Urban Agriculture
Project Outcomes
The Urban Agriculture Update modified the city's land use code to expand opportunities for urban agriculture:
- Allow "urban farms" and "community gardens" in all zones, with some limitations in industrial zones
- Allow residents to sell food grown on their property
- Formally recognize farmer's markets and allow them in more Seattle areas
- Allow dedicated food production on rooftop greenhouses with a 15-foot exemption to height limits in a variety of higher density zones
- Increase the number of chickens allowed per lot from three to eight, with additional chickens allowed for large lots associated with community gardens and urban farms, while prohibiting new roosters and setting boundaries for new chicken coops
Key Milestones
- In 2023, inspired by learnings from the Equitable Development Initiative, we amended Seattle Municipal Code Title 23 to reduce regulatory barriers for anti-displacement projects. This included creating a new definition for “community farm” as a type of institution distinct from an “urban farm” (accessory use, more appropriate for for-profit entities) or “community garden” (principal use, sale of food products or plants prohibited). The legislation allows for the sale of food products and plants, established standards and minimum parking requirements, and makes community farms a principal use allowed outright in Neighborhood Residential zones. Learn more about this legislation.
- In August 2010, City Council adopted Council Bill 116907 to implement a variety of changes to support the local food movement. The new rules were effective June 1, 2011.
Project Purpose
This effort was part of the City's ongoing Food Action Plan, including the City of Seattle's 2010: Year of Urban Agriculture campaign.