Bothell residential height rules
Bothell residential building height: start with the zone
Bothell's residential height limit varies by zoning classification. The current dimensional table, measurement rules, and exceptions all need to be read together before deciding how tall a house can be.
Reviewed against official Bothell sources · August 2026Use the dimensional table for the parcel
Bothell Municipal Code 12.14.030 lists residential dimensions by zoning classification. Confirm the exact zone and table row rather than applying a number from another Bothell neighborhood.
Measurement rules are part of the limit
The code separately explains how building height is measured. Grade, roof configuration, sloped terrain, and approved grading can affect the calculation, so the site plan and elevations need to show the city's method.
Check exceptions and overlapping rules
Limited roof features may have separate treatment. Critical areas, shorelines, design standards, subdivisions, and recorded conditions can also affect the practical envelope even when the basic height table looks straightforward.
Our take
Confirm the zone, survey the site, and have the designer cite the exact code row on the height diagram. That creates a cleaner question for city staff and reduces later redesign.
Action plan
What to do next
- 1
Confirm the Bothell zoning classification.
- 2
Read the height row, footnotes, measurement section, and exceptions together.
- 3
Order a current boundary and topographic survey.
- 4
Show grade and roof-height calculations on the plans.
- 5
Ask the Permit Center about critical areas or unusual site conditions.
Official resources