, 2017; Ord. 5647 Sec. 1, 2016; Ord. 5542 Sec. 1, 2014; Ord. 5504 Sec. 1, 2013; Ord. 5407 Sec. 4, 2012; Ord. 5365 Sec. 3, 2011; Ord. 5309 Sec. 9, 2010; Ord. 5204 Sec. 6, 2007; Ord. 5180 Sec. 1, 2007)
Minimum and maximum residential standards are identified in the following table. RS 5,8,9 RL 5,8,9 RM 3, 4, 5, 6,8,9 RH 3, 4, 5, 6,8,9 RTP 3, 4, 5 RMH 6,8,9 UMU 3, 7 Max. [...] Height 35' or 2.5 stories, whichever is less 35' or 2.5 stories, whichever is less 35' 45' N/A 35' or 2.5 stories, whichever is less N/A
Lot Coverage Limits
Kennewick caps lot coverage in only two non-residential zones. The Business Park (BP) district prints a Maximum Lot Coverage of 50%, and the Historic Mixed-Use (HMU) district limits floor area ratio to a maximum of .45. The other 15 commercial, industrial and public zones in KMC 18.12.010(B)(2) print None in the lot coverage column.
Kennewick Maximum Lot Coverage by Zone
Some RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code § 18.12.010(B)(2)
Table of Commercial/Industrial Standards Maximum District Size Minimum District Size Yards Maximum Building Height Maximum Lot Coverage Outdoor Storage UMU - Urban Mixed-Use District None 40 acres See KMC 18.80 None None None ... HMU - Historic, Mixed-Use District See (5) Below 35' See (5.a) Below None ... BP - Business Park District None 5 Acres See (6) Below 35' 50% None ... HMU-Historic, Mix...
Looking for Benton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kennewick city rules.
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