City Council approves changes to affordable housing program
On Aug. 18, 2026 the Sammamish City Council approved changes to the city's affordable housing program requirements, amending the threshold for program participation.
What changed?
The Council approved amendments to Sammamish Municipal Code (SMC) 21.10, which is the City’s Inclusionary Affordable Housing Program. Among other things, the program governs when development must pay a fee to support affordable housing. The Council’s changes make the rules more predictable for homeowners. Key updates include:
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Expanding the exemption threshold from 1,500 to 1,750 square feet.
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Allowing projects with multiple new units to base their exemption on the average square footage across all units, rather than assessing each unit separately.
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Exempting additions or expansions to existing homes, as well as homes that must be rebuilt or enlarged involuntarily (ex. after damage from storms).
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Changing how the fee is calculated for larger homes. Previously, the fee applied to a home's entire square footage once it exceeded the threshold. Now, the fee only applies to the square footage above 1,750 square feet, not the whole home.
These changes apply retroactively to Jan. 1, 2025. Permit applicants who already paid fees under the old rules may be eligible for a refund.
Residents with questions about how these changes may affect a current or past permit application are encouraged to contact the City.
City Permit Center: https://www.sammamish.us/government/community-development/permit-center/
Community Development Department: https://www.sammamish.us/government/community-development/