Bellevue council adopts middle-housing and ADU ordinances to meet state deadline

Bellevue City Council on June 24 adopted two ordinances to implement 2023 state laws requiring cities to allow middle housing and expanded accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Mayor Lynn Robertson said the package balances neighborhood character and housing need: “My goals ... are to increase housing at all affordabilities in Bellevue,” she told the council during a lengthy discussion of design, location and implementation details.

The ordinances implement baseline state requirements from House Bill 1110 (middle housing) and House Bill 1337 (ADUs) while tailoring rules for Bellevue. Key provisions the council approved include a citywide allowance of up to four units per lot by right, a bonus up to six units within a quarter‑mile walking distance of “major transit stops” (light rail and certain rapid‑ride stations) or when two of the units are made affordable, and a $150,000 fee‑in‑lieu option per bonus unit when the affordability option is not used.

The council also set size and height limits for cottage‑style homes and other housing types. Council direction adopted on June 10 and confirmed June 24 capped cottage units at 1,500 square feet (with a 300‑square‑foot garage exempted from that limit) and limited cottage height to 24 feet. General middle‑housing height limits were set at 35 feet for pitched roofs and 32 feet for flat roofs. The ordinance counts detached ADUs toward unit totals but does not count attached ADUs toward the same total.

Parking rules in the adopted code require a minimum of one stall per unit in most situations and waive parking requirements within a specified walking distance of major transit for certain cases; the council preserved reduced parking allowances established by state law. Staff told council members they will finish related transportation and clearing/grading code updates and bring implementation guidance and design standards into department manuals.

Council members who supported the ordinances cited the city’s comprehensive plan work and an effort to tailor state requirements to Bellevue’s lot sizes and infrastructure. Councilmember Dave Hamilton said, “Middle housing was studied as part of the comp plan update,” and urged the city to monitor outcomes.

Several council members asked staff to return with monitoring and reporting on production, infrastructure impacts and any unintended consequences, and to consider pre‑approved cottage designs and stronger community outreach tools to help neighbors visualize future projects.

The council adopted ordinance 68 51 (the land‑use amendment implementing HB 1110 and HB 1337) and ordinance 68 52 (city‑code updates that remove conflicts and enable implementation). No roll‑call tally was recorded in the public discussion; the chair called for voice votes and the motions carried.

City staff said the ordinances will take effect under the adopted schedule and that further, more detailed guidance and design standards will be provided during implementation and in follow‑up reports to the council.