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Sammamish Town Center (not licensed)

Middle Housing

Middle Housing are homes that are between the size of large single-family homes and high-density apartments. Buildings such as duplexes and townhouses contribute to the diversity of housing options, both in form and affordability. Construction of Middle Housing increases the housing stock while catering to a variety of different demographic groups, including millennials and multigenerational households.

Middle Housing may be built in the Middle Housing Overlays (MHO). These overlays apply to the R-1 through R-8 Zoning Districts. Middle Housing is not mandatory, but is encouraged with increased density allowances and tiered Floor Area Ratios (FAR), which is regulated by SMC 21.04.030.Y.

 

Zoning District Overlay
R-1 MHO-1
R-4 MHO-2
R-6 and R-8 MHO-3

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are types of Middle Housing? 

Middle housing is defined as homes that are compatible in scale, form, and character with single-family houses and contain two or more attached, stacked, or clustered homes. These can include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, stacked flats, courtyard apartments, and cottage housing. 

Middle Housing can be rented or owned. 

Can I build modest single-family residences as Middle Housing? 

Cottage homes are the only type of detached residence that qualifies as Middle Housing. However, cottage homes are only allowed in the MHO-1 Overlay of the R-1 Zoning District. 

Does the Mandatory Affordable Housing Program apply to Middle Housing? 

Middle Housing development is subject to the Mandatory Affordable Housing Program. However, any residence that is not bigger than 1,000 square feet is exempt from Affordable Housing calculations (see SMC 21.10.100.A.4).

Can Middle Housing be subdivided? 

If a Middle Housing project includes vertically stack residences, it could be subdivided as air space condominiums. 

If a Middle Housing project is for attached/side-by-side residences, it could be subdivided as Unit Lot Subdivision (SMC 21.02.060.H), for separately owned unit lots with common areas.