Buckley council debates draft ADU code changes including setbacks, duplex rules; approves minutes

Buckley City Council members, city staff and residents discussed a draft accessory dwelling unit (ADU) code at a council workshop, focusing on how many ADUs to permit, setbacks and whether duplex and townhouse lots should be allowed ADUs.

The discussion centered on a draft supplied by city staff that reflects recent state law changes. City staff said the draft allows up to two ADUs on any lot that permits a single-family residence and that condominium creation and recording for any ADU sale are governed by state law and recorded with the county.

The discussion mattered because ADU rules affect how much additional housing can be added across the city and which property types — single-family, duplex or townhouse lots — could include new units. Council members and residents raised concerns about privacy, parking, fire separation between structures, homeowners association restrictions and whether smaller infill lots or short plats would be likelier to add ADUs than large subdivisions.

Council members and staff described specific elements of the draft and possible local choices. Staff told the council the state framework leaves limited local discretion but that the city can clarify zoning implementation, setbacks and how ADUs are counted on duplex or townhouse lots. Council members discussed allowing one ADU on duplex lots — a change they said would limit density compared with allowing two ADUs on a single-family lot — and considered whether duplex lots generally have more room for a backyard ADU than many single-family lots.

A resident developer, Josh Florida of 28812 Henkelman Road, urged the council to permit ADUs on fee-simple townhouse lots and to reduce side-yard setbacks for ADUs, saying that smaller setbacks would make many infill ADUs feasible. “Fee simple townhouse lots are allowed to have an additional ADU or 2 ADUs per the code,” Florida said, arguing that allowing ADUs on townhouse and duplex lots could quickly increase available smaller, more-affordable housing options.

Speakers noted several technical and procedural limits: a city staff member said condominium creation for ADU sales is driven by state law (RCW) and recorded with Pierce County; another noted that some parking requirements have been relaxed in recent rule changes; and a discussion referenced the International Fire Code (IFC) and International Building Code regarding required separation between structures (without a firewall, 10 feet is commonly cited).

Residents raised local concerns during the discussion. One resident said an address on Monte Vista did not appear in the county emergency-address database and asked whether a public-notice sign for ADU work indicated a formal application; staff replied that ADUs typically do not require public notice and that the sign might have been for a different short plat activity. Other comments focused on how homeowners associations interact with ADU rules; council members reiterated that state law limits HOA authority in siting ADUs.

Council members asked staff for more material. Staff indicated they will prepare a larger packet with more draft code and, if possible, a draft zoning map for the council’s April meeting, and a staff report on current projects will be circulated to council members later that week.

Votes at a glance

The council approved minutes from the Feb. 10, 2025 meeting after a motion, a second and an oral vote in favor. The motion was made and seconded during the workshop; the council chair called for those in favor to say “aye.” (No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript provided.)

What’s next

Council members directed staff to return with a fuller packet of draft code and a zoning map to help the council decide on specific local settings for setbacks, duplex/townhouse treatment and other zoning details. The council did not adopt final code changes at the workshop.