At the Jan. 13, 2025, meeting, after a public hearing on the topic, Bellingham City Council approved an interim ordinance that eliminates Bellingham’s minimum parking requirements – rules that define the number of parking spaces that must be developed in Bellingham. It will go into effect Jan. 28, 2025, and, as an interim measure, will remain in effect until January 2026, unless extended.
Fast-tracking this ordinance for City Council consideration was part of Mayor Kim Lund’s recent executive order that aims to address our community’s urgent need for more housing. Removing minimum parking requirements has the potential to spur development of additional housing units. The idea was previously discussed by City Council in early 2024.
“Considering the state of housing availability and affordability in Bellingham, prioritizing use of land for housing people instead of parking vehicles just makes sense,” Council President Hollie Huthman said. “We fully support Mayor Kim Lund’s innovative and bold plan to create more housing opportunities in the city.”
How does this ordinance support housing?
Without a minimum number of parking spaces required, property owners and developers can right-size the amount of parking they provide based on anticipated demand, giving people the option of creating fewer parking spaces and, instead, using land in other ways, including developing more housing.
“We’re making the necessary decision to prioritize people, housing, and our environment,” said Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund. “Parking flexibility will allow for better use of land in Bellingham, including creating additional housing opportunities and preserving tree canopy.”
Parking requirements are the primary physical factor limiting the number of units that can be built on a site due to space limitations. In order to develop a housing unit, a certain number of parking spaces must be created to support that unit. If required parking can’t be built, then the housing unit can’t be built. These requirements sometimes prevent new housing developments from moving forward at all.
Removing parking minimums has been shown to help stabilize housing costs by increasing housing supply. Parking requirements also drive up the cost of development, with an inordinate impact on the cost and production of housing. Each parking space generally costs more than $20,000 in Bellingham, with homeowners and renters ultimately covering those costs in purchase prices and rent.
Modernizing code to match current priorities
Minimum parking requirements were developed in the 1960s based on standards from studies in the Midwest, and don’t reflect current or local needs. Nationally, there’s now an overabundance of parking with 6-8 parking spaces per vehicle.
“Our parking codes are outdated and don’t reflect Bellingham’s needs,” said Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director. “It’s time to modernize them to reflect the needs of 2025 and beyond, not the needs of the 1960s. We are willing to accept change in order to support our biggest priorities, such as the urgent need for more housing and climate resiliency.”
Removing parking minimums can increase urban density, yielding benefits for both. Denser urban development not only supports more housing, it reduces urban sprawl, supporting greater preservation of forested lands, agricultural lands, urban trees, and other critical areas.
Denser development further encourages use of alternative modes of transportation, helping us meet two important City goals. The City’s Climate Action Plan calls for reducing vehicle trips by 27 percent by 2036 and identifies greater urban density as a requisite to support that goal. Similarly, the City’s transportation plans establish a hierarchy with pedestrians and multimodal transportation prioritized above vehicles.
What happens next?
During the 12 months the interim ordinance is in effect, the City will evaluate the effects of the ordinance and collect feedback from the community that will be used to develop a refined, permanent version.
Starting Jan. 28, permits submitted for new construction projects or remodels don’t need to meet minimum parking requirements.
“This means, if you’re a homeowner and want to convert your garage to an ADU, you can submit permits to convert it – even if you would not maintain the parking for your home previously required,” said Lyon. “Our aim is that, by relaxing these rules, we create more opportunities for housing, including making it easier for homeowners who want to add an ADU but couldn’t under the old parking rules.”
Developers have the option of submitting permit applications for projects that reflect the amount of parking they think is best suited for their projects. They can decide whether to create the number of parking spaces they would have previously under the code or to use some of that parking land for additional housing units or tree protections instead. They may also amend previously issued permits.
While there will be significantly more flexibility when it comes to parking requirements, considerations such as ADA requirements and safety will continue to be taken into account.
Learn more
Material for the Jan. 13 public hearing and City Council discussion are available on the City of Bellingham Meetings webpage, and the interim ordinance and additional information can be found on the City’s Parking Reforms webpage.
