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Affordable housing <br />Revising city regulations to encourage <br />accessory dwelling units <br />Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have <br />been around for decades. In many <br />parts of Washington State, the concept <br />is accepted and local governments <br />have revised their regulations to <br />accommodate such housing. Even <br />so, the number of ADUs created in <br />accordance with local standards has <br />remained relatively low, due in part <br />to the difficulty in meeting those <br />regulations and the associated costs. <br />In response, a few local governments <br />are relooking at their standards and <br />discussing how to make them easier to <br />meet. The potential easing of existing <br />ADU regulations, however, is causing <br />neighborhood homeowners to take <br />notice. <br />What is an accessory <br />dwelling unit (ADU)? <br />An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) <br />is a small, self-contained residential <br />unit located on the same lot as an <br />existing single-family home.They are <br />sometimes referred to as "mother-in- <br />law apartments." An ADU has all the <br />basic facilities needed for day-to-day <br />living independent of the main home, <br />such as a kitchen, sleeping area, and a <br />bathroom. <br />16 <br />There are two types of ADUs: <br />1. Attached ADU, which may be <br />created as either: <br />a. A separate unit within an existing <br />home (such as in an attic or <br />basement); or <br />b. An addition to the home (such as <br />a separate apartment unit with <br />its own entrance). <br />2. Detached ADU, created in a <br />separate structure on the lot (such <br />as a converted garage or a new <br />"backyard cottage"). <br />Reasons for allowing ADUs <br />State law (RCW 43.63A.215 and RCW <br />36.70A.400) requires that certain cities <br />and counties adopt ordinances to <br />encourage the development of ADUs <br />in single-family zones, by incorporating <br />the model ordinance recommendations <br />prepared by the Washington <br />Department of Commerce. In addition <br />to just meeting a statutory mandate, <br />however, ADUs have also helped <br />local jurisdictions meet their Growth <br />Management Act goals to encourage <br />affordable housing and provide a variety <br />of housing densities and types, while <br />still preserving the character of single- <br />family neighborhoods. From a planning <br />perspective, it is considered by many <br />to be a "kinder and gentler" method for <br />accommodating population growth in <br />a community, as compared to upzoning <br />land to do so. <br />15 <br />Standard ADU regulations <br />Most local ADU regulations have <br />standards to address the following <br />issues: <br />• Maximum unit size <br />• Owner -occupancy <br />• Dedicated off-street parking <br />• Attached ADUs only <br />• Maximum number of dwelling units <br />on one lot <br />• Separate entrances/Only one visible <br />from the street <br />• Other design standards (especially <br />for detached ADUs) for such items <br />as roof pitch, window style, and <br />exterior material <br />• Maximum number of occupants <br />• Minimum lot size <br />• Building code and other"life/safety" <br />requirements <br />