The Leavenworth Planning Commission on Jan. 8 approved amendments to LMC 18.36 that update residential design standards and clarify rules for manufactured, modular and tiny homes.

The changes, adopted after a public hearing, alter definitions and placement rules to reduce what staff described as barriers to siting manufactured housing. They add a definition for “modular home,” remove a prior designation that limited manufacturer size, and adjust foundation and exterior material requirements referenced in the residential code.

City planning staff presented the proposed code amendment as part of broader efforts to expand housing choices in Leavenworth. Staff summarized data showing about 76% of households in a referenced study are single- or two-person households and said updating the code is intended to increase options and affordability by reducing regulatory impediments to manufactured and smaller housing types.

During the hearing staff described specific edits: adding a modular-home definition to the LMC (to make modular homes explicitly covered), clarifying that units must be attached to foundations and utilities rather than have independent running gear, and removing a previous “designated manufacturer” constraint that had limited allowable manufacturer size. Staff said the edits were largely definitional and aimed to align the municipal code with building standards enforced under the adopted state/building codes.

A member of the public spoke during the hearing with concerns about administrative processes and data to support the change. Commissioners asked questions about park-model definitions, how park models intersect with other dwelling definitions, and whether the edits would allow units on wheels versus units on permanent foundations. Staff clarified the edits were intended to treat modular homes as dwelling units when they are constructed and connected to utilities rather than functioning as RVs.

Following the public hearing the commission called for a vote and approved the amendments to LMC 18.36. The motion passed.

The commission also noted staff will use updated housing data (the staff report referenced a 2021 housing action plan and an anticipated data update) when finalizing code text and implementing the new definitions.

Commission discussion and the staff report show the changes are intended to remove barriers to manufacturing and placement of smaller and modular housing types, while leaving building code, foundation and utility-connection requirements to the applicable state and building-code processes.

A copy of the staff report and the exact ordinance language will be retained with the city; the commission did not record a roll-call vote tally in the transcript excerpt.

The commission moved next to a separate public hearing on administrative deviations.