Click here to skip to main content.
scenic picture from Washington state
Subjects › Planning › Scenic View Protection
Updated 03/2011

Scenic View Protection

Contents

Introduction

Cities and counties may consider aesthetics in regulating the use of land. The legal basis for aesthetic zoning has been established in caselaw for many years. The Washington State Court of Appeals affirmed this by stating that "aesthetic standards are an appropriate component of land use governance." Anderson v. Issaquah, 70 Wn. App. 64, 82 (1993). Zoning for aesthetics includes view protection regulations, historic preservation ordinances, design review standards, sign controls, and tree protection measures. MRSC recommends that the city or county support any height restrictions or other view protection provisions on as many grounds as possible, since it is not clear in this state if aesthetics alone will justify a view protection ordinance.

Reference Sources - State Statutes

  • RCW 90.58.320 - Height limitation respecting permits. Statutory basis for protection of views on shorelines of the state.

City and County Ordinance Provisions

  • Aberdeen Municipal Code Section 16.20.110 - Scenic view and vista regulations
  • Clark County Code Ch. 40.240 - Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Districts (see especially Sections40.280.800 and 40.280.810)
  • Clyde Hill Municipal Code Ch. 17.38 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - View Obstruction and Tree Removal
  • Edmonds Community Development Code Ch. 20.11 - General Design Review
  • Everett Municipal Code Ch. 16.20.040 - Billboard location restrictions
  • Friday Harbor Municipal Code Section 17.32.060 – View protection overlay district (in Title 17 Adobe Acrobat Document)
  • Kent Municipal Code Section 15.08.060 - View corridor protection regulations on hillside development
  • Klickitat County Code Ch. 2.21 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - View Protection District
  • La Conner Municipal Code Sections 10.10.225 – 10.10.235 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - regarding view protection
  • Lake Forest Park Municipal Code Section 16.06.200 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Public view protection 
  • Olympia Unified Development Code Ch. 18.10 - Height Overlay Districts and Section 18.06.100
  • Port Orchard Municipal Code Section 16.20.700 - View Protection Overlay District
  • Port Townsend Municipal Code Ch. 17.28 - Special Height Overlay District
  • Redmond Zoning Code Ch. 21.42 - Public View Corridors and Gateways
  • San Juan County Code Section 18.50.140 - View protection 
  • Seattle Land Use Code Ch. 23.60.162 - View Corridors
  • Spokane Municipal Code Ch. 17C.170 - Special Height Overlay Districts
  • Tacoma Municipal Code Section 13.06.555 - View-Sensitive Overlay Zoning District, and Sections 13.10.040(G) and 13.10.110(G)(1)(a)(3) (in Title 13 Adobe Acrobat Document).

Out-of-State Code Provisions

Other Documents