A DADU nearing completion in Seattle's Ravenna Neighborhood
With the stroke of a pen Seattle has eliminated all single family zoning. While now that Seattle allows an ADU, DADU and SFR on the same lot it might in single family zones seem that this has already happened. However, unlike the zoning changes that went into effect in 2019, this new change is mostly symbolic. Land use zones that had been designated as single family will now be called neighborhood residential. The change is a broad reflection of the City of Seattle's interest in increasing the types and diversity of housing types within their residential neighborhoods.
Seattle’s Land Use Code and the official zoning maps divide the city geographically into zoning districts (e.g., single-family residential, multifamily residential, commercial, industrial, etc.). Ordinance 126509 which went into effect on June 13th, applies the new zone name by dividing the neighborhood residential areas into four zones, based on pre-existing minimum required lot sizes:
| Existing Zone (Abbreviation) | New Zone (Abbreviation) |
Single-family Residential 9600
(SF 9600) | Neighborhood Residential 1
(NR1) |
Single-family Residential 7200
(SF 7200) | Neighborhood Residential 2
(NR2) |
Single-family Residential 5000
(SF 5000) | Neighborhood Residential 3
(NR3) |
Residential Small Lot
(RSL) | Neighborhood Residential Small Lot
(RSL) |
