Fall City Zoning Moratorium

May 16, 2023

On May 16, 2023, the King County Council voted to adopt a seven month emergency moratorium on new subdivisions in the residential area of the rural township of Fall City. This means the Permitting Division of the Department of Local Services will not accept applications for subdivisions for five or more lots, between May 16 and December 16, 2023. Subdivision applications already submitted and vested prior to this moratorium going into effect will not be impacted.

Why is a Moratorium Needed?

A brief pause in subdivision development in Fall City will provide the community with the time necessary to fully engage in a public process and dialogue around zoning changes currently being proposed in the Snoqualmie Valley/Northeast King County Subarea Plan, as part of the 2024 Countywide Comprehensive Plan Update.

Councilmember Perry also introduced a 15-month interim zoning control (Proposed Ordinance 2023-0202) which will temporarily change the zoning requirements for residential lots in Fall City by increasing setbacks from the street and other lot lines and establishing a minimum lot size of 10,000 sq. ft.

Councilmember Perry intends to adopt the interim zoning control measures before the emergency moratorium expires in December 2023. The interim zoning control would be in effect until the King County Council makes final decisions in the adoption of the 2024 Countywide Comprehensive Plan.

The King County Council held a public hearing on the moratorium on subdivisions in Fall City on June 27, 2023.