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Department of Community and Economic Development
Planning Division
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY/CODE INTERPRETATION
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE CI-194, Inclusion of Single-Family and ADUs in Middle Housing Developments INTERPRETATION #: MUNICIPAL CODE Renton Municipal Code (RMC) 4-2-110F, Development Standards for Middle Housing SECTIONS: REFERENCE: RMC 4-2-110A, Development Standards for Residential Low Density and Medium Density Zones – Primary Structures, and RMC 4-2-110F.6, Maximum Dwelling Units per Legal Lot
SUBJECT: Clarification that an existing or new single-family dwelling or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be included as one of the permitted units within a middle-housing development BACKGROUND: Section 4-2-110F establishes standards for middle-housing developments but does not expressly state whether a detached single-family dwelling unit or an ADU, either existing or newly constructed, may be incorporated as one of the allowed dwelling units. Other RMC provisions (e.g., 4-2-110A table and 4-2-110F.6) reference single-family units and ADUs when calculating maximum dwelling units per lot, but the absence of an explicit statement in the Applicability subsection has created uncertainty for applicants and reviewers.
DECISION: To provide clarity and consistency with related code sections, the Applicability subsection of RMC 4-2-110F shall include the following sentence: An existing or new single-family dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be included as one of the permitted units within a middle housing development, pursuant to RMC 4-10-050, Nonconforming Structures. This interpretation confirms that detached single-family dwelling units and ADUs—whether existing or newly constructed—qualify as part of a middle-housing development provided all other requirements of RMC 4-2-110F are met.
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JUSTIFICATION: To remove ambiguity and provide clear guidance for applicants and staff, this interpretation formally clarifies how RMC 4-2-110F is to be applied, based on the following justification: •RMC 4-2-110F.6 counts single-family dwelling units and ADUs toward themaximum dwelling units per lot, implying their inclusion.•The primary-structures table in RMC 4-2-110A references middle housing alongside single-family dwellings and ADUs, further supportingcompatibility.•Clarifying language avoids misinterpretation and ensures consistentapplication of density standards.
ADMINISTRATOR APPROVAL: _______________________________________ Gina Estep
EFFECTIVE DATE: _______________________________________
BINDING Under principles of judicial finality, administrative code
interpretations that are not timely appealed are binding.
APPEAL PROCESS: To appeal this determination, a written appeal accompanied by the required filing fee must be filed with the City's Hearing Examiner (1055 South Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057, 425-430-6551) no more than 14 days from the date of this decision. Section 4-8-110 of the Renton Municipal Code provides further information on the appeal process.
DISCLAIMER: Excerpts from the Renton Municipal Code shown below may not contain the most recently codified text. In such instances, code amendments implemented through this Administrative Code Interpretation shall be construed to affect the current code and past/future Administrative Code Interpretations not yet codified in the same manner as shown below. Should any conflicts result, the Administrator shall determine the effective code.
SPECIFIED CODE
SECTIONS SHALL BE
READ AS FOLLOWS:
STAFF CONTACT:
4-2-110F DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR MIDDLE HOUSING1
2. Applicability: The provisions of this subsection shall apply to allmiddle housing development within the following zones: ResourceConservation (RC), Residential-1 (R-1), Residential-4 (R-4),Residential-6 (R-6), and Residential-8 (R-8) zones. An existing or newsingle-family dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may beincluded as one of the permitted units within a middle housingdevelopment. Any legally established nonconforming dwelling shallbe regulated pursuant to RMC 4-10-050, Nonconforming Structures.
Angelea Weihs, Associate Planner, 425-430-7312
10/27/2025