Edmonds planning staff present middle‑housing code update to meet state mandate; council set for June adoption votes

City planning staff and the Planning Board presented a draft middle‑housing code update at the Edmonds City Council meeting on May 27 designed to comply with state law and to provide a locally tailored framework for duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and other “middle housing” types.

Brad Shipley, senior planner, said the state law requires cities to allow at least six of nine middle‑housing types in predominantly residential zones and to permit at least two units per eligible lot. “HB 1110 requires certain cities to allow at least six of nine middle housing types,” Shipley said during the council briefing; staff framed the draft as a compliance‑first approach with additional local incentives and phased refinements to follow.

The Planning Board recommended allowing duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, stacked flats, cottage housing and courtyard apartments in single‑family zones; the Planning Board did not recommend authorizing five‑plexes, six‑plexes or townhouses as part of the minimum package. Under the…