Staff unveil draft infill housing code to align with state mandates; public hearing set for May 13

At the April 8, 2026 meeting, City of Lacey planning staff presented draft infill residential code amendments designed to implement recent Washington state middle‑housing mandates and to create a parallel unit‑based pathway for additional housing types.

Jennifer Harvey (staff presenter) said the draft is direction‑setting rather than final and that staff will continue refining language. The package emphasizes a unit-based framework that counts dwelling units on a lot rather than relying solely on traditional density metrics (units per acre). The proposed pathway is meant to run alongside, not replace, existing zoning; staff identified three primary district categories where infill would be available—low‑density residential, the Lacey Historic Neighborhood, and moderate‑density residential—and candidate parcels (noted as roughly 10,000 sq. ft. or larger and within about 200 ft. of sewer) where the pathway may apply.

A key change in the draft is treatment of accessory dwelling units (ADUs): rather than being treated as a bonus separate from density, ADUs would be included as one of the housing types in the middle‑housing suite. Staff said they will standardize ADU setbacks so ADU setbacks match the 15‑foot setback likewise applied to other middle‑housing types. The draft also proposes design‑review updates that favor objective, predictable standards and that anchor any director or designee discretion to explicit criteria rather than leaving unanchored subjective language.

Harvey linked the package to state bills that have driven the process, saying the city is combining elements of HB 1110 (middle housing) and HB 1337 (ADU updates) into a cohesive local pathway. She gave examples of proposed textual edits — striking intent or subjective language and clarifying language in the zoning and design chapters — and said staff expect some chapters to require only light edits while others will need more careful modernization.

Commissioners asked detailed implementation questions. One asked whether 'zero lot line' in the draft meant structures could be built right to the property edge; staff replied zero‑lot configurations typically apply to attached housing types (duplexes, triplexes) and defended follow-up with a planner for project‑specific building‑code details. Commissioners also asked about privacy standards and window placement for zero‑lot walls and whether spacing between multiple ADUs on a single lot is constrained; staff said building‑code separation and project‑specific lot standards will govern some of those details and that planners will confirm applicable building‑code limitations.

Staff noted the package will come back with further refinements and that the Planning public hearing on the infill package is scheduled for May 13, 2026. No final code amendments were adopted at the April 8 meeting.

Next steps: staff will incorporate commissioner feedback, check building‑code and fire‑separation issues for ADU spacing, refine mapping and parcel criteria, and present updated drafts at public hearing.