City Council Adopts Ordinance Amending the City's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules

On September 14, the City Council adopted Ordinance 20-0510 amending the City’s rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Significant amendments include:

• An allowance for 1 ADU, either detached or attached, on a lot.
• A requirement for owner occupancy for the first 6 months after completion.  An owner occupancy affidavit would be recorded but would be extinguished at the end of the required time period.
• A maximum size for an attached ADU of 1,000 sq.ft. or the full size of a single floor.
•  A maximum size for a detached ADU of 10% of the lot area, up to 1,500 sq.ft., on lots equal to or larger than 6,000 sq.ft.  On smaller lots, the maximum size would be 600 sq.ft.
•  A maximum height of 35’, but only a single story would be allowed over a detached garage and only two stories would be allowed if the ADU was built at ground level.
• No additional parking space required for an ADU.
•  No restriction on door locations.
•  In the R-4 and R-6 zoning districts that require a 20’ rear yard, the ADU could be placed in the rear yard, but no closer than 10’ to the rear lot line.

 Background

ADUs are secondary dwelling units located on single-family zoned lots. The two main types of ADUs are “attached” and “detached.” Attached ADUs are located inside or in an addition to a preexisting single-family residence. Detached ADUs (DADUs) are smaller, separate structures from the primary residence. Attached ADUs are more common, and often involve the conversion of a garage or basement into an independent living space.

ADUs provide a variety of benefits, including support for the elderly and intergenerational households. ADUs also are an effective means to support more affordable housing in the City. Presently, Kenmore allows both attached and detached ADUs. However, few ADUs have been permitted. The City Council directed the Planning Commission in 2019 to review the City’s ADU standards, compare them with best practices in other jurisdictions, identify any roadblocks to ADU development, and make recommendations on amendments to the existing regulations.

Before developing recommended code changes, the Planning Commission held a public hearing in November 2019.  The City Council held a public hearing in July 2020 before reaching their final decisions on the amendments.