Snohomish Zoning Map & Districts 2026
Explore zoning districts, official map resources, and recent rezoning activity in Snohomish County, WA. ZoneWire monitors council meetings to track every zoning change.
Zoning Districts in Snohomish County
Common zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction. Exact district names and codes may vary.
Urban single-family residential zone with a minimum lot size of 7,200 square feet.
Urban single-family residential zone with a minimum lot size of 8,400 square feet.
Urban single-family residential zone with a minimum lot size of 9,600 square feet.
Provides for attached and detached single-family dwellings at urban densities greater than single-family detached but less than multifamily development.
Provides a variety of low-density, multifamily housing including townhouses, multifamily structures, and attached or detached homes on small lots.
Provides for high-density development, including townhouses and multifamily structures, generally near other high-intensity land uses.
Provides and preserves high-density, affordable residential development consisting of mobile homes for existing mobile home parks.
Provides for local facilities that serve the everyday needs of the surrounding neighborhood.
Provides for community business enterprises in areas desirable for business but with sensitive circulation or environmental conditions, using performance criteria.
Provides for businesses and services designed to serve the needs of several neighborhoods.
Provides for a wide variety of auto-oriented retail and nonretail commercial and business uses.
Provides for freeway commercial facilities near on/off ramps of limited access highways, limited to uses dependent upon highway users.
Provides for professional office, wholesale and manufacturing uses designed to be compatible with adjoining less intensive land uses under unified control.
Promotes and provides for light industrial uses while maintaining compatibility with adjacent nonindustrial areas.
Urban industrial zone providing for industrial park development.
Urban zone providing for compact, mixed-use urban center development.
Rural zone allowing a diversity of rural land uses.
Rural zone with a 10-acre minimum providing a transition between resource and rural lands.
Rural residential zone with a 5-acre minimum lot size.
Rural zone providing for limited business uses serving rural areas.
Rural commercial zone specific to the Clearview area.
Rural zone providing freeway service commercial uses.
Rural zone providing for industrial uses in rural areas.
Resource zone for the conservation and long-term commercial management of forest lands.
Resource zone for forestry and recreation uses.
Resource zone for the conservation of agricultural lands with a 10-acre minimum.
Resource zone for the conservation of mineral resource lands.
Other zone providing for suburban agriculture with a 1-acre minimum lot size.
Other zone providing for conservation of rural lands.
Other zone providing for general rural uses.
Other residential zone with a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet.
Other residential zone with a minimum lot size of 12,500 square feet.
Other zone providing for waterfront beach residential development.
Recent Rezoning Activity in Snohomish County
Explore Zoning Topics in Snohomish County
Frequently Asked Questions
The official Snohomish zoning map is maintained by the local planning department. You can access the interactive GIS map at https://snohomishcountywa.gov/1279/PDS-GIS-Maps-Information. ZoneWire also tracks rezoning activity discussed in council meetings.
Common zoning districts in Snohomish County include residential (R-1, R-2, R-3), commercial (C-1, C-2), industrial (I-1, I-2), mixed-use (MU), and planned development (PD). Each district has specific permitted uses, setbacks, and density requirements.
ZoneWire reads every council meeting in Snohomish County to detect rezoning discussions, variances, and zoning amendments. Start a free trial to receive alerts when rezoning activity is detected.
Zoning in unincorporated Snohomish County is governed by Title 30 of the Snohomish County Code, the Unified Development Code. Title 30 lists all zoning designations in Table 30.21.020 and describes the intent of each zone in SCC 30.21.025. It contains three "Use Matrix" tables (SCC 30.22.100, .110, and .120) for urban zones, rural and resource zones, and other zones, which identify the permitted, conditionally permitted, and prohibited uses for each zone. Dimensional standards such as minimum lot area, setbacks, height, and lot coverage are set out in the "Bulk Matrix" at SCC 30.23.030 with reference notes in SCC 30.23.040.
Property owners can pursue a rezone in two ways: a quasi-judicial (Type 2) rezone, used when the proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, or a legislative rezone through the docketing process when the change may be inconsistent with the plan (allowing a concurrent Future Land Use Map amendment). For quasi-judicial rezones, the Department of Planning and Development Services (PDS) reviews the application, provides public notice with a 14-day comment period, and transmits a recommendation to the Snohomish County Hearing Examiner, who is required to hold an open-record public hearing. The Hearing Examiner may approve, approve with conditions, remand for further review, or deny the request. Legislative rezones are reviewed by the Planning Commission and County Council through the docketing process.
R-5 is the Rural-5 Acre zone, intended to maintain rural character in areas that lack urban services. It is a rural residential designation established under Title 30, with its intent described in SCC 30.21.025 and its dimensional standards (including minimum lot area) set in the Bulk Matrix at SCC 30.23.030. As one indicator of the zone's density, detached accessory dwelling units are prohibited on R-5 lots less than 5 acres (200,000 square feet) in size. For exact lot-size and setback figures, property owners are directed to consult the Bulk Matrix and reference notes in SCC 30.23.040 or contact PDS.
Critical areas are regulated under Snohomish County Code Chapter 30.62A, adopted pursuant to the Growth Management Act to designate and protect wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, and their buffers. Required buffer widths are established in SCC 30.62A.320 (Table 2a for streams, lakes, and marine waters; Table 2b for wetlands). Development activity requiring a project permit in a critical area or its buffer may require a critical area study prepared by a qualified professional, and no new effective impervious surfaces are allowed within the buffer of streams, wetlands, lakes, or marine waters.
The Comprehensive Plan is the county's long-range blueprint for growth, required and periodically updated under Washington's Growth Management Act (GMA). The most recent update, the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, was adopted in December 2024 and covers a 20-year planning horizon through 2044. The GMA framework directs growth into designated Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) where urban services and facilities are provided, and comprehensive plan updates undergo environmental review through the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
Yes. ZoneWire Free sends New Meeting Alerts for Snohomish County at no cost, with the agenda for each meeting. ZoneWire Pro adds full transcripts, zoning and development analysis, and keyword alerts for $129 per market per month.
Never Miss a Zoning Change in Snohomish County
ZoneWire monitors every council meeting in Snohomish County and alerts you when zoning changes are discussed.
7-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Get free alerts for Snohomish County zoning meetings
Get an email when a new meeting is posted for Snohomish County, with the agenda. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Get free alertsSee our Privacy Policy.