Proposed rule changes may add thousands of new backyard cottages

SEATTLE — Councilmember Mike O’Brien proposed rule changes Thursday, which he hopes would encourage the development of 10,000 new backyard cottages and mother-in-law units in the  next decade.

Since 2010, Seattle has allowed the construction of detached accessory dwelling units (backyard cottages) and attached accessory dwelling units (mother-in-law apartments).

But only 200 or so have been created or permitted.

With these changes, O’Brien hopes more would be built, adding density to neighborhoods without raising the height of the buildings.

Proposed Changes:

1.     Allow both a mother-in-law apartment and backyard cottage on the same lot. Currently you can only have one or the other.

2.     Remove the off-street parking requirement. Currently, one must have a parking space on the lot for the additional dwelling unit.

3.     Allow the owner to live off property after one year. Currently, the homeowner must occupy either the main house or the accessory dwelling unit permanently.

4.     Reduce the minimum lot size. Currently, one must have at least a 4,000-square-foot lot. The proposal is to lower that to 3,200 square feet.

5.     Modify the maximum height limit for backyard cottages. They would be able to be one or two feet taller.

6.     Modify the rear yard coverage limit. Right now, a backyard cottage can cover a maximum of 40 percent of the backyard. This would change that to 60 percent for only one-story cottages.

7.     Modify maximum gross square footage limits. Right now, mother-in-law units are maxed out at 1,000 square feet, and backyard cottages at 800 square feet. This would change them both to 1,000 square feet, and it would no longer count existing garage and storage space.

8.     Add flexibility for location of entry to a backyard cottage.

9.     Allow certain roof features that add interior space, like dormers, clerestories, and skylights.

Janice Reebs showed KIRO 7 her backyard cottage, which was approved according to current regulations.

“It’s going to be my art studio. But we’re also planning to use it as a guest cottage,” Reebs said. “If we wanted to, we could rent it out, or we could live there.”

Owners of backyard cottages or mother-in-law units have used the extra income to pay their mortgages. City leaders like the idea of getting more people to live in a neighborhood without changing the character or height of the buildings.

“It’s just not right. I think that they should keep the neighborhood the way it was instead of trying to stack occupancy here for no reason,” said Alex Marris, who lives in Wallingford.

He said new neighbors who bought a house near him immediately converted the garage into an Airbnb for short-term guests, leaving his family little room left to park.

O’Brien said he would hope tenants can rely on public transit, especially if the homes are located near transportation hubs.

Other residents told KIRO 7 they like the idea of accessory dwelling units, because they would look better than new taller, construction, which often replace existing older homes on their blocks.

The City Council will begin committee hearings and public hearings on the issue in July.

Cox Media Group