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Planning staff previews 2026 housekeeping code amendments covering ADUs, childcare, signage and essential public facilities
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Summary
City staff briefed the Planning Commission on four housekeeping code amendments — ADU definitions and two-ADU allowance, childcare center zoning under state Bill 5509, updated sign-size rules (proposed 300 sq ft limit), and additions to essential public facilities including opioid treatment centers — and asked the commission to set a public hearing after SEPA and state review.
City of Sunwater planning staff on Feb. 24 gave the commission a first briefing on a set of 2026 housekeeping code amendments that will return as one or more ordinances for public hearing and adoption later this year.
“So, tonight, we're having a briefing on, the first of many, ordinances you'll be seeing this year regarding code changes,” staff member Brad said, describing the packet as the opening set of amendments that will build into a larger package. Staff said one amendment was pulled for later consideration and the packet discussed four remaining areas: housing/ADU clarifications, childcare center zoning changes in response to state law, sign-code updates, and updates to essential public facilities lists.
On housing, staff said the packet would amend Section 18.04 definitions to align accessory dwelling unit (ADU) definitions with other dwelling-unit definitions and clarify that two ADUs may be allowed on a principal structure consistent with state law. Staff noted remaining questions about how ADUs could be treated if later split off through subdivision or condominium processes and said those technical issues remain to be resolved.
Regarding childcare, staff said the Legislature passed Bill 5509 and that the city ‘‘must allow childcare centers and conversion of existing buildings to use as childcare centers as an outright permitted use in all zones, except industrial zones, light industrial and open space zones.’’ Staff clarified the state definition referenced care for 13 or more children as part of the statutory framework.
Sign-code changes described by staff narrow some conditional exemptions and replace the prior percentage-of-façade approach with a fixed maximum for large buildings; staff said the ordinance language will reference a maximum of 300 square feet for wall signage in the draft. Staff emphasized that lighting, flashing signs, and video-capable signage rules are not changing — those lighting restrictions remain in place.
Staff also said the Legislature added opioid treatment facilities and high-capacity transit systems to the essential public facilities list and that the packet renames some facility types and adjusts allowance tables without adding conditions. A commissioner flagged inconsistent naming between 'recovery residence' and 'recovery house' in the packet; staff said definitions typically reference state RCWs and pledged to correct the cross-references.
Staff outlined next steps: a SEPA determination will be issued Friday to start environmental review, a State Department of Commerce notice period will run through April, and staff asked the commission to set a public hearing for the 24th (the packet did not specify month). The packet and staff report will be updated and the ordinance language provided at the next work session; the commission identified March 10 as the next meeting date.
The briefing was informational; staff did not present a final ordinance for adoption. Commissioners raised clarifying questions about definitions, table formatting and sign visibility from Interstate 5; staff committed to correcting typographical issues and providing updated ordinance language in the next packet.
