Regional Business Mix (RBX) Zone
The Regional Business Mix (RBX) zone serves as a transitional employment and commercial area between SeaTac’s heavy industrial districts and its more people-oriented commercial and mixed-use zones.

• It allows a broad mix of regional-scale commercial, light industrial, office, and service uses, often serving airport-related industries and the regional workforce.
• The RBX areas are primarily located along International Boulevard (SR 99) and east of the airport, where they provide a critical buffer between residential neighborhoods and the airport’s industrial corridor.
• The zone implements the Regional Business Mix land use designation in the Comprehensive Plan, supporting higher-intensity commercial and employment activity compatible with airport operations.

Industrial (I) Zone
The Industrial (I) zone provides areas for manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, and other industrial activities that require large parcels, access to freight corridors, and separation from residential uses.

• It supports a diverse range of industrial and employment activities, including logistics, light and heavy manufacturing, and airport-related operations.
• The zone helps protect industrial land from encroachment by non-industrial uses, ensuring long-term opportunities for job growth and regional goods movement.
• Industrial areas are primarily concentrated south and east of Sea-Tac International Airport, with access to SR 509, SR 518, and I-5.
• The zone implements the Industrial land use designation in the Comprehensive Plan and supports regional economic development.

The RBX and Industrial zones are major employment areas that support logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, and airport-related services. The current zoning code includes overlapping and outdated land use categories, making it difficult for staff and applicants to interpret and apply.

This project will:

• Simplify and consolidate industrial and commercial use definitions.
• Encourage flexibility for new and emerging industries such as logistics, research and development, and clean technology.
• Align zoning regulations with the City’s Comprehensive Plan policies for business growth and job creation.
• Clarify use allowances to ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses.
• Support long-term economic vitality near SeaTac International Airport.

• Consolidation of manufacturing uses into three tiers: Light, Medium, and Heavy Manufacturing and Fabrication.
• Updated and new definitions for:
• Research and Development (R&D)
• Contractor Office and Yard
• Distribution Center
• Shared Commercial Kitchen
• Refined use permissions and footnotes in RBX and Industrial zones.
• Clarified standards for outdoor storage and vehicle-related uses.
• Minor consistency edits to related commercial zones (CB, CB-C, etc.).

View meeting packet information for the Planning Commission (PC), Planning & Economic Development (PED), or Council Committee Meetings by clicking on the appropriate link provided in the table below.

Planning Commission Meeting – July 1, 2025

Planning Commission Meeting – September 16, 2025

Planning Commission Meeting – November 18, 2025

Planning Commission Meeting – December 16, 2025

Planning Commission Meeting – January 20, 2026

Public Hearing – February 17, 2026

Planning and Economic Development Meeting – March 19, 2026

City Council Meeting – April 14, 2026

Draft Code

Public Hearing Draft Code

Contact Information

Laura Stilwell, Senior Planner
206-973-4833
lstilwell@seatacwa.gov