20.420.030 Uses | Vancouver Municipal Code

20.420.030 Uses.

This section has been amended by Ordinance M-4433, which is pending 1/18/2024 effective date.

Click here to view prior versions of this section.

A. Types of uses. For the purposes of this chapter, there are four kinds of use:

1. A permitted (P) use is one that is permitted outright, subject to all of the applicable provisions of this title.

2. A limited (L) use is permitted outright providing it is in compliance with special requirements, exceptions or restrictions.

3. A conditional use (C) is a discretionary use reviewed through the process set forth in Chapters 20.245 and 20.210 VMC, governing conditional uses and decision-making procedures, respectively.

4. A prohibited use (X) is one that is not permitted in a zoning district under any circumstances.

B. Use table. A list of permitted, limited, conditional, and prohibited uses in higher-density residential zones is presented in Table 20.420.030-1.

Table 20.420.030-1. Higher-Density Districts Use Table
USE	R-18	R-22	R-30	R-35	R-50
RESIDENTIAL
Household Living	P	P	P	P	P
Group Living	P	P	P	P	P
Home Occupations	L³	L³	L³	L³	L³
HOUSING TYPES
Single Dwelling Units, Attached	P⁴^,²⁵	P⁴^,²⁵	P⁴^,²⁵	X	X
Single Dwelling Units, Detached	P⁴^,²⁵	P⁴^,²⁵	P⁴^,²⁵	X⁵	X⁵
Accessory Dwelling Units	P¹	P¹	P¹	P¹	P¹^,²⁴
Duplexes	P⁴	P⁴	P⁴	P⁴	P⁴
Multi-Dwelling Units	P⁴	P⁴	P⁴	P⁴	P⁴
Manufactured Home Developments	L⁷	L⁷/X	L⁷/X	L⁷/X	L⁷/X
Designated Manufactured Homes	L/X²³	X	X	X	X
New Manufactured Homes	L²³	X	X	X	X
CIVIC (Institutional)
Basic Utilities	C	C	C	C	C
Colleges	C	C	C	C	C
Community Centers	C	C	C	C	C
Community Recreation	C⁸	C⁸	C⁸	C⁸	C⁸
Cultural Institutions	P/C⁹	P/C⁹	P/C⁹	P	P
Day Care
- Family Day Care Homes	P/C¹⁰	P/C¹⁰	P/C¹⁰	P/C¹⁰	P/C¹⁰
- Child Care Centers	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴
- Adult Day Care	P/C¹¹	P/C¹¹	P/C¹¹	P/C¹¹	P/C¹¹
Emergency Services (except ambulance services)	C¹²	C¹²	C¹²	C¹²	C¹²
Medical Centers	C	C	C	C	C
Parks/Open Space
- Neighborhood Parks	P	P	P	P	P
- Community Parks	P	P	P	P	P
- Regional Parks	C	P	P	P	P
- Trails	P	P	P	P	P
Postal Service	C	C	C	C	C
Religious Institutions	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴
Schools	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴	L/C¹⁴
Social/Fraternal Clubs	C⁶	C⁶	C⁶	C⁶	C⁶
Transportation Facilities	P/C¹⁵	P/C¹⁵	P/C¹⁵	P/C¹⁵	P/C¹⁵
COMMERCIAL
Commercial and Transient Lodging	L/X¹⁶	L/X¹⁶	L/X¹⁶	L/X¹⁶	L/X¹⁶
Eating/Drinking Establishments	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X
Entertainment-Oriented
- Adult Entertainment	X	X	X	X	X
- Indoor Entertainment	X	X	X	X	X
- Major Event Entertainment	X	X	X	X	X
General Retail
- Sales-Oriented	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X
- Personal Services	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X
- Repair-Oriented	X	X	X	X	X
- Bulk Sales	X	X	X	X	X
- Outdoor Sales	X	X	X	X	X
Motor Vehicle Related
- Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental	X	X	X	X	X
- Motor Vehicle Servicing/Repair	X	X	X	X	X
- Vehicle Fuel Sales	X	X	X	X	X
- EV Basic Charging Stations (accessory only)	P	P	P	P	P
- EV Rapid Charging Stations (accessory only)	P	P	P	P	P
- EV Battery Exchange Stations	X	X	X	X	X
Offices
- General	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X
- Medical	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X	L¹⁷/X
- Extended	X	X	X	X	X
Self-Service Storage	X	X	X	X	X
Nonaccessory Parking	X	X	X	X	X
INDUSTRIAL
Bulk Fossil Fuel Storage and Handling Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Cleaner Fuel Storage and Handling Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Small Fossil Fuel or Cleaner Fuel Storage and Distribution Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Industrial Services	X	X	X	X	X
Manufacturing and Production	X	X	X	X	X
Railroad Yards	X	X	X	X	X
Research and Development	X	X	X	X	X
Warehouses/Freight Movement	X	X	X	X	X
Wholesale Sales	X	X	X	X	X
Waste-Related	X	X	X	X	X
Major Utility Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
OTHER
Agriculture/Horticulture	P	P	P	P	P
Airports/Airparks	X	X	X	X	X
Animal Kennels/Shelters	X	X	X	X	X
Cemeteries	C¹⁸	C¹⁸	C¹⁸	C¹⁸	C¹⁸
Detention & Post Detention Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Dog Day Care	C¹⁹	C¹⁹	C¹⁹	C¹⁹	C¹⁹
Heliports	X²⁰	X²⁰	X²⁰	X²⁰	X²⁰
Recreational or Medical Marijuana Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Medical Marijuana Cooperatives	X	X	X	X	X
Mining	X	X	X	X	X
Rail Lines/Utility Corridors	C	C	C	C	C
Basic Utilities	P	P	P	P	P
Temporary Uses	L²¹	L²¹	L²¹	L²¹	L²¹
Wireless Communication Facilities	L/C/X²²	L/C/X²²	L/C/X²²	L/C/X²²	L/C/X²²

1Subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.810 VMC, Accessory Dwelling Units.

2The language for this footnote has been deleted.

3Subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.860 VMC, Home Occupations.

4Provided the minimum required residential density is met, on an overall project basis.

5Single-family dwelling units legally established prior to March 11, 2004, shall be considered permitted uses.

6Subject to the provisions of VMC 20.895.040, Community Recreation and Related Facilities.

7Subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.880 VMC, Manufactured Home Parks. Manufactured home developments established prior to July 1, 2005, are exempt from the standards of VMC 20.420.050(G), Criteria for Placement of Manufactured Homes, and may continue to exist and expand within existing previously approved boundaries. An existing manufactured home in a development or subdivision may be replaced or may be relocated either to an approved manufactured home development or an approved manufactured home subdivision. Manufactured home developments in the R-22, R-30, R-35 zones are allowed as a limited use (L) only as part of a Chapter 20.260 VMC planned development that meets overall minimum density standards for the applicable zone.

8Subject to the additional provisions in VMC 20.895.040.

9Libraries permitted only; all other cultural institutions are conditional uses.

10Family day care homes for no more than 12 children are permitted when licensed by the state. Child care centers are permitted as conditional uses, subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.840 VMC, Child Care Centers, unless part of a planned development, in which case they are approved subject to Chapter 20.260 VMC. All child care facilities must be licensed by the state.

11Adult day care facilities with 12 or fewer clients are permitted outright; larger facilities are permitted as conditional uses.

12The language for this footnote has been deleted.

13Repealed by M-4289.

14Schools, child care centers, and religious institutions that meet all of the locational criteria contained in VMC 20.420.050(F) are permitted by right; all others require conditional use approval. Child care centers permitted by right shall be consistent with Chapter 20.840 VMC, Child Care Centers, and be subject to Type II review pursuant to VMC 20.210.050.

15Except bus, trolley and streetcar stops, including bus shelters, which are allowed by right.

16Bed-and-breakfast establishments as limited uses subject to provisions of Chapter 20.830 VMC, Bed and Breakfast Establishments; all other commercial and transient lodging prohibited.

17New commercial uses allowed as limited uses subject to special development restrictions in VMC 20.420.060. Existing commercial uses permitted if legally established prior to code effective date. However, alterations and expansions shall be subject to Chapter 20.245 VMC, Conditional Use Permits.

18Subject to the provisions in VMC 20.895.030.

19Subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.850 VMC, Dog Day Care.

20Except as an accessory to a medical center.

21Subject to provisions of Chapter 20.885 VMC, except sale of fireworks prohibited in residential zones.

22Subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.890 VMC, Wireless Communication Facilities.

23A “designated manufactured home” is exempt from the development standards of VMC 20.420.050(G) and may continue to exist and expand. An existing unit may be replaced or may be relocated either to an approved manufactured home development or an approved manufactured home subdivision. After July 1, 2005, only “new manufactured homes” that also meet the “designated manufactured home” criteria will be permitted on individual lots not part of an existing approved manufacturing home development or manufactured home subdivision, except that a new manufactured home placed on an individual lot after July 1, 2005, may be relocated as permitted by this title if within five years of the date of the original placement.

24Permitted only as existing nonconforming uses.

25Subject to provisions in Chapter 20.410 VMC applying to the R-17 zoning district.

(Ord. M-4380 § 7, 2022; Ord. M-4377 § 2(b), 2022; Ord. M-4289 § 4, 2019; Ord. M-4255 § 7, 2018; Ord. M-4254 § 3(CC), 2018; Ord. M-4223 § 4, 2017; Ord. M-4187 § 6, 2016; Ord. M-4105 § 3, 2014; Ord. M-4071 § 8, 2014; Ord. M-4066 § 5, 2013; Ord. M-4035 § 3, 2012; Ord. M-4024 § 7, 2012; Ord. M-4002 § 6, 2011; Ord. M-3959 § 25, 2010; Ord. M-3931 § 12, 2009; Ord. M-3840 § 20, 2007; Ord. M-3730 § 13, 2005; Ord. M-3709 § 7, 2005; Ord. M-3701 § 15, 2005; Ord. M-3663 § 15, 2004; Ord. M-3643, 2004)