2018 Seattle Living Building Pilot Program

The pilot program allows applicants to request additional departures from the Seattle Land Use Code through Design Review. They provide height and floor area incentives for buildings in exchange for meeting high-performance green building requirements.  Developers that are constructing new buildings or building additions that meet the program standards can get up to 25 percent more floor area, up to 30 percent more floor area if saving an unreinforced masonry structure.  Also, the program provides height bonuses of 12.5 feet of additional height for residential construction or 15 feet of additional height for non-residential construction in zones with height limits of 85 feet or less; or 25 feet of additional height for residential construction or 30 feet of additional height for non-residential construction in zones with height limits greater than 85.  Finally, the program allows additional design departures for the pilot programs as specified in SMC 23.41.012D.