Kennewick council reviews proposed middle‑housing code amendments to comply with state law

Planning Director Anthony Muay told the Kennewick City Council at a May 13 workshop that the city is proposing changes to its zoning and development code to implement House Bill 1110 (2023), the state law that requires jurisdictions in Kennewick’s category to allow middle housing. Muay said staff will present ordinances at the council’s next regular meeting (May 20) and intends the new rules to take effect July 1, 2025, after permitting systems are updated.

The bill requires cities in Kennewick’s classification to allow “middle housing” — a group of housing types Muay described as buildings compatible in form, scale and character with single‑family homes that contain two or more attached, stacked or clustered homes. Muay said the city’s draft code adds definitions for the nine middle‑housing types in the statute and a unit‑density metric referenced in the law.

Muay said the state-level requirement means many multiunit configurations can be built “by right.” "By right means... you just go through your building permit process," Muay said, explaining that applicants would not need a conditional‑use permit or a separate site‑plan review for most middle‑housing projects that meet dimensional and design standards.

Why it matters: The proposals change how developers and homeowners can add housing in single‑family neighborhoods. Muay and council members focused on how the new rules will affect density, parking, infrastructure hookups and neighborhood character.

Key provisions and council questions

- Unit density and affordability: Muay said the draft adds a unit‑density line to the development standards table with…