A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
A new Seattle law supports co-living, removing land use restrictions that prohibited such housing facilities in many parts of the city. According to Washington State Senator Jesse Salomon, young people and retirees, among others, are seeking affordable housing options in high-demand areas.
Co-living is defined as buildings where residents have private sleeping space but share other facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms. The city’s actions comply with a state law that requires localities to legalize co-living on multifamily lots by December 2025.
As Ysabelle Kempe explains in Smart Cities Dive, “Co-living housing was much more common in the U.S. decades ago than it is now, but restrictive local zoning rules adopted over time made it difficult to build and operate such housing, according to the Seattle-based think tank Sightline Institute.”
FULL STORY: Seattle encourages co-living housing with new law
Seattle Could End Restrictions on Co-Living
Current regulations prohibit ‘congregate housing’ in many parts of the city.
Cohousing as a Solution to High Housing Costs and Social Isolation
Living arrangements designed to encourage social interaction and provide shared facilities can lower the cost of living and build more friendly, supportive neighborhoods.
Seattle Passes New Housing Levy
The measure will bring roughly $1 billion to the city’s affordable housing efforts.
Research Links Urban Design and Human Happiness
An emerging field of ‘neuroarchitectural’ research is revealing how building facades and urban design impact the human brain and body.
Reimagining Your Street
How to use free online tools to redesign your local streetscape.
Research: Sprawl Linked to Poverty
Low-income families living in high-sprawl neighborhoods are limited in their access to education, jobs, and other amenities, often trapping them in a cycle of poverty.
Washington Lawmakers Eye Rent Stabilization
Democrats are pushing for a statewide rent stabilization bill that would give renters some protections while offering more flexibility for landlords than blanket rent control policies.
Wildfires Devastate LA Outdoor Education Spaces and Schools
The current Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed schools and outdoor education spaces like Eaton Canyon, displacing families and disrupting vital learning and community resources while highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
Research Affirms Safety of ‘Idaho Stop’
Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs does not negatively impact safety and can help people on bikes more effectively navigate roadways.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA)
Ada County Highway District
Charles County Government
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland