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Battle Ground council unanimously adopts broad municipal code amendments, aligns ADU rules with state law
Summary
Battle Ground — The Battle Ground City Council on June 2 unanimously adopted a package of municipal code amendments covering health and safety, streets and sidewalks, building and public-works standards, zoning (including accessory dwelling unit definitions and configurations), and stormwater/clearing and grading rules.
Battle Ground — The Battle Ground City Council on June 2 unanimously adopted a package of municipal code amendments covering health and safety, streets and sidewalks, building and public-works standards, zoning (including accessory dwelling unit definitions and configurations), and stormwater/clearing and grading rules.
The changes—carried as Ordinances 2025-05, 2025-06, 2025-07, 2025-08 and 2025-09—include edits to Title 17 (zoning) to revise the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) definitions and to make the ADU sections “consistent with state law,” staff said. Kristen (staff) told council the Washington State Department of Commerce reviewed the draft and recommended edits during its 60-day comment period.
The ADU revisions add a standalone definition for “accessory dwelling unit” and update the attached/detached ADU definitions. As Kristen explained to the council, the state-required configurations allow “up to 2 accessory dwelling units, which can be configured in a way either [as] 1 detached structure that houses 2 separate accessory dwelling units or to allow for 2 detached structures that would house 1 unit each.” The staff report and ordinance language were revised to reflect that standard.
Council members moved each ordinance to adoption in sequence. The clerk read each ordinance title on the record; motions to adopt were made and seconded and all five ordinances passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Why it matters: the ADU updates change how many and which types of ADUs property owners may develop within single-family zones and clarify local code to match state law and recent legislative changes. The broader package also updates technical construction and transportation standards and the city’s stormwater and clearing rules, items the city said were prepared after staff and department review.
Key details - Ordinances adopted: 2025-05 (Title 8, health and safety — nuisances); 2025-06 (Title 12, streets and sidewalks and frontage improvements); 2025-07 (Title 15, buildings and construction; public works specs); 2025-08 (Title 17, zoning, including ADU definitions and Section 17.135.01 on ADUs); 2025-09 (Title 18, stormwater control, drainage and clearing/grading). All passed unanimously. - Staff noted the Washington State Department of Commerce provided formal comments after the May 5 briefing; changes to ADU language were made to respond to Commerce and to align with RCW/house bill language. - At least one clarified change: the code now explicitly permits a configuration of two detached ADU structures each containing one unit, or a single detached structure containing two ADUs, consistent with state statute language.
What council said: Kristen summarized the Commerce review and the specific edits to the ADU definitions and configurations and apologized for an earlier misstatement at the May 5 meeting; she told council the revised text corrects that oversight. Mayor McCoy presided over the roll calls and ordinance readings.
Next steps: The adopted code amendments are effective per the ordinances’ effective dates (as printed in each ordinance title); the record shows no request for further study or referral. Staff and the planning department will implement the updated definitions and permitting steps in permit intake and public guidance.
