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Community & Economic Development // Planning Division
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE INTERPRETATION
CI-199: Clarification of Alley Preference in Street Standards
Staff Contact: Angelea Weihs, Senior Planner
aweihs@rentonwa.gov, 425-430-7312
Date Requested: April 30, 2026
Applicant or
Requestor:
Staff
Code Sections
Impacted:
• RMC 4-6-060F.4, Additional Alley Standards
• RMC 4-7-150E.5, Alley Access
Description and
Justification:
RMC 4-6-060F.4 currently states that “Alley access is the preferred
street pattern except for properties in the Residential Low Density
land use designation.”
However, RMC 4-7-150E.5 was amended by Ordinance 6160 to
establish alley access as the preferred street pattern for all new
residential development, with limited exceptions based on site-
specific constraints.
This inconsistency appears to be the result of recent amendments
implementing state legislation related to Middle Housing (HB 1110)
and Accessory Dwelling Units (HB 1337), where corresponding
updates to the street standards section were not carried through.
Because both sections regulate street layout and access for
residential development, the conflicting language creates
ambiguity in code application. The subdivision standards (RMC 4-7-
150E.5) reflect the more recent and comprehensive policy direction
and should control.
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Decision: The reference in RMC 4-6-060F.4 limiting alley preference by
excluding Residential Low Density land use designations shall be
interpreted as an administrative error.
RMC 4-6-060F.4 shall be interpreted to align with RMC 4-7-150E.5,
such that alley access is the preferred street pattern for all new
residential development, regardless of land use designation, unless
demonstrated to be impractical based on the criteria in RMC 4-7-
150E.5.
Specified code section shall read as shown in Attachment A.*
*Excerpts from the Renton Municipal Code shown below may not contain the most recently
codified text. In such instances, code amendments implemented through this Administrative Code
Interpretation shall be construed to affect the current code and past/future Administrative Code
Interpretations not yet codified in the same manner as shown below. Should any conflicts result,
the Administrator shall determine the effective code.
Administrator Approval:
Gina Estep, CED Administrator Effective Date
To appeal this decision:
1. To appeal this determination, a written appeal accompanied by the required filing fee
must be filed with the City's Hearing Examiner (1055 South Grady Way, Renton, WA
98057, 425-430-6551) no more than 14 days from the date of this decision. RMC
Section 4-8-110 provides further information on the appeal process.
2. Under principles of judicial finality, administrative code interpretations that are not
timely appealed are binding.
Page 3 of 3 // CI-199
ATTACHMENT A
SPECIFIED CODE SECTIONS SHALL BE READ AS FOLLOWS:
4. Additional Alley Standards: Alleys may be used for vehicular access, but are not to be considered as the
primary access for emergency or Fire Department concerns. Alley access is the preferred street pattern
except for properties in the Residential Low Density land use designationfor residential development. Refer
to RMC 4-7-150.