Pierce County council adopts broad development‑code package; hotly contested provisions on temporary housing and design rules fail in amendments

Pierce County Council on June 10 adopted a large substitute ordinance implementing amendments to multiple titles of the county code to carry out the 2024 comprehensive plan update, changing zoning categories and development standards across the unincorporated county.

The ordinance, O2025‑516S, amends impact fee rules, building and construction codes, the zoning code, conservation program cross references, design standards and the County Zoning Atlas. The bill followed a committee due‑pass recommendation and included 10 council amendments debated on the floor.

Mr. Mike Krueger, senior planning staff, introduced the package as a broad set of implementing regulations that “would adopt various amendments to Pierce County development regulations, including impact fee code, building and fire codes, our county sign code, our conservation programs, design standards and guidelines, and implement zoning,” and said the work responds to the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.130) and the county’s 2024 comprehensive plan update.

Key changes in the adopted ordinance include: - Impact fee changes and an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) fee structure that sets fees for ADUs at 50% of the principal unit fee in certain cases. - A construction code exemption for temporary structures up to 120 square feet within a temporary housing community, with no building permit required for those small…