Auburn to adopt state-required "co-living" zoning; council weighs details on short-term rentals

Owen Good, Planner II in Auburn27s Community Development Department, presented a zoning text amendment Dec. 8 to bring Auburn into compliance with a revised state RCW that requires cities to allow co-living housing.

Good described co-living as a denser housing typology "similar to studio apartments comprised of sleeping units where kitchen facilities, and sometimes bathrooms as well are shared in common with other residents." Under the draft code, a sleeping unit would count as 0.25 dwelling units for density and would require 0.25 parking spaces. The draft also prohibits short-term rentals (any rental agreement less than 30 days) and requires that co-living be allowed only in zones that permit a minimum of six multifamily units.

The planning commission recommended approval of the draft text amendment to Title 18, and staff said the amendment would allow the use in several downtown and higher-density zones (DUC, R-3, R-4, mixed-use, C-2, and light industrial/m1 types cited in packet language). Councilors asked whether short-term rentals such as Airbnb would be prohibited; staff confirmed any rental under 30 days would be disallowed in co-living sleeping units. Members also questioned how the model would relate to traveling nurses or temporary insurance placements; staff said stays longer than 30 days would generally qualify and that other congregate uses (clean-and-sober housing) remain separate use types in the code.

Council discussion also covered unit configuration and tenancy (locked individual sleeping units with shared kitchens) and staff noted the state RCW limits what room-dimensional standards local codes can impose. Staff said examples exist locally and in other jurisdictions but added the law is new and other Washington cities are still drafting final code language. The planning commission27s recommendation will be forwarded to council for formal action in the ordinance process.