Enumclaw council adopts ordinance to make co‑living housing allowances permanent

The Enumclaw City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2,842, which makes permanent the city's co‑living housing allowances previously established by interim ordinance. Clerk Jessica read the ordinance by title and Community Director Chris Bessner recommended council adopt the permanent regulations.

Bessner told the council the ordinance largely mirrors the interim rules adopted in December and reaffirmed in February but includes additional definitions for a kitchen and a kitchenette. He said the Planning Commission recommended requiring that each co‑living unit include a kitchenette and a bathroom. "This ordinance this evening would adopt the regulations permanently," Bessner said. Council approved the ordinance by voice vote; the transcript records a motion, a second, and the council's voice vote but does not provide a roll-call tally.

The ordinance text, as read at the meeting, amends municipal code sections related to development regulations and establishes EMC section 19.32.180 titled CoLiving Housing with severability and an effective date. Staff said nothing substantive changed since the public hearing at the prior meeting.