Middle Housing
The City of Bothell is considering different approaches to allow more 'middle housing' in residential neighborhoods. Middle housing generally includes a range of residential buildings with multiple units, compatible in scale and form with single-family homes.
Middle housing provides a greater diversity of housing options to meet a variety of lifestyle needs and affordability levels. It also provides greater opportunity for homeowners to supplement their income (through renting an additional unit) or provide housing for extended family members.
Middle housing will result in incremental change to residential neighborhoods over time. Nearby jurisdictions and regional authorities have published findings on the impacts of middle housing rules on existing residential neighborhoods.
- A Puget Sound Regional Council analysis found that approximately 14 percent of parcels within the region have the potential to redevelop under middle housing rules being considered by the state legislature.
- The City of Kirkland, which passed a middle housing ordinance in 2020, has seen 158 middle housing units permitted under the new rules. This accounts less than 5 percent of housing units permitted within the City since 2017.
- The City of Seattle adopted less restrictive ADU regulations in 2019 and has seen an increase in the number of Attached and Detached ADUs permitted with in the City. In 2022, a report published by the City found that 394 lots were developed with a new ADU, 262 lots with a new Single-Family Residence and an ADU, and 111 lots with Single Family Residence only. While these numbers seem large, this new development accounts for .005 percent[1] of residential lots within the city.
Examples of middle housing types include:
Duplex – Two primary dwelling units located in one building or on one lot.
Triplex – Three primary dwelling units located in one building or on one lot.
Fourplex – Four primary dwelling units located in one building or on one lot.
Cottage Housing – A grouping of cottages with a footprint of 1,000 sf or less each on a single lot with common open space.
Courtyard Housing – A structure containing five or more dwelling units on a larger lot oriented around a courtyard; dwelling units that face a street have similar scale to one family homes.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU / DADU) – A secondary dwelling units, either attached or detached from the primary home, with complete and independent living facilities and a maximum footprint of 1,200 square feet, or 80 percent of the primary home, whichever is less.
Townhome – Two or more primary dwelling units that extend from the ground to the roof. Can be duplex, triplex, fourplex, courtyard forms of middle housing or multifamily housing that has its own lot.
The City has ongoing discussions at Bothell Planning Commission meetings and Bothell City Council Meetings. Visit the link below to learn more, access previous meeting packets, and read about the process of these code amendments.
https://www.bothellwa.gov/AgendaCenter/City-Council-5
https://www.bothellwa.gov/AgendaCenter/planning-commission-4
Learn more about the City's ongoing efforts to encourage middle housing at the middle housing webpage linked below.
https://www.bothellwa.gov/2018/Middle-Housing
[1] A review of zoning and parcel GIS data found 126,573 parcels within the City of Seattle that are historically low density residential. This analysis does not account for parks, schools, or other facilities that might be located on a parcel zoned residential, but not used as a private residence.
City Council Meetings
Watch the following City Council meetings focused on middle housing via YouTube:
- July 11, 2023 - City Council Public Hearing on middle housing comprehensive plan and comprehensive plan and code amendments, and potential code revisions per State legislation
- June 13, 2023 - City Council study session on middle housing
- March 7, 2023
- February 7, 2023
- January 17, 2023
Watch the Community Forum recording on our City YouTube.
Walking Tours
The City hosted walking tours of the Lower Maywood neighborhood of Bothell to look at existing examples of middle housing like ADU's, duplexes, triplexes and more.
You can download a copy of the tour map here!
Phases
Assess Feedback and Determine Next Steps
Middle Housing Update
City Council:
Council held a Public Hearing on middle housing amendments on July 11, 2023. Discussions with City Council regarding these updates will resume fall 2023.
On December 5, 2023, City Council adopted Ordinance 2407 which amends the text of the 2015 Imagine Bothell Comprehensive Plan to allow middle housing in all residential zones. These text amendments lay the foundation for future changes in the Bothell Municipal Code (BMC) to allow middle housing. The ordinance went into effect on December 13, 2023, and can be accessed here.
View the Proposed Code Amendments
View the proposed Middle Housing code amendments in the July 11, 2023 City Council Packet.
Middle Housing FAQs
Download a copy of our Middle Housing FAQs!
What we heard, reporting back, and analysis:
The middle housing proposals and amendments, starting with corner lot duplexes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), have been in progress at the City for more than two years.
- In 2022, we hosted a virtual community forum and survey - details and the recording are in the tab below labelled "Middle Housing Survey 2022" below.
- The City, and Planning Commission, hosted six walking tours of the Lower Maywood area - details and the map in the tab below under "Past Events."
- We made presentations at Planning Commission and Council meetings - agendas for those meetings can be found in the Agenda Center.
- In May of 2023, we hosted an in-person community forum and survey - details and the recording are in the tab below labelled "Middle Housing Survey 2023."
- And more!
Summaries and Reports:
Below you'll find summaries of the comments we heard from you at public meetings, analysis and summaries of the survey responses, and other reports as part of the middle housing analysis.
Middle Housing Engagement Summary
Middle Housing Feasibility Study
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Displacement Analysis
Events
Past events
Event date: May 4th, 2023 from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM.
City Hall