Skip to main content
Bellevue home
  • Bellevue Home
  • City Government
    • Boards, Commissions and Committees
    • City Code, Resolutions and Ordinances
    • City Council
    • Communications
    • Departments
    • East Bellevue Community Council
    • Hot Topics and Initiatives
    • Public Records Requests
    • Sister Cities
  • Departments
    • City Attorney's Office
    • City Clerk's Office
    • City Manager's Office
    • Communications
    • Community Development
    • Development Services
    • Emergency Management
    • Finance & Asset Management
    • Fire
    • Human Resources
    • Information Technology
    • Parks & Community Services
    • Police
    • Transportation
    • Utilities
  • Discover Bellevue
    • About Us
    • Bellevue Television
    • City News
    • Things to Do
    • Arts in Bellevue
    • Parks and Trails
    • Economic Development
  • Doing Business
    • Building and Zoning
    • Doing Business in Bellevue
    • Doing Business with Bellevue
  • Public Safety
    • Police
    • Fire
    • Emergencies and Extreme Weather
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Municipal Court
    • Neighborhood Traffic Safety
    • Probation
    • Public Defenders
  • Resident Resources
    • ADA and Language Access Resources
    • Customer Assistance
    • Conflict Assistance
    • Diversity Advantage
    • Neighborhoods
    • Newcomers Guide
    • Permits, Parking and Utilities
    • Volunteering
    • Local Service Agencies
City of Bellevue, WA Development Services
English Español 简体中文 繁體中文 日本語 한국어 Pусский Tiếng Việt

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Reform LUCA

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. City Government
  3. Departments
  4. Development Services
  5. Code Amendments
  6. Recent Code Amendments
bellevue_41370754157.jpg

How may I help you?

This is an artificial-intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to provide general information about various city topics. If you are having an emergency of any kind, please call 911 immediately. The chatbot is still learning about all of our services and may occasionally provide an incorrect answer.

Give Feedback
  • Copied to clipboard

    Recent Code Amendments

    • ADU Three-Year Rule Removal
    • Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Reform LUCA
    • C-1 Affordable Housing Density Bonus
    • EBCC Sunset
    • Existing Building Redevelopment Land Use Code Amendment
    • Family Child Care Homes LUCA
    • Floodplain Regulations Update
    • Increased Affordable Housing Capacity on Faith-Owned Properties LUCA
    • Micro-Apartments Land Use Code Amendment
    • Noise Code Update
    • Noise Control Code Amendment: Construction Noise and Sleeping Areas
    • Objective Design Land Use Code Amendment
    • Permit Streamlining Land Use Code Amendment
    • Quasi-Judicial Land Use Code Amendment
    • Reduced Minimum Residential Parking Standards
    • Residential Occupancy Land Use Code Amendment
    • Shoreline Master Program and SEPA Conformance Amendments
    • Supportive and Emergency Housing Code Amendment
    • Tree Canopy Code Amendments
    • Unit Lot Subdivision
    • Wireless Communication Facilities LUCA

    This Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA) removed barriers to encourage the construction of attached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Bellevue and 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 changed?

    Chapter 20.20.120 (Accessory Dwelling Units) of the city's land use code has been amended to remove identified barriers to ADU construction, including:

    • Removed owner-occupancy requirement: Property owners are no longer required to reside on the same site as the ADU. 
    • Removed condominium prohibition: ADUs may now be sold to a separate owner from the primary residence owner.
    • Removed design controls: ADUs do not require any additional design restrictions beyond those for a single-family residence.
    • Revised size limits: The size limits of ADUs were increased from 800 sq. ft. to 1,200 sq. ft. or 40% of the structure, whichever is larger. 
    • Revised off-street parking requirements: 
      • 1 space for ADUs larger than 1,000 sq. ft. 
      • For ADUs larger than 2,000 sq. ft.:
        • 1 space on lots less than 6,000 sq. ft.
        • 2 spaces on lots larger than 6,000 sq. ft.
      • No parking is required for:
        • ADUs smaller than 1,000 sq. ft.
        • ADUs within 1/2 miles of frequent transit
    • Revised process improvements: Registration and noticing requirements no longer apply for ADUs. Building permits may be required. ADU permitting data is available in the city's Open Data Portal. 

    This LUCA did not address detached ADUs, which are currently not allowed in Bellevue. Additional policy work is needed before detached ADUs can be allowed under the LUC, which will occur as part of the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update effort. 

    An overview of the new regulations and permit process for ADUs will be added to the city's website as procedures are updated following adoption of this LUCA.  

    LUCA Documents

    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Notice of Application and Community Meeting
    • February 28 Info Session Presentation
    • Notice of Public Hearing
    • Ordinance No. 6746
    LUCA Schedule and Public Notice
    DateMeeting/NoticeLinks
    2/16/2023Notice of Application & Community MeetingWeekly Permit Bulletin
    2/28/2023Community Meeting (via Zoom)Calendar Event Information
    3/22/2023Planning Commission Study SessionPlanning Commission Meeting Agenda Materials
    4/20/2023Notice of Public Hearing and SEPA DeterminationWeekly Permit Bulletin
    5/10/2023Planning Commission Public HearingPlanning Commission Meeting Agenda Materials
    6/12/2023City Council Study SessionCity Council Meeting Agenda Materials
    7/17/2023City Council ActionCity Council Meeting Agenda Materials

     

    Development Services

    Land Use
    Telephone
    425-452-4188
    Hearing Impaired
    711
    Email
    landusereview@bellevuewa.gov

    Reasonable Accommodation

    For alternate formats, interpreters, or reasonable modification requests please phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-6800 (voice) or email servicefirst@bellevuewa.gov. For complaints regarding modifications, contact the City of Bellevue ADA, Title VI, and Equal Opportunity Officer at ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov.

    City of Bellevue sealCity of Bellevue, WA

    • 450 110th Avenue NE
    • Bellevue, WA 98004
    • Directions to City Hall
    • 425-452-6800
    • servicefirst@bellevuewa.gov
    • Contact Us / City Directory
    • Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

    Footer Menu Contacts

    • MyBellevue Customer Assistance
    • Careers
    • ADA/Title VI Notices

    Languages

    • English
    • Español
    • 简体中文
    • 繁體中文
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Pусский
    • Tiếng Việt

    Request a Translation

    • Request a Translation
    • اطلب ترجمة
    • 申请翻译
    • 要求翻譯
    • अनुवाद का अनुरोध करें
    • 翻訳をリクエストする
    • 번역 요청
    • درخواست ترجمه
    • ਅਨੁਵਾਦ ਦੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕਰੋ
    • Запрос на перевод
    • Solicitud de traducción
    • అనువాదం అడగండి
    • ترجمےکے لئے ایک درخواست
    • Yêu cầu bản dịch
    • ትርጉም መጠየቅ

    Social Media

    © 2024 City of Bellevue | All Rights Reserved. | ADA/Title VI Notices | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map