3. What we're studying

This open house was active from July 16-Aug. 13, 2021. Information on this website may no longer be current. Email us for more information.

We have allowed middle housing in residential areas in urban unincorporated Washington County for a long time. However, our approval process is more complicated for middle housing types than it is for single-detached homes.

Under HB 2001, we will need to make changes to our development code. Examples:

• We will no longer limit duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes or cottage clusters by units per acre.
   
• We will change the review process, height and setback standards so they are more like those for a single-detached house.
   
• We will allow more middle housing of all types in our residential districts.
   

We're studying:

• Where in urban unincorporated Washington County middle housing may be more or less likely to develop from an economic perspective.
• How potential policy and code changes could impact the development of middle housing.

Please take the survey on Table 5 Give Us Your Feedback to share your opinions.

NOTE: While HB 2001 and its rules address certain middle housing types as attached units that share a lot, a new bill (Senate Bill 458, signed by the Governor May 26, 2021) provides for division of all types of middle housing sites to create separate lots for each living unit. The state has not yet created rules to help local jurisdictions implement this allowance. We  will update our Middle Housing webpage when more information is available.