Tumwater to take over as lead for regional partnership to simplify ADU permitting

Tumwater has been appointed as the new project lead for a regional initiative aimed at expediting the permitting process for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Thurston County. The Tumwater General Government Committee approved an interlocal agreement on June 11 to transfer leadership responsibilities from Lacey. This partnership allows homeowners to utilize preapproved ADU plans, addressing the increasing demand for housing through the construction of smaller, secondary units. Tumwater will manage updates to these plans to comply with new state regulations, with the cost of these updates set at $41,782, to be shared among the cities based on population. The initiative began in 2019 when Lacey first contracted the Artisans Group to develop ADU plans, and it has since expanded to include Yelm, which must pay $10,000 for existing plan rights.

As part of the agreement, Tumwater will serve as the primary contact for the architecture firm and will handle financial management. The agreements will be forwarded to the Tumwater City Council for approval on June 17, marking a significant step in addressing local housing needs. This initiative reflects a broader trend in Washington state, with House Bill 1337 recently raising the maximum ADU size to 1,000 square feet.