Bothell to permit neighborhood businesses and lift parking mandates

On June 3, the Bothell city council approved significant code changes allowing neighborhood businesses in residential areas, defined as "Neighborhood Scale Commercial. " This new designation includes small-scale retail and service businesses that cater primarily to local residents' daily needs. These businesses will be limited in size to 2,500 square feet with restricted daytime hours and adherence to existing noise ordinances. Concurrently, Bothell will eliminate all minimum off-street parking requirements, moving beyond the standards set by Senate Bill 5184 aimed at reducing parking mandates statewide. Experts argue that removing parking requirements can decrease development costs, thereby facilitating affordable housing projects.

Local officials believe these changes will enhance community walkability and reduce long-distance travel. As a point of comparison, Shoreline has already enacted similar measures to support neighborhood businesses and is also planning to lift parking mandates. These code updates align with Bothell's Comprehensive Plan adopted in December 2024.