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Woodinville adopts unit‑lot subdivision rules and advances middle‑housing code to comply with state law
Summary
The council adopted Ordinance 7-89 to implement unit‑lot subdivision and residential cluster rules and reviewed middle‑housing/ADU amendments required by state law (HB 1110, HB 1337). Staff said the city is subject to a model ordinance after missing a June 30 deadline; council debated septic limits, wetlands, and expected modest uptake.
The Woodinville City Council on July 8 adopted Ordinance 7-89 on second reading, creating a unit‑lot subdivision pathway and revising residential cluster development rules to implement state middle‑housing requirements and make ownership of accessory dwelling units more feasible.
Why it mattered: Planning staff told the council the state’s middle‑housing law (House Bill 1110) requires Tier‑3 cities to allow at least two dwelling units per lot in single‑family zones and to permit specific building types. Seattle‑area jurisdictions have offered different approaches; Woodinville staff said the city missed the June 30 adoption deadline and is, in the short term, subject to a state model ordinance. The code package also implements portions of House Bill 1337 that loosen ADU ownership requirements and require at least two ADUs where single‑family dwellings are allowed.
What the ordinance does: The new unit‑lot subdivision rules allow property owners to record unit lots after construction or once a valid building permit has been issued, which staff say simplifies financing and ownership transfers for ADUs. To avoid unintended density increases, the code caps unit lot size at 150% of the building footprint and preserves the overall units‑per‑parent‑lot accounting: unit‑lot subdivisions are ownership tools, not mechanisms to increase the number of primary units beyond zone allowances.
Council debate: Members pressed staff on septic capacity, critical‑area (wetlands) constraints, and how the code interacts with ADU rules. Staff said septic capacity and critical‑area restrictions will limit practical buildout in R1 and R4 zones and that their analysis projects a modest number of new units over 20 years (roughly 60–80 ADUs and middle‑housing units under current assumptions). Councilmember concerns included ensuring public outreach, lender readiness, and a plan to educate residents about new options.
Vote and next steps: Council adopted Ordinance 7-89 on second reading (vote recorded as 6–1). Staff said the planning team will bring the ordinance for filing steps and public hearing notices where required and that a draft will be advertised for a July 22 public hearing and first reading of related code changes. Council asked staff to continue engaging with Commerce and to return with any necessary clarifications if state guidance evolves.
Key quotes from the hearing included staff’s acknowledgment that “we are past the deadline, for adopting our middle housing ordinance” and the city attorney/staff noting the unit‑lot approach is intended to simplify ownership and financing options for homeowners and small projects.
