Tumwater staff outline wide-ranging 2025 development‑code updates tied to state housing bills

Planning staff on Oct. 28 gave a detailed briefing on Ordinance O2025‑011, the city’s 2025 development‑code periodic update, describing numerous changes required by recent Washington state legislation and additional local code adjustments intended to implement the comprehensive‑plan update.

Erica Smith Erickson, housing and land‑use planner for the City of Tumwater, told the commission the update is intended to satisfy state deadlines and align the development regulations with the updated housing element. She said the ordinance must be adopted alongside the comprehensive‑plan amendments because state law requires certain development‑code changes to take effect concurrently.

Key items summarized by staff:

- Middle housing (state guidance/HB1110): The proposed code would allow two to four dwelling units per lot in most residential zones (the lower threshold is two units per lot; up to four units are permitted where at least one unit is affordable to households at or below 80% of area median income). Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) may count toward the dwelling‑unit allowance. Tumwater proposes applying the allowance to at least 75% of lots in primarily…