On January 19, the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) co-hosted the first of two community meetings with Councilmember Mike O’Brien on ways to encourage more backyard cottages and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Seattle. Cottages are a housing option suitable for a wide range of households and can provide a reliable source of income for homeowners. They have been allowed citywide since 2010, with 220 of them built since then.
To increase production of backyard cottages, we are exploring a range of Land Use Code changes, such as:
- Removing the off-street parking requirement for ADUs
- Removing the requirement that the owner must live on the property
- Modifying certain development standards
We’re also considering how we can help streamline the process for getting financing and permitting. At the January 19 meeting, we asked for input on these potential code changes and for other ideas that could encourage more ADUs and backyard cottages.
Our second community meeting is Wednesday, February 3, at the Wallingford Community Senior Center. This is a second opportunity for the public to weigh in on the range of code changes we are exploring in advance of legislation to be drafted in late February and early March.
Meeting Details:
Wednesday, February 3
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Wallingford Senior Center
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N
Please join us to share your feedback about how we can increase the number of backyard cottages and expand housing options in residential neighborhoods.
For more information, visit the backyard cottages website or contact:
Nick Welch
Office of Planning and Community Development
nicolas.welch@seattle.gov
Jasmine Marwaha
Councilmember Mike O’Brien’s Office
jasmine.marwaha@seattle.gov