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Washington City councilors weigh broader ADU changes, staff to return with detailed options
Summary
City staff proposed loosening rules for detached accessory dwelling units: allow attached garages, remove a 10,000 sq ft lot minimum, clarify a 1,000‑1500 sq ft livable cap, and reduce setbacks; council asked staff to add ‘livable’ to the code and return with examples for internal ADUs and a possible 1,500 sq ft cap.
Community Development Director Eldon Gibb opened a workshop briefing Dec. 10 to propose several changes to Washington City’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules, seeking greater housing flexibility while preserving neighborhood safeguards.
Gibb recommended removing a 10,000‑square‑foot lot minimum for detached ADUs, permitting garages to be attached to detached units, and clarifying that the 1,000‑square‑foot limit applies to livable area only (“attached garages or covered porches would not be calculated in that square footâ€). He also proposed that ADU footprint plus other structures not exceed 30% of the rear yard (and 50% of a side yard), and that side/rear setbacks for detached ADUs be 3 feet with an initial maximum height of 20 feet (with additional height allowed as the structure is set back further from the lot line).
Council members probed the size cap and parking implications. Several members said they would be comfortable increasing the livable cap above 1,000 square feet; staff agreed to add the word “livable†to the ordinance text and to return to council with recommended alternative caps (1,200–1,500 sq ft were discussed). Gibb also identified an internal ADU (IADU) lot requirement of 6,000 square feet and said he would research dropping that limit so in‑house ADU products could proceed without plat amendments.
On short‑term rentals, Gibb recommended continuing deed restrictions to prohibit vacation‑rental uses in ADUs so the housing remains targeted to local, long‑term occupancy. He said verification of deed restrictions would occur during the building‑permit submittal when the recorded document is uploaded to the plan file.
Council members asked for follow‑up materials showing recent local ADU examples and the expected parking outcomes, and asked staff to return with draft code language that explicitly uses the term “livable†for square footage. The item remains a workshop discussion; staff will bring revised ordinance language and visual examples to a future meeting.
