This Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA) is intended to remove barriers and encourage the construction of attached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Bellevue, and to create a pathway for separate ownership of ADUs.
Background
On July 5, 2022, in building upon the City's 2017 Affordable Housing Strategy, the City Council prioritized a set of "Next Right Work" items related to the production of additional housing and affordable housing in the city. Three items were prioritized:
- Removing barriers to micro-apartments
- Allow higher FAR (Floor Area Ratio) for residential (or unlimited FAR or Dwelling Units, DUs, per acre)
- Reduce permit fees for affordable housing projects
In addition, the Council directed staff to scope two additional Next Right Work actions for initiation:
- Encourage Middle-Scale Housing, such as: Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs), Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), and duplex, triplex, quadplexes, including mechanism for separate ownership
- Simplify the permitting process and expedite permitting for affordable housing
On Jan. 17, 2023, the City Council initiated the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Reform and Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA) as Phase 1 of the Middle-Scale Housing action to encourage the construction of ADUs in existing and new homes, with a mechanism for separate ownership. This Next Right Work action is consistent with Affordable Housing Strategy Action B-2, one of 21 actions identified under five strategy areas, which encourages updating the ADU standards to add housing capacity in the city.
ADUs provide diversity in housing size, type, geographic location, and cultural options to help ensure that all residents are welcomed and that long-term residents can remain in the city. Attached ADUs have been allowed in the city since 1993, and very few changes have been made to the ADU standards in the Land Use Code since its original enactment.
What is changing?
The proposed LUCA will amend Land Use Code (LUC) chapter 20.20.120 Accessory Dwelling Units to remove identified barriers to ADU construction, including:
- Owner-occupancy requirement
- Condominium prohibition
- Off-street parking requirement
- Design controls, such as the entry door location restriction
- Process requirements
This LUCA will not address detached ADUs, which are currently not allowed in Bellevue.
Upcoming Opportunities to Engage
The Planning Commission will also review the proposed LUCA. Comments may be submitted in writing to the Planning Commission, or to the contact listed on this page, and there will be an opportunity for oral comments at a future public hearing. Following the Planning Commission's public hearing and recommendation, the City Council will review and take action on the LUCA in subsequent meetings. Refer to the LUCA Schedule for the Planning Commission and City Council meeting dates.
LUCA Documents
LUCA Schedule and Public Notice
| Date | Meeting/Notice | Links |
| 2/16/2023 | Notice of Application & Community Meeting | Weekly Permit Bulletin |
| 2/28/2023 | Community Meeting (via Zoom) | Calendar Event Information |
| 3/22/2023 | Planning Commission Study Session | Planning Commission Meeting Agenda Materials |
| 4/20/2023 | Notice of Public Hearing and SEPA Determination | |
| 5/10/2023 | Planning Commission Public Hearing | |
| To Be Scheduled | Planning Commission Recommendation | |
| To Be Scheduled | City Council Study Session | |
| To Be Scheduled | City Council Action |