Middle housing consists of house-scale buildings containing more than one housing unit that are compatible with single-family neighborhoods. Middle housing refers to duplexes, triplexes, cottage housing, or small single-family dwellings that offer alternatives to apartment living and offer options for housing that are less dense than mid-rise apartments and denser than detached single-family homes. Supporters of Middle housing options characterize them as “gentle density” and “gentle” infill housing strategies—compatible in scale and character with detached single-family homes while still increasing the number of homes in residential neighborhoods.

Architect Daniel Parolek of Opticos Design coined the term “Missing Middle” housing in 2010. The “missing” section of the title acknowledges that until the 1940s, “Missing Middle” housing types were a large part of the nation’s housing stock. As a result of zoning barriers and financial incentives after World War II, detached single-family homes were built at the expense of other housing types, leading to “Missing Middle” housing disappearing from new construction in the 1940s.

In response to the problems of affordability and sprawl, many communities are revisiting “Missing Middle” housing. Bothell and Kirkland are two neighboring communities that permit certain forms of “Missing Middle” housing.

2025 work:

To continue framing the future of housing the City of Kenmore is required to incorporate recently passed legislation known as HB 1110. The new state law requires cities in the State of Washington to make changes to development regulations on all lots zoned predominantly for residential use and evaluate housing policies to ensure consistency with regulations.

6/23/25 City Council Meeting
Adoption of Ordinance No. 25-0630, amending Titles 17, 18, and 19 of the Kenmore Municipal Code (KMC) for Middle Housing, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), and Affordable Housing (Inclusionary Zoning) regulations.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording. 

4/15/25 Middle Housing Public Hearing at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording. 

4/1/25 Middle Housing Presentation at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording. 

3/18/25 Middle Housing Presentation at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording.

3/4/25 Middle Housing Presentation at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording.

2/18/25 Middle Housing Presentation at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording.

2/4/25 Middle Housing Presentation at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording.

1/7/25 Middle Housing Presentation at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording. 

10/1/24 Planning Commission Public Hearing 
Link to the agenda and meeting recording. 
 
9/17/24 Planning Commission Discussion 
Link to the agenda and meeting recording. 

7/16/24 Middle Housing Follow Up at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording.

6/18/24 Planning Commission Middle Housing Update
Link to the agenda and meeting recording.

6/4/24 Middle Housing Presentation at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording.

2/6/24 Middle Housing Presentation at Planning Commission Meeting.
Link to the agenda and meeting recording. 

Middle housing types include house-scale buildings such as duplexes, triplexes, cottage housing, and small single family lots with smaller houses.

  

Allowing for more Middle housing in Kenmore will provide many benefits, including:

1. Doing our part to end our region’s unprecedented housing crisis by providing more attainable housing and providing more housing choices in the gap between single family homes and apartment buildings.
2. Addressing climate change and protecting natural habitats, including forests and streams
3. Providing more inclusive neighborhoods, fighting systemic racism, and reducing barriers to those who wish to live or stay in Kenmore.
4. Adding a better mix and flexibility of housing types to meet ever changing demographic and generational needs.
5. Creating more housing choices for middle income workers, such as schoolteachers, first responders, tradespeople, and more.
6. Allowing people to live closer to their jobs and thereby reduce traffic congestion.
7. Preventing suburban sprawl that:
   • requires more expensive infrastructure, including more roads and pipes.
   • results in more tree cutting and negative impacts to the natural environment.
   • causes people to drive further, emit more carbon emissions, and spend more of their time and income on driving.
8. Preventing neighborhoods from stagnating and giving homeowners the flexibility to add value to their properties as their needs change.

•  At the September 11, 2023 Kenmore City Council meeting, the City Council authorized staff to submit a $40k grant application and execute a grant agreement (if awarded) with the State Department of Commerce for implementation of middle housing regulations to comply with recent state legislation.  We received notification October 18th that a $40k grant had been awarded to the city. The project scope will be to prepare regulations for middle housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and comprehensive plan amendments related to these new regulations. Tasks are anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2024, which is in alignment with the City of Kenmore Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update.
  
  
•  At the September 25, 2023 Kenmore City Council meeting, staff provided City Council with an update of the middle housing engagement work that concluded in June 2023 with the help of PRR and LDC (consultants).

Staff will be working with Planning Commission and City Council throughout 2024 and anticipate new regulations that are in compliance with the new WA State Legislation (HB 1110) by the end of 2024/early 2025.  

• At the November 7, 2022 Kenmore City Council meeting Council adopted Ordinances 22-0558 and 22-0566 consistent with this direction. In addition, Council direction was that the ordinance would not include any changes to zoning regulations that would allow duplexes or triplexes in the R-6 single-family zone, and that further discussion of Middle Housing would be deferred to 2023.

• At the October 17, 2022 meeting, Kenmore City Council discussed comprehensive plan amendments and zoning regulations to allow duplexes and triplexes throughout the R-6 single-family residential zone. The Council gave direction to bring back an ordinance to a future council meeting to approve amendments to the comprehensive plan that would allow future consideration of Medium Density housing within one-quarter mile of the city’s two main transit corridors. 

There are many online resources to learn more about Middle housing. Here are some resources that provide more details about why the City is considering these housing types in Kenmore.

• www.missingmiddle.com
• How the US made affordable homes illegal - Video 
• Sightline Institute: Missing Middle Homes Photo Library’s albums | Flickr
• The Houses that Can't be Built in America - The Missing Middle - YouTube
• This Is What a Street Looks like 39 Years after Legalizing Fourplexes - Sightline Institute
• 5 ways to make the missing middle less missing - Article 
• Missing Middle Housing brief (Master Builders Association)
• 2019 City of Kenmore Panel of Experts - Video

The information contained in these links represents a range of perspectives provided by the content creators and does not necessarily represent opinions of the City of Kenmore.