A county planner said residents of Kittitas County who live inside urban growth areas may be able to site two accessory dwelling units on a lot if they meet local dimensional and intensity standards, while lots outside those areas are generally limited to one ADU.

"exciting to see a lot of people interested in ADU development," the county planner told attendees, urging anyone considering an ADU to speak with planning staff for property-specific guidance.

The planner said that properties within the City of Ellensburg urban growth area are subject to an interlocal agreement that defers to the City of Ellensburg's intensity and dimensional standards. "Feel free to talk to any of our planners," the planner said, and added that staff (including a colleague named Bradley) were available at a table near the door to answer questions.

Outside urban growth areas and in unincorporated parts of the county, the planner said, owners should expect the one-ADU-per-lot standard to apply and must meet setbacks and height restrictions. The planner specifically warned that properties on septic systems and wells must meet setback requirements related to those systems; Kittitas County Public Health and Kittitas County Public Works were identified as contacts for septic and water permitting respectively.

The planner said the county is updating its ADU regulations to align with recent state legislation and a house bill mentioned in the meeting transcript (transcript phrased it as "house 12 13 37"). The planner said the revision package "won't be adopted until October," and that the draft standards posted at the meeting would largely remain the same though some changes were possible.

Staff emphasized that many ADU requirements are property-specific and encouraged residents to consult planning staff before beginning a project. The planner noted that water-system changes that connect to or expand county-managed water distribution require permits through Kittitas County Public Works.

No formal action or vote was taken during this discussion. The exchange was informational and intended to help residents understand where ADUs are allowed and which county or city standards apply.