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Department of Community and Economic Development
Planning Division
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY/CODE INTERPRETATION
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY/CODE INTERPRETATION #:
CI-167
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS:
4-2-110B
REFERENCE: CI-96 and Ordinance 5841
SUBJECT:
Secondary Front Yards for Residential Accessory Structures
BACKGROUND: RMC 4-11-250 defines “yard requirement” as “an open space on a lot unoccupied
by structures, unless specifically authorized otherwise.” The definition of “yard
requirement” is synonymous with the definition of “setback,” which is defined as
“the minimum required distance between the building footprint and the property
line and any private access easement or tract.” The definition “yard requirement”
furthers defines four different types of yards: front yards, secondary front yards,
rear yards, and side yards. “Secondary front yard” is defined as “the yard
requirement for corner lots and through lots that serves as a second front yard
abutting a street right-of-way, private street, or shared driveway.” RMC 4-2-110,
Residential Development Standards, provides the measured distance of the yard
requirement/setback for each residential zone and separates the yard
requirements by structure type: primary, accessory, and accessory dwelling units.
Administrative Code Interpretation #96 (CI-96) removed the requirement of
providing a rear yard setback for residentially zoned corner lots and instead
required such lots to provide two front yard setbacks and a side yard setback in
place of a typical rear yard. While preparing Ordinance 5841 to codify CI-96,
among others, staff took the opportunity to replace the term “side yard along a
street” with “secondary front yard” as the latter was deemed to be a more easily
understood term; however, staff erroneously failed to replace “side yard along
street” with “secondary front yard” in RMC 4-2-110.B, Development Standards
for Residential Development (Detached Accessory Buildings).
Although the subsection on Minimum Setbacks of RMC 4-2-110.B states
“setbacks applied to the primary structure also apply to accessory structures,”
and a secondary front yard setback standard is provided for each residential zone
in RMC 4-2-110.A, Development Standards for Residential Zoning Designations
(Primary Structures), there exists some ambiguity as to the applicability of
secondary front yard setbacks to accessory structures.
DECISION:
Amend 4-2-110.B to add the term Secondary Front Yard with the existing Front
Yard standards in the setback regulations for residential detached accessory
buildings.
JUSTIFICATION:
Because the legislative intent of CI-96 (as codified by Ord. 5841) was to replace a
term with one more easily understood, and staff edited said terminology in each
instance except as noted above in RMC 4-2-110.B, it is reasonable to correct
staff’s error through an Administrative Code Interpretation pursuant to RMC 4-9-
025.
ADMINISTRATOR
APPROVAL:
_______________________________________ C. E. “Chip” Vincent
EFFECTIVE DATE:
_______________________________________
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. 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
DETERMINATION(S):
RMC 4-2-110.B, Development Standards for Residential Development (Detached
Accessory Buildings)
MINIMUM SETBACKS
Front Yard and Secondary Front Yard
4. Allowed Projections into Setbacks:
a. Fireplace Structures, Windows: Fireplace structures, bay or garden
windows, enclosed stair landings, and similar structures as determined by
the Community and Economic Development Administrator may project
twenty-four inches (24") into any setback; provided, such projections are:
i. Limited to two (2) per facade.
ii. Not wider than ten feet (10').
b. Fences, Rockeries, and Retaining Walls: See RMC 4-4-040, Fences,
Hedges, and Retaining Walls.
c. Steps and Decks: Uncovered steps and decks not exceeding eighteen
inches (18") above the finished grade may project to any property line.
Uncovered steps and decks having no roof covering and not exceeding forty
two inches (42") high may be built within the front yard setback.
d. Eaves: Eaves and cornices may project up to twenty four inches (24")
into any required setback.
e. Porches and Stoops: May project into front setbacks up to eight feet (8')
and into side setbacks along a street up to five feet (5').
STAFF CONTACT: Paul Hintz, x7436