Edmonds, WA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Edmonds, WA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Max ADUs per lot
- Two, in listed configurations
- Max ADU floor area (LDR-M/LDR-L)
- 1,200 sq ft
- Max ADU floor area (LDR-S)
- 1,000 sq ft
- Max detached ADU height
- 24 feet
- Second ADU parking requirement
- 1 space (waived near transit)
- Governing section
- ECDC 16.20.060
Summary
Edmonds allows a detached single-family home to have up to two accessory dwelling units under ECDC 16.20.060, capping detached ADU floor area at 1,000 to 1,200 square feet depending on LDR subdistrict and requiring separate ingress/egress from the main house.
16.20.060 Site development standards - Accessory dwelling units. ... B. Number of Units. A detached single-family dwelling unit may have two accessory dwelling units in one of the following configurations: one attached and one detached accessory dwelling units, two attached accessory dwelling units, or two detached accessory dwelling units. ... C. Table of ADU Development Standards. | Overlay | Maximum ADU Gross Floor Area (Sq. Ft.) | Minimum DADU Rear Setback1,2 | Maximum DADU Height | Minimum Parking Spaces | | LDR-L | 1,200 | 25' | 24' | 0/15 | | LDR-M | 1,200 | 20'3 | 24' | 0/15 | | LDR-S | 1,000 | 10'4 | 24' | 0/15 |
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4444, passed August 3, 2026).
Full Breakdown
060(B) lets a detached single-family dwelling add two accessory dwelling units in any of three configurations: one attached and one detached, two attached, or two detached; this two-ADU allowance does not extend to other middle housing types like townhouses, duplexes or cottage housing. 060(C) sets maximum gross floor area at 1,200 square feet in the LDR-L and LDR-M subdistricts and 1,000 square feet in LDR-S, with a maximum detached ADU height of 24 feet across all three. 5 feet for a unit 15 feet tall or less); no rear setback at all applies where the rear lot line abuts a public alley.
030 still apply. 630. 020(D). Parking: the first ADU on a lot requires no additional off-street space, but a second ADU requires one additional space, except that no parking is required for any ADU within one-half mile of a major transit stop. ADUs must comply with the current building codes adopted under ECDC Title 19 and must have separate ingress and egress from the principal dwelling.
Violations & Fines
ADUs are approved through the standard building permit process administered by the Edmonds planning and development department; construction without a permit or in excess of the floor area, setback or parking standards is subject to code enforcement action. ADUs approved by the city before the current standards took effect may continue as previously approved, but any expansion or modification triggers full compliance with the current ECDC 16.20.060 standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accessory dwelling units can I build on a lot in Edmonds?
How big can a detached ADU be in Edmonds?
Do I need extra parking for a second ADU in Edmonds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Edmonds
How Edmonds compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Edmonds to another location·View the Washington accessory structures overview
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ADU Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle adu rules.