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Federal Way moves co‑living code amendment to second reading to align with state law
Summary
At first reading council advanced an ordinance to amend Federal Way Revised Code Title 19 to allow 'co‑living' sleeping units in specified zones to comply with a 2024 state law; staff outlined parking, open‑space and density standards.
The Federal Way City Council on Feb. 17 heard its first reading of a code amendment to implement state legislation authorizing "co‑living" housing and voted to forward the ordinance to a March 3 second reading.
Planning manager Holly Bozak presented the proposed changes to Title 19 of the Federal Way Revised Code, explaining that the state law requires cities to permit co‑living housing in zones that already allow six or more dwelling units in a multifamily building. Bozak summarized the key technical standards: sleeping units are counted as one‑quarter of a dwelling unit for density, parking is set at 0.25 parking spaces per sleeping unit, required outdoor/public open space is 25 square feet per sleeping unit, and the draft density metric noted roughly 287 square feet per sleeping unit.
Bozak said the amendments are consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and follow a SEPA determination completed in September 2025 and a planning‑commission hearing in December 2025. She said the intent of the law is to create another affordable‑housing option—often retrofitted into existing structures such as motels or churches—and that the city must adopt code language consistent with the RCW.
Council members asked technical questions about fire and building‑code compliance (handled under the building code and reviewed by the city’s building official), how co‑living differs from renting bedrooms in single‑family homes, and whether the city can require more parking or different occupancy limits. Bozak and staff repeatedly noted the city must comply with the state standard and cannot impose more restrictive parking or density requirements than the RCW allows.
After discussion, Council member Walsh moved to forward the proposed ordinance to the March 3, 2026 council meeting for second reading; a second was recorded and the motion carried unanimously on first reading.
The ordinance (Council Bill 932) will return for a public second reading and possible enactment on March 3, 2026.
