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ORDINANCE NO. <br />0 <br />EVERETT <br />WASH I NGTON <br />An ORDINANCE AMENDING the Everett Municipal Code to bring it into conformity with recently <br />enacted changes in state housing laws, Relating to Removing Limits on Number of Residents in a <br />Dwelling; AMENDING EMC Chapters 19.04 Definitions, 19.05 Uses, 19.08 Residential Uses and <br />Development Standards, and 19.34 Parking, Loading and Access Requirements. <br />WHEREAS, <br />A. Washington State passed several legislative changes to housing -related laws in 2021 including <br />Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5235 (SB 5235); and <br />B. The Washington State Legislature, in passing SB 5235, found that local regulations, such as <br />occupancy limits on dwelling units, act as arbitrary barriers and restrictions that limit affordable <br />housing opportunities; and <br />C. Section 5 of SB 5235, codified in RCW 35.21.682, prohibits a city from regulating or limiting the <br />number of unrelated persons that may occupy a household or dwelling unit with exceptions for <br />group living arrangements regulated by state law or "short-term rentals" and lawful limits on <br />occupant load per square foot or generally applicable health and safety provisions; and <br />D. Section 5 of SB 5235 Housing Unit Inventory -Removing Limits became effective July 25, 2021; <br />and <br />E. Amendments are necessary for the city's development regulations to be consistent with SB <br />5235; and <br />F. Amendments to the city's development regulations and procedural provisions are included to <br />improve clarity, consistency, and usability; and <br />G. This ordinance is consistent with and supportive of goals, policies, and implementation <br />strategies in the Everett Comprehensive Plan, including: <br />a. Housing Element Goal 4.0 The goal of the Housing Element is to provide sufficient housing <br />opportunities to meet the needs of present and future residents of Everett for housing that <br />is decent, safe, accessible, attractive and affordable. <br />b. Housing Element Objective 4.10 The City shall provide land use designations and policies <br />that provide sufficient capacity and a conditional target to accommodate a 2035 <br />population of at least 165,000, and a default population growth target of 143,000 for the <br />Everett city limits (as of 2015), and the population growth target of 47,156 for the <br />unincorporated portion of the Everett Municipal Urban Growth Area (MUGA). <br />ORDINANCE -22 <br />Page 1 of 10 <br />