A Cottage in the Backyard
Backyard cottages are just that; Cottages. They are a spacious “MIL” mother-in-law. However they cannot be more than 800 sq. ft. They are allowed in single-family zoned properties throughout Seattle under an ordinance approved unanimously by the Seattle City Council. Owners of the property must live on the premise and Seattle would allow about 50 new cottages a year. The lot size along with height and depth requirements are covered under city ordinances as well.
Cottages or DADU’S (Detched Accessory Dwelling Units) are an additonal way to support needed housing in Seattle. They can be a nice niche for students, relatives, elderly or low-income rental property. They are small dwelling units that are on the same lot but separate from a single-family home.
Permit fees for backyard cottages will vary according to whether they are “new construction” or existing structures. It can take time to go thru the permit process. For more information about legalizing a currently occupied backyard cottage, please contact Dianec.davis@seattle.gov. For information needed on permit requirements go to www.seattle.gov/dpd/BackyardCottages or call Applicant Service Center (ASC) at 206-684-8850.
Subscribe by RSS