Urban Farms in Seattle

Have you been tortured by your desire to be a farmer and your attachment to your urban dwelling?  Worry no more!  The Seattle City Council recently updated and approved the ordinance governing urban farms and community gardens.  I think you will soon be seeing many more chicken coops, vegetables for sale and straw hats around your Seattle neighborhood.

Below are a few of the provisions in the ordinance.  Check out the complete ordinance here.

   In all residential zones all urban farms are subject to the following provisions:

             1.  Mechanical equipment. Only mechanical equipment designed for household use may be used. 

            2.  Sales. Retail sales and all other public use of the farm shall begin no earlier than 7:00 a.m. and end by 7:00p.m. every day of the week. 

            3.  Deliveries. Commercial deliveries and pickups are limited to one per day. On-site sales are not considered commercial pickups. 

            4.  Motor vehicles.  No more than two motor vehicles, each with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less, may be used for farm operations.

             5.  Location. The farm shall be located on the same lot as the principal use to which it is accessory or on a lot where the planting area is within 800 feet of the lot where the principal use is located.

             6.  Signs.  One identification sign is permitted, not exceeding 64 square inches in area.

             7.  Structures.  On a lot with no principal structure:

                   a. The total gross floor area of all structures for urban farm use may not exceed 1,000 square feet.

                   b. Structures for urban farm use may not exceed 12 feet in height, including any pitched roof.

                   c. Structures for urban farm use are also subject to the development standards that would apply to an accessory structure in the zone.