CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to land use regulations; removing restrictions on congregate residences; and amending Sections 23.42.049, 23.45.504, 23.45.508, 23.47A.004, 23.54.015, and 23.84A.032 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, during the 2024 Washington State legislative session the Legislature passed and Governor Inslee signed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1998 pertaining to co-living housing; and
WHEREAS, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1998 requires cities to allow co-living housing as a permitted use on any lot within an urban growth area that allows at least six multifamily residential units including in mixed use development, and stipulates that cities may not place certain other limiting development standards on co-housing development; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle's Land Use Code regulates co-living housing under the terminology "congregate residence," and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1998 provides that local governments may use other terms to refer to co-living housing; and
WHEREAS, co-living housing/congregate residences provide a valuable housing option for many people because they can provide a relatively low-cost option that provides a private living space, often in combination with other shared community spaces that can facilitate social connections; and
WHEREAS, this proposed legislation satisfies the requirements of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1998 by expanding the zones where congregate residences are a permitted use and by removing other constraining development standards from the Land Use Code that were specific to the congregate residence housing type; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 23.42.049 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126626, is amended as follows:
23.42.049 Congregate residences
Congregate residences are subject to the development standards for the zon...
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