With the adoption of Ordinance 1026 and 1027, the City adopted new regulations to change residential zones and to allow more types of housing citywide. 

The changes include:

  • Consolidating the number of zoning designations.
  • Allowing for more housing choices.
  • Updating development regulations to be easier to understand. 
  • Allowing for limited commercial uses in all neighborhoods. 

These new zoning rules are the culmination of many years of work to continue implementation of the City’s Housing Action Plan. The changes incorporate community feedback, state law, and the goals and policies of the City’s 20 year vision in the Comprehensive Plan.  Read more about these efforts on the City’s Middle Housing and Picture It: 2044 page.  

Additional Information 

See below for more information about building under the new regulations. 

Neighborhood Residential Handbook

The Neighborhood Residential Handbook is an illustrated guide that
describes how these changes impact what future development may look like. This handbook does not replace the standards in the Shoreline Municipal Code, Chapter 20. Explore the rules by downloading the Neighborhood Residential Handbook (PDF).