Building Setbacks & Zoning in Olympia, WA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Olympia, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Table 4.04 sets minimum front, rear, and side yard setbacks for each residential district column, from 20 feet in front for R1/5 to 5 feet in the multifamily and urban residential columns. Setback area is measured from the outermost edge of the building foundation under OMC § 18.04.080.
Olympia WA Residential Yard Setbacks
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 18.04.080
TABLE 4.04 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS DISTRICT R1/5 R4 R-4CB RLI R 4-8 R 6-12 MR 7-13 MR 10-18 RM-18 RM-24 RMH RMU MHP UR ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS ... MINIMUM FRONT YARD SETBACKS 20' except: 5' for agricultural buildings with farm animals 10' 10' 10', 5' for agricultural buildings with farm animals 10', 5' for agricultural buildings with farm animals 10', 5' for agricultural buildings with...
Structure Height Limits
In the City of Olympia, Washington, residential building height starts with the district limit in Table 4.04 of OMC 18.04.080, and subsection (I) then sets the exceptions: an 18 foot roof projection allowance, a 35 to 45 foot tier in the MR districts, and special rules for RMU, UR and R 4-8 sites.
Olympia WA Residential Building Height Exceptions
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 18.04.080(I)
I. Height. 1. Roof Projections. The following structures may exceed the height limits specified for the district in Table 4.04 by 18 feet, provided that such structures do not contain floor space: roof structures housing elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building; fire or parapet walls; skylights; towers; flagpoles; chimneys;...
Lot Coverage Limits
In the City of Olympia, Washington, residential impervious surface limits sit in Table 4.04 of OMC 18.04.080, and subsection (K) governs the bonuses: up to a 20 percent impervious increase for eligible projects with an engineered drainage design, a separate hard surface bonus, and rules for replacing existing surfaces.
Olympia WA Residential Impervious Surface Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 18.04.080(K)
K. Surface Coverage Limits: 1. Increased Impervious Coverage: Projects may be eligible for up to a 20 percent increase in impervious surface coverage (above what is listed in table 4.04) provided that all of the following are met: a. Eligibility: The increase must be for one, or more, of the following (note: the following types of projects are ineligible: a stand-alone single-family unit on a l...
Looking for Thurston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Olympia city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Thurston County →