More Focus This Year on ADUs

The 2024 Legislature is continuing the work of the last several sessions, putting much of its focus on solving the housing crisis. Once again, it’s turning to accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, as part of the solution.

Detached ADUs in rural lands are the focus of this year’s legislative proposals. HB 2126 would allow counties to authorize the development of detached ADUs in rural areas on all residential lots as long as they meet certain requirements for water supply, septic, structure size, etc. SB 6029 would require counties to allow detached ADUs with similar requirements in rural areas.

Currently, case law allows attached ADUs in rural areas but not detached ADUs. The growth management hearings board has found, somewhat puzzlingly, that attached ADUs do not contribute to rural sprawl and are compliant with the state’s Growth Management Act, while detached ADUs are not compliant. Both bills seek to overturn that finding.

WSAC supports these bills and testified that SB 6029 should be amended to become permissive rather than mandatory. Otherwise, funding needs to be provided for counties to make the necessary changes to their development codes to comply with the bill’s requirements.