The Phinney Ridge Community Council is looking for neighborhood input on the City’s proposals for zoning changes that would encourage more backyard cottages – or Detached Accessory Dwelling Units — in single family zones. The City has proposed the changes to help deal with density and growth.
You can take the short survey here.
With some exceptions, backyard cottages are currently allowed on all single-family lots of at least 4,000 square feet. This means that about 75,000 of the City’s 124,000 single-family lots are eligible for backyard cottages. Current law subjects backyard cottages to a number of restrictions. These include requirements in effect now:
- the property owner live on site at least six months of the year
- provide off-street parking for the cottage
- a prohibition against having a backyard cottage and “in-law” apartment on the same property
- limits on the height and size of backyard cottages
- prohibits cottage entrances from facing abutting property
