Everett, WA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Everett, WA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- ADU setback
- Same as principal building
- NR-C zone ADU count
- Up to two per lot
- NR-C ADUs
- Exempt from density limit
- State floor
- WA HB 1337 requires 2/lot
Summary
Everett requires accessory dwelling units to meet the same setbacks as the main house, and its NR-C zone allows up to two ADUs per lot exempt from density limits, though Washington's HB 1337 now sets a statewide floor cities cannot go below.
F. Building setbacks for accessory dwelling units (ADU) are the same as for principal buildings.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4194-26, passed July 29, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Everett Municipal Code § 19.06.020(F) states that building setbacks for accessory dwelling units are the same as for the principal building on the lot. In the neighborhood residential-constrained (NR-C) zone, EMC 19.06.110(C) allows up to two ADUs per lot, exempt from the zone's maximum density. These local rules now operate on top of a state floor: Washington's 2023 HB 1337 requires cities planning under the Growth Management Act to permit two ADUs per lot in most urban residential zones and bars many older local restrictions such as owner-occupancy rules, most parking mandates, and ADU-specific minimum lot sizes, so state law, not just this Snohomish County city's own code, now controls where Everett's older ADU limits still apply.
Violations & Fines
Building an accessory dwelling unit without meeting the same setback as the principal dwelling under EMC 19.06.020(F), or exceeding the ADU count allowed on the lot, can result in a stop-work order or permit denial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ADUs have different setbacks than the main house in Everett?
How many ADUs can I build in Everett?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Everett
How Everett compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Everett 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.