Liberty Lake planners review state-driven housing code changes, ADU and middle‑housing requirements

Liberty Lake — City staff and outside consultants presented a detailed workshop on the city’s housing policy and the code changes needed to comply with recently enacted Washington state laws, and discussed options to expand housing types and streamline permitting.

The presentation was led by Sharifa Bridal Salam, a representative of SCJ Alliance; Jennifer Shuck and Andrew Oliver of Leland Consulting Group; and Lisa (city staff), who introduced the team. "The idea is just to identify those barriers, make suggestions, about how those barriers could be addressed, and then have that as a jumping off point for conversation for you all," Jennifer Shuck said as she described the Department of Commerce checklists the team used.

Why it matters: The presenters said Liberty Lake must update its development regulations to meet state requirements under HB 1220 and HB 1337 and related RCW provisions. Those changes will affect where and how duplexes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), permanent supportive housing and emergency housing can be sited and regulated in the city.

Key state-driven requirements and local implications

- Duplexes in single‑family zones: Sharifa Bridal Salam said state law requires jurisdictions to allow two‑unit configurations (for example duplexes, stacked units, or paired cottages) in zones that now permit only single‑family homes. The consultants recommended the commission plan to allow duplexes across R‑1 zones to comply with the law.

- ADU changes: The consultants reported Liberty Lake currently allows one ADU per lot, prohibits ADUs with multifamily developments and sets size and lot minima that conflict with state law. "The current code says your ADU size cannot be larger than 35% of the main unit size or 900 square…