Gig Harbor planning commission recommends ADU code updates, raises size and short‑term rental questions

The Gig Harbor Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council consider revised regulations for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), including an amendment that raises the draft maximum unit size from 1,000 square feet to 1,200 square feet.

The change comes after a public hearing and more than an hour of discussion at a planning commission meeting where staff reviewed how the draft implements House Bill 1337 and related state guidance on ADUs. Planner Jeremy (city staff) said the draft is intended to bring Gig Harbor into compliance with the state law and to reduce permitting barriers that previously limited ADU construction.

The draft ordinance removes the older “accessory apartment” definition and the conditional‑use permitting requirement for ADUs in the city’s single‑family and residential business zones. Jeremy told the commission that the city has had eight conditional‑use applications for accessory apartments since 2007, with five decisions issued and the remainder withdrawn, and that the 600‑square‑foot threshold in the older code was a barrier for property owners.

Why it matters: HB 1337 (2023) requires cities to adopt regulations that make ADUs easier to build as part of a broader state effort to expand housing options. The planning commission’s recommendation, if approved by council, would change how property owners can add ADUs in Gig Harbor and is likely to affect homeowners, renters and the city’s housing supply.

Key decisions and staff proposals

- Density exemption: Jeremy…