Clyde Hill residential height rules
Clyde Hill residential building height and original grade
Clyde Hill's R-1 code generally limits a principal building to 25 feet above original grade at any point. Because the rule follows original grade, a sloped lot needs careful survey and section drawings.
Reviewed against official Clyde Hill sources · August 2026The common principal-building limit is 25 feet
The R-1 development standards list a maximum principal-building height of 25 feet above original grade at any point. Small rooftop elements such as chimneys have separate exceptions, and accessory structures generally have a lower limit.
Original grade matters
The code defines building height as the vertical distance from original grade at the point being measured. Proposed fill does not simply create more height. Documenting original topography is therefore important before demolition or grading changes erase useful evidence.
Other dimensional rules still shape the house
Setbacks, lot coverage, accessory-structure rules, and any private covenant can narrow the practical envelope. Height compliance alone does not establish that a design can be approved.
Our take
Get the topographic survey before schematic design and make the architect show height at the downhill walls and roof peaks. Clyde Hill's point-by-point approach deserves more than one dimension on an elevation.
Action plan
What to do next
- 1
Confirm the property is in the R-1 district and check any recorded conditions.
- 2
Survey the boundary and original topography before site disturbance.
- 3
Show original and proposed grade on building sections.
- 4
Dimension the roof, chimneys, and accessory structures.
- 5
Ask the city to review unusual grade evidence before final plans.
Official resources