New Housing Laws (2023)
In 2023, the Washington State Legislature passed several significant housing and land use bills that are intended to expand the state’s housing supply and help address the ongoing affordable housing crisis. The two more significant bills center around missing middle housing (E2SHB 1110) and accessory dwelling units (EHB 1337). In short, these two bills require many local governments to revise their regulations to allow for a greater number and increased types of housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing. Both bills take effect on July 23, 2023, but local governments are not required to update their local regulations to be in compliance until six months after their periodic comprehensive plan update. However, local government may revise its regulations sooner than the statutory deadline if desired.
Middle Housing Bill – E2SHB 1110
Middle housing (also called missing middle housing) refers to those housing types between single-family residences and mid-rise, multi-family development. Middle housing types included in the new state law are duplexes up to sixplexes, townhouses, stacked flats, courtyard apartments, and cottage housing.
As a city in King County, Medina falls into the category of, Cities with a population under 25,000 that are contiguous with a UGA (Urban Growth Area) that includes the largest city in a county with a population over 275,000 (E2SHB 1110, Sec. 3(1)(c)), and must allow 2 dwelling units per lot.
The bill also requires cities to allow at least 6 of 9 of the following types of middle housing: Duplexes, Triplexes, Fourplexes, Fiveplexes, Sixplexes, Townhouses, Stacked Flats, Courtyard Apartments, and Cottage Housing. ADU's are also allowed to meet the density requirement.
ADU Bill - EHB 1337
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are small, self-contained residential units located on the same lot as an existing single-family home. An ADU has all the basic facilities needed for day-to-day living, such as a kitchen, sleeping area, and a bathroom, and may be either attached to or detached from the primary residence. Medina already allows ADUs that may be either attached or detached from the primary residential structure. Under the new bill, Medina will be required to allow 2 ADU's per lot.
The Department of Commerce has released a Middle Housing Fact Sheet (July 2023) to help answer some questions from local governments about the new requirements.
It is not anticipated that Medina will adopt development regulations before June 2025.
