Projects

Co-living Housing Code Update

In 2024, the state legislature adopted HB 1998: Co-living Housing, which requires the City of Spokane to allow co-living housing development in more areas of the City. The intent of these code changes will be to clarify where co-living development is allowed and what standards apply to them, in accordance with HB 1998 (2024), codified in RCW 36.70A. 535.

Co-living Housing Types Allowed Spokane Map

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To meet these requirements, the City intends to adopt the following updates by the end of 2025:

Update definitions of co-living, sleeping units, and single room occupancy (SROs) to align with state definitions (SMC 17A.020)
Clarify that co-living is consistent with the existing Residential Household Living use description (SMC 17C.190.110 and SMC 17C.190.100)
Allow co-living in all areas of the city where six-unit development is allowed i.e. all zones except Residential Agriculture and Industrial zones further than .25 miles from the river (SMC 17C.111.115)
Sleeping unit considered one quarter of a dwelling unit when calculating density (SMC 17C.111.210)
Clarify applicability of residential design and development standards for co-living (SMC 17C.111.300 and SMC 17C.111.400)

The City will also consider standards for open space and short-term rentals in co-living developments.

This proposal will be evaluated under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) as a non-project action. A SEPA Determination of Non-significance (DNS) is anticipated.

If you have any comments or questions about the proposal or if you would like to be added to the interested persons list to receive project updates, please reach out to Brandon Whitmarsh at bwhitmarsh@spokanecity.org or call 509.625.6846.

What is Co-living?

Co-living is defined as a residential development with sleeping units that are independently rented and lockable and provide living and sleeping space, and residents share kitchen facilities with other sleeping units in the building.

Examples of co-living include single room occupancy (SROs), dormitories, and rooming or boarding houses. In co-living developments, units are generally smaller than standard dwelling units and share kitchen facilities and potentially restroom facilities as well. Because of the shared amenities and smaller units, co-living is more affordable to develop, and the units themselves are more affordable for renters. Co-living was prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, especially throughout downtown Spokane, offering affordable housing options for the city’s growing population. Today, co-living development can provide non-subsidized alternatives to publicly subsidized housing units affordable to households making as low as 50% of the Area Median Income (WA Department of Commerce Co-living Housing Guidance).

According to the Accommodating Affordable Housing in the City of Spokane Report, analysis conducted as a part of PlanSpokane 2046 to meet the requirements of HB 1220 (2022), the City has capacity to meet the projected housing needs for moderate to high income households (80+ AMI) over the next 20 years. Conversely, the report found that the City has a 4,400 unit shortage of capacity for housing to meet the needs of households making 0–80% AMI over that same period. The State’s goal in allowing this kind of development in more places is to alleviate the burden on publicly subsidized housing to meet the affordable housing needs of the City.

Anticipated Project Timeline

RCW 36.70A.535 establishes an adoption deadline of December 31, 2025. It is anticipated that this proposal will have a Plan Commission Hearing in Late October, followed by City Council action in November and December of 2025.

To attend Plan Commission meetings, you may attend in-person in the Council Briefing Room on the lower level of City Hall or virtually through Microsoft Teams. For more information about the Plan Commission meetings including location, virtual attendance, and agendas, please review the Plan Commission webpage or contact us.