S-1677               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4000

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Rasmussen, Warnke, Wojahn, Vognild, McCaslin and Zimmerman

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

AN ACT Relating to local government; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.32 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that:

          (1) While there is a great need for low-cost housing for senior citizens and others on fixed incomes, local zoning regulations prohibit families from converting their homes to provide independent accommodations for their relatives;

          (2) Prohibitions against such "accessory apartments" result in the separation of families and a greater demand for government housing services;

          (3) Separate living quarters within family homes will provide senior citizens with the security, assistance, and companionship of their families without sacrificing independence;

          (4) Permitting the conversion of single family residences to include separate, code-approved units within existing space will promote energy efficiency, reduce resource waste, and provide a reasonable housing alternative for those who can least afford rising housing costs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

          Each city and town that has a comprehensive plan, zoning ordinances, building codes, or other land use controls establishing areas within the city or town where only detached single family dwellings are allowed for residential purposes, shall permit the inclusion of separate living quarters in all detached single family residential dwellings located in such areas to be used by persons who are related by blood, adoption, or marriage to an owner and occupant of the single family dwelling.  These separate living quarters shall be authorized by conditional use permits, subject to state and local building standards adopted under chapter 19.27 RCW.  The conditional use permit may run to the property, or to the owner and occupant of the single family dwelling.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 36.32 RCW to read as follows:

          Each county that has a comprehensive plan, zoning ordinances, building codes, or other land use controls establishing areas within the county where only detached single family dwellings are allowed for residential purposes, shall permit the inclusion of separate living quarters in all detached single family residential dwellings located in such areas to be used by persons who are related by blood, adoption, or marriage to an owner and occupant of the single family dwelling.  These separate living quarters shall be authorized by conditional use permits, subject to state and local building standards adopted under chapter 19.27 RCW.  The conditional use permit may run to the property, or to the owner and occupant of the single family dwelling.