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Port Orchard council adopts Title 20 changes to allow middle housing and ADUs; McCormick Village exception added
Summary
Port Orchard City Council adopted an ordinance June 17 amending Title 20 of the municipal code to implement the 2024 comprehensive‑plan update and state middle‑housing requirements, including new unit allowances and ADU rules.
Port Orchard City Council adopted an ordinance June 17 amending development regulations in Title 20 of the Port Orchard Municipal Code to implement the 2024 periodic update to the comprehensive plan and to comply with Washington State middle‑housing mandates.
Planning staff told the council the ordinance will: allow at least two housing units on every residential lot, allow at least four units on lots in the R‑2 zone, allow up to six units of middle housing in the R‑3 zone while leaving apartment density unlimited in R‑3, allow two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on lots with a detached house present, and ensure design standards for middle housing and ADUs are no stricter than those for a single‑family detached house. Staff said the city revised parking standards in the ordinance to comply with recently passed state law that phases in reduced parking requirements tied to population thresholds.
Planning staff warned council that “Failure to adopt the required middle housing provisions by June thirtieth of 2025 will result in the Washington State Department of Commerce's middle housing model code automatically applying in Port Orchard,” which the staff said would override local zoning regulations.
Council also considered and approved a staff‑proposed amendment affecting the McCormick Village Overlay District that reduces the minimum ground‑floor story height in the commercial area from 12 feet to 10 feet and allows a prescriptive International Building Code construction method for certain wood construction. A council member explained the change would allow buildings already designed under a prescriptive method to move forward without redesign and would keep the project timeline from slipping.
Council members discussed the geographic scope of the McCormick exception and were told the change applies only to the McCormick Village Overlay District; other areas would require separate amendments or development agreements. Councilmembers also asked about homeowners associations and ADUs; staff said the city issues ADU permits where code allows but does not enforce private HOA covenants—if an HOA prohibits ADUs, the resulting dispute would be a civil matter between homeowners and the HOA.
A motion to approve the ordinance, including the McCormick Village amendment, passed unanimously.
