ADU Owner Occupancy: Bellevue vs Kent
How do adu owner occupancy rules compare between Bellevue, WA and Kent, WA?
Bellevue and Kent have similar restriction levels.
Bellevue, WA
King County
Bellevue does not require owner-occupancy for ADU properties. The 2023 ADU Reform (Ordinance 6746) explicitly removed the previous owner-occupancy mandate, and Washington HB 1337 (RCW 36.70A.683) prohibits cities from imposing owner-occupancy requirements on ADUs. Owners may rent both the primary dwelling and the ADU to separate tenants.
View full Bellevue rules →Kent, WA
King County
Kent does not require owner-occupancy on properties with an accessory dwelling unit. The June 2023 update to KCC 15.08.250 removed the prior owner-occupancy mandate, and Washington HB 1337 (RCW 36.70A.683) prohibits Growth Management Act cities from imposing owner-occupancy on ADUs. Owners may rent both the primary dwelling and the ADU to separate tenants.
View full Kent rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bellevue | Kent |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-Occupancy Required | No | - |
| Removed By | Ord. 6746 (2023) | KCC 15.08.250 update (June 2023) |
| State Preemption | RCW 36.70A.683 | RCW 36.70A.683 |
| Both Units Rentable | Yes | Yes |
| HOA Rules | May still apply privately | May still apply privately |
| Owner-Occupancy | - | Not required |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bellevue FAQ
Do I have to live on the property to rent out my Bellevue ADU?
No. Bellevue eliminated owner-occupancy in 2023 (Ordinance 6746), and Washington RCW 36.70A.683 prohibits cities from imposing this requirement. You may rent both the primary house and the ADU to separate tenants while living elsewhere.
Can my HOA still require owner-occupancy?
Possibly. State preemption applies to cities and counties, not to private covenants. Review your HOA or condo declaration. Such rules are enforced privately through civil action, not by Bellevue code enforcement.
Kent FAQ
Do I have to live on the property to rent my Kent ADU?
No. Kent removed the owner-occupancy requirement when KCC 15.08.250 was updated in June 2023, and Washington RCW 36.70A.683 prohibits Growth Management Act cities from imposing owner-occupancy on ADUs. You may rent both the primary house and the ADU while living elsewhere.
Can my HOA still require owner-occupancy?
Possibly. State preemption applies to cities and counties, not to private covenants. Review your HOA or condo declaration. Such rules are enforced privately through civil action in King County Superior Court, not by Kent code enforcement.
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