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Department of Community and Economic Development
Planning Division
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY/CODE INTERPRETATION
ADMINISTRATIVE
POLICY/CODE
INTERPRETATION #: CI-155
MUNICIPAL
CODE SECTIONS: 4-11-040, Definitions D
REFERENCE: N/A
SUBJECT: Definition of “Townhouse”
BACKGROUND: A Townhouse is currently defined in Renton Municipal Code (RMC) as “a
ground-related dwelling attached to one or more such units in which
each unit has its own exterior, ground-level access to the outside, no unit
is located over another unit, and each unit is separated from any other
unit by one or more vertical common walls. Townhouse units may be
multi-story.” Within the Zoning Use Table RMC also distinguishes
townhouses from other attached dwellings and the zones in which
they’re allowed.
DECISION: The definition of “townhouse” will be revised to read as follows: “a
dwelling unit attached to one or more such units by one or more
common vertical walls in which each unit occupies the building from the
bottom of the foundation to the roof, has at least two exterior faces,
front and rear ground-level access to the outside, and no unit is located
over another unit. Townhouse units may be multi-story.”
JUSTIFICATION: Revision of the definition is necessary in order to remove any ambiguity
by clarifying the meaning of some terms, such as “ground-related,” and
to more accurately describe the physical characteristics of these types of
attached dwellings.
ADMINISTRATOR
APPROVAL: _______________________________________
C. E. “Chip” Vincent
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 22, 2020
CI-155 Page 2 of 2
APPEAL
PROCESS: 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, 425-430-6515) no more than 14
days from the date of this decision. Your submittal should explain the
basis for the appeal. Section 4-8-110 of the Renton Municipal Code
provides further information on the appeal process.
DISCLAIMER: 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.
CODE
AMENDMENTS
NEEDED TO
IMPLEMENT
DETERMINATIONS:
RMC 4-11-040, Definitions D
DWELLING, ATTACHED: A dwelling unit connected to one or more dwellings by
common roofs, walls, or floors or a dwelling unit or units attached to garages or
other nonresidential uses. This definition includes assisted living facilities but
excludes boarding and lodging houses, accessory dwelling units, adult family
homes, group home I or group home II as defined herein. Attached dwellings
include the following types:
A. Flat: A dwelling unit attached to one or multiple dwelling units by one or more
common roof(s), wall(s), or floor(s) within a building. Typically, the unit’s
habitable area is provided on a single level. Unit entrances may or may not be
provided from a common corridor.
B. RMC 4-11-060Townhouse: A ground-related dwelling unit attached to one or
more such units by one or more common vertical walls in which each unit
occupies the building from the bottom of the foundation to the roof, has at least
two its own exterior faces, front and rear ground-level access to the outside, and
no unit is located over another unit, and each unit is separated from any other
unit by one or more vertical common walls. Townhouse units may be multi-story.
STAFF CONTACT: Paul Hintz, x7436