Council adopts ordinance aligning Kent’s communal‑residence rules with state co‑living law

Kent’s City Council voted Nov. 18 to adopt Ordinance No. 4529, revising Title 15 of the Kent City Code to bring local communal‑residence rules into compliance with Washington state’s co‑living legislation (House Bill 1998).

Daja Mitchell, the city’s long‑range planner, told the council the ordinance creates a tiered approach so that existing communal residence regulations remain in one tier while the second tier adopts state co‑living standards. “Co‑living is sleeping units that are independently rentable and lockable and has some type of shared facilities such as a kitchen,” Mitchell said, summarizing the state definition and the city’s approach to align terminology and development standards.

The ordinance implements statutory requirements in several ways: it adopts a definition that mirrors the state’s, treats each sleeping unit as one‑quarter of a dwelling unit for density calculations, and caps off‑street parking at a maximum of 0.25 spaces per co‑living sleeping unit, consistent with state limits. Land Use and Planning Board recommended adoption by a 5–0 vote, Mitchell said.

Council member Larmer moved adoption of Ordinance 4529 and council approved the motion by voice vote. City staff said the code changes also include updated footnotes and parking standards for mixed‑use zones and a compliance timeline tied to state deadlines.

The ordinance will appear on the council consent agenda for final placement and administrative steps; staff told the council the change is intended to allow co‑living housing types on lots where state law requires them and to avoid more restrictive local standards than those applied to multifamily housing.