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Active Code Amendments
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) provide important opportunities for new, and usually affordable, housing options in established neighborhoods at a relatively small scale. Reducing and simplifying regulations for development of accessory units, an implementation action identified in the city’s Rethink Housing Action Plan, can also help meet city goals related to housing affordability, variety, ownership, and capacity.
Planning Commission Meetings
March 1, 2022
- 2022-02-25 Planning Commission Memo – Accessory Dwelling Units
- 2022-03-01 Planning Commission Presentation – Accessory Dwelling Units
- PC Meeting Minutes, 3-1-22, APPROVED
October 18, 2022
- Agenda
- 2022-10-18 Planning Commission Memo - Accessory Dwelling Units
- 2022-10-18 Planning Commission Handout - Code Amendment Matrix
- 2022-10-18 Planning Commission Presentation - Accessory Dwelling Units
- PC Meeting Minutes, 10-18-22, Approved
November 15, 2022
- Agenda
- 2022-11-15 Planning Commission Memo - Accessory Dwelling Units
- 2022-11-15 Planning Commission Presentation
- Citizen Comment Letter - Accessory Dwelling Units
- PC Meeting Minutes, 11-15-22, Approved
December 6, 2022
Accessory Dwelling Unit Code Amendments
Public Comments
COMPLETED CODE AMENDMENTS
HOMELESS SHELTERS AND HOUSING
Status: On September 14, 2022, City Council adopted Ordinance 3895-22 amending the Everett Municipal Code (EMC) to bring into conformance with recently enacted changes in state housing laws (HB 1220). The ordinance was effective on October 5, 2022. The changes affect the following uses:
- Group Housing, Temporary Shelter (deleted)
- Emergency Housing (new)
- Emergency Shelter, Indoor (new)
- Emergency Shelter, Outdoor (new)
- Temporary Extreme Weather Shelter (new)
- (Permanent) Supportive Housing (revisions)
- Offices-Clinics, social or human service facility, community services (split into “Clinics” and a new “Social Services”)
- Social services (new)
- Dwelling (revised)
- Rooming House (deleted)
- Bed and Breakfast House (deleted)
- Short Term Rental (revised)
- Group Housing Category 1/2/3 (revised and renamed)
The primary catalyst for this update to city development regulations is the need to address several bills passed by the state legislature in recent years specifically HB 1220 (2021) supporting emergency shelters and housing through local planning and development regulations. The House Bill includes new requirements to accommodate indoor emergency housing and indoor emergency shelter as well as transitional and permanent supportive housing serving people experiencing homelessness. The section of the bill took effect on September 30, 2021, is codified as RCW 35.21.683. Updates to the city's development regulations include amendments to definitions and other provisions that will help clarify and streamline the city’s land use approval process for new facilities.
City Council Public Hearing - September 14, 2022
- 2022-09-02 Homeless Shelter and Housing City Council Ordinance (revised)
- 2022-09-02 List of ordinance changes since August 30 version
- Map 1: Emergency Housing and Indoor Emergency Shelter
- Map 2: Outdoor Emergency Shelter
- Map 3: Temporary Extreme Weather Shelter
- Map 4: Social Services
- Zoning Map
- Street Designations Map
City Council Public Hearing - August 31, 2022
- 2022-08-30 Homeless Shelter and Housing City Council Ordinance (revised)
- 2022-08-30 List of ordinance changes Aug 10 to Aug 30
City Council Briefing - August 10, 2022
- 2022--08-10 Homeless Shelter and Housing City Council Memo
- 2022-08-10 Homeless Shelter and Housing City Council Ordinance
- 2022-08-12 City Council Public Hearing Notice HB 1220
Project Documents
- SEPA Checklist Shelter Facilities and Housing for Homeless
- 2022-06-22 DRAFT Ordinance HB1220 Housing and Shelters for Homeless Code Amendments
Planning Commission Briefing
- 2022-04-19 Planning Commission Introduction - Shelter and Housing for Homeless Individuals Memo
- 2022-05-17 Planning Commission Briefing - Homeless Shelter and Housing Memo
- 2022-06-21 Planning Commission Briefing - Homeless Shelter and Housing Revised Regulations Memo
- Homeless Shelters and Housing Presentation
Planning Commission Public Hearing
Removing Limits on the Number of unrelated Persons who may live in a Dwelling
Status: On September 14, 2022, City Council adopted Ordinance 3896-22 amending the Everett Municipal Code (EMC) to bring into conformance with recently enacted changes in state housing laws (SB 5235). The ordinance was effective on October 5, 2022.
The state legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5235 on April 14, 2021 and the Governor signed the legislation on May 13, 2021, codified in RCW 35.21.682. The bill, which prohibits cities from regulating or limiting the number of unrelated persons that may occupy a household or dwelling unit, became effective on July 25, 2021. Amendments to the city’s regulations include revising the definitions of “dwelling” and “family” to remove the limit on the number of unrelated persons that may reside in a dwelling in Everett, deleting rooming and boarding house uses, and revising the definition of short-term rentals to include rentals of a portion of a dwelling.
City Council Public Hearing - August 31 and September 14, 2022
- No new documents
City Council Briefing - August 10, 2022
- 2022-08-10 Removing Limits on Persons in a Dwelling City Council Memo
- 2022-08-10 Removing Limits on Persons in a Dwelling City Council Ordinance
- 2022-08-12 City Council Public Hearing Notice SB 5235
Project Documents
- 2022-06-22 DRAFT Ordinance Removing Limits on Number of Unrelated Persons in a Dwelling SB5235
- 2022-06-22 SEPA Checklist Removing Limits on Number of Unrelated Persons in a Dwelling SB5235
Planning Commission Briefing
Planning Commission Public Hearing
PENDING CODE AMENDMENT
HOME OCCUPATIONS
Status: On hold. The city council referred the proposal back to staff for additional work in 2021. Stay tuned for updates later this year (updated Sept 1, 2022).
City Council
The Everett City Council held meetings on August 18 and September 1 to consider an update to the Unified Development Code home occupation regulations. Due to thoughtful questions from the Council and citizen concerns, staff will bring a revised proposal back to the council at a later date. If you would like to be notified of that public hearing, please call 425-257-8731 to be added to the notification list.
Planning Commission
The City of Everett Planning Commission held a virtual public hearing on July 20, 2021 to take public testimony and make a recommendation to the City Council for potential amendments on a proposed ordinance regarding home occupation regulations (Everett Municipal Code 19.08.120), which are small business activities conducted within a residence, by the resident, subordinate to the residential use. Goals of the updated regulations are to broaden opportunities for home-based entrepreneurs and clarify and simplify code enforcement activities.
Select this link for more information. If you have any questions about the code amendment, please contact Dan Eernissee, Economic Development Director, at 425-257-8681 or deernissee@everettwa.gov.