Title 17C Land Use Standards
Chapter 17C.190 Use Category Descriptions
Article II. Residential Categories
Section 17C.190.110 Residential Household Living
Characteristics.
Residential Household Living is characterized by the residential occupancy of a dwelling or sleeping unit by a household. Tenancy is primarily arranged on a month-to-month basis, or for a longer period. Apartment, SRO, or co-living complexes that have accessory services such as food service, dining rooms, and housekeeping are included as Residential Household Living. Residential structures occupied by persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations pursuant to the federal or state law are included in the Residential Household Living category.
Accessory Uses.
Accessory uses commonly found are recreational activities, raising of pets, hobbies, and parking of the occupants’ vehicles. Home occupations, accessory dwelling units, short-term rentals, and bed and breakfast facilities are accessory uses that are subject to additional development standards of the zoning code.
Examples.
Uses include single-family residences, duplexes, middle housing, apartments, condominiums, retirement center apartments, manufactured housing, co-living, SROs, and other structures with self-contained dwelling or sleeping units.
Exceptions.
Lodging where the proportion of units rented on a short-term basis exceeds the limits in SMC 17C.316.040 and SMC 17C.316.050 for the underlying zone is considered a hotel or motel use and is classified in the Retail Sales and Service category.
Guest houses that contain kitchen facilities are prohibited as accessory to Residential Household Living uses.
In certain situations, lodging where tenancy may be arranged for periods less than one month may be classified as a Community Service use, such as short-term housing or mass shelter.
Date Passed: Monday, December 8, 2025
Effective Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
ORD C36810 Section 10
