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Background
The City is working to improve Bellingham’s development code. These changes push Bellingham toward what’s known as a unified development code (UDC). It is designed to make it easier to understand and quickly navigate Bellingham’s development rules, and bring Bellingham’s code into compliance with state laws that are intended to decrease barriers to plentiful and reasonably priced housing.
With so much state legislation requiring significant changes to Bellingham’s existing land use code, now is an ideal time to shift to a UDC approach. The proposed code update package incorporates the most pressing code changes (mostly related to residential zoning) into the code while simultaneously shifting to a UDC. The up-front work required to update the code will be significant, but it will save substantial time for staff implementing the code for decades to come.
Several other significant code updates are expected to follow these initial changes.
Supporting ease of use
Why is this change needed?
Some updates will support navigation and clarity, making it easier to find information and understand requirements, such as what you could do on your property and how your neighbor could develop their lot.
Currently, it’s common for the same development rules to be included throughout the code in multiple locations and stated in slightly different ways. While this was originally intended to allow users to only need to read one portion of the code to find all requirements, it has resulted in disparate and inconsistent requirements over time. This can make it difficult to find and understand how rules vary across the city or which rules apply to a particular site.
How formatting changes will help
Unified development codes combine most topics related to development, like zoning, environmental protection, and design requirements, into one place (as opposed to development-related topics living in multiple sections of the code).
With the changes we’re making, each piece of information will be stated only once, and then it will be linked to as needed. This will reduce the amount of information people have to wade through to find what they’re looking for and make it easier to find and confidently understand requirements.
These format updates will also help people who are interested in finding a property that can support a specific use. For instance, if someone would like to open a business like a florist’s shop today, they have to check over a dozen sections of code to find what uses are allowed where. With the new format, a single section will list all uses and where they are permitted. The florist could then identify where they could do business, helping them select a property to rent or purchase.
Improving requirements
Other updates will improve the actual development requirements. These changes are driven primarily by changes in state laws that are intended to decrease barriers to plentiful and reasonably priced housing, and by policies in Bellingham’s recently adopted Comprehensive Plan. Proposed changes include:
Realigning Residential Zones
- Updating the City’s residential code: Moving toward a new Residential Low/Medium/High (and Watershed) zoning framework.
- Requiring minimum densities for all residential zones, except Residential Watershed.
- Integrating the existing interim middle housing ordinance, which addresses state requirements to allow at least four units on each residential lot.
Reflecting a Citywide Planning Shift
- Retiring the existing zoning table format that sets unique requirements for more than 400 areas of the city. The new format includes only about 20 zones, making it more equitable and predictable across the city.
- Incorporating some requirements from the zoning tables into citywide overlays for areas with similar conditions.
- Removing site-specific requirements that have since been completed, incorporated into citywide planning documents like the Pedestrian Master Plan, or are otherwise no longer relevant.
Streamlining Development Processes
- Integrating the existing interim design review ordinance, which addresses state requirements.
- Shifting from subjective to more objective development standards. This will support predictability even before design for a project has started.
- Identifying opportunities in the code for more flexibility, shortened timelines, or other ways to reduce permitting delays and encourage more housing development.
Cleaning up Other Minor Issues
- Simplifying regulations that have become outdated, repetitive, or unclear over time.
- Aligning the code with other minor state legislation.
Status
This project is currently in the drafting stage. As part of this stage, we are collecting feedback from those who use the City’s development code via a survey.
Anticipated adoption timeline
- Planning Commission public hearing: May 2027
- City Council presentation: Fall 2026
- City Council public hearing: August or September 2027
- Possible City Council approval and adoption: Fall 2027
- Targeted code updates will continue following initial adoption
