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This page provides information about several new and upcoming City of Bellingham rules related to housing and development that bring us into alignment with Washington State laws and Bellingham’s growth management plan.
Recently Adopted Permanent Code Changes
Ordinance 2026-08-019
Permanent changes approved August 2026
On January 13, 2025, after a public hearing on the topic, Bellingham City Council approved an interim ordinance eliminating Bellingham’s minimum parking requirements – rules that defined the required number of parking spaces that needed be developed with new construction in Bellingham. After extending the interim ordinance several times, City Council approved permanent changes in August 2026.
Minimum parking requirements drive up the cost of housing and lead to unsustainable land use patterns. Eliminating these requirements promotes efficient use of land, encourages alternative modes of transportation, and is better for the environment.
Ordinance 2025-12-035
Went into effect 12/23/2025
An ordinance amending Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) Title 20 and BMC Title 21 regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs). ADUs are an important part of the housing-supply equation. They are a smaller housing form that can be put on lots with existing single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. Approved updates will ease barriers to the construction and use of ADUs.
Ordinance 2025-12-033
Went into effect 12/23/2025
An ordinance amending BMC Title 16 and BMC Title 20 to allow co-living in zones which allow multifamily uses, update and add definitions relevant to co-living, and replace references to the word “family” with “household”.
Co-living housing is the most deeply affordable non-subsidized housing option we currently have. Co-living housing offers bedrooms that are independently rented with access to shared kitchen facilities, common areas, bathrooms, etc.
Ordinance 2026-09-023
Went into effect 09/29/2026
On September 14, 2026, Bellingham City Council gave final approval to adopt a new incentive designed to support the development of permanently affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers and streamlining permit approvals for qualifying low-income housing projects. While many of the challenges affordable housing developers face are due to material costs and other market factors, City staff identified specific barriers to their development that could be addressed locally.
The new incentive maintains applicable health, safety, environmental, and infrastructure standards, while exempting qualified low-income housing development projects from most zoning and land use regulations such as height, density, required commercial, and parking. It applies citywide, but only in urban villages, commercial and residential multi-family zones. Approval of the incentive established a new chapter within Title 20 of the Bellingham Municipal Code (section 20.29A).
Qualifying projects must be approved through the City’s standard affordable housing project selection process. They must provide long-term affordability for households earning less than 80 percent of Area Median Income. To ensure that the public benefits of the incentive are preserved over time, the property is required to be dedicated to low-income housing for at least 50 years.
Ordinance 2026-10-030
Rules in effect as of 11/03/2026
These amendments to Bellingham’s home occupation code are designed to give home-based businesses more flexibility, including allowing them to operate their business in an accessory building on their property, being able to sell goods made on site or goods in conjunction with a use (like shampoo at a home salon), and having up to three employees. These changes are an initial first step toward a potential future expansion of small-scale commercial uses in Bellingham neighborhoods – a change community members said they want to see and that supports City goals to promote walkability, placemaking, and employment in neighborhoods. Those changes could be introduced as early as 2027.
Recently Adopted Interim Rules
These interim rules are in effect with permanent rules in the works.
Ordinance 2026-03-005 (interim ordinance)
Originally went into effect 05/20/2026
To prevent the removal of exceptional trees in anticipation of new regulations, the Bellingham City Council enacted an Emergency Landmark Tree Ordinance on May 20, 2024, that took effect immediately upon approval. Interim rules have been extended several times. The ordinance protects trees that are considered “landmark trees” – the largest, most significant trees in Bellingham – establishes a landmark tree inventory and a permitting process for removal, and establishes a larger fine for illegal removal.
Ordinance 2025-12-032 (interim ordinance)
Went into effect 12/23/2025 and will be in effect until December 4, 2026, absent further action by the City Council.
An ordinance amending and extending interim zoning regulations, applying new development regulations to single family and infill housing development, and allowing infill housing in all areas that are zoned predominantly for residential use, except on property regulated by BMC chapter 16.80, Lake Whatcom Reservoir Regulatory Provisions.
Middle housing can help us meet our housing needs by allowing us to build more homes on the same amount of limited land – and build a larger variety of housing types, including more affordable housing.
Ordinance 2025-12-034 (interim ordinance)
Went into effect 12/23/2025
An ordinance adopting an interim zoning to establish clear and objective design standards citywide for infill housing, multifamily housing, commercial/mixed-use development, and urban village industrial development and to streamline the design review permitting process.
This ordinance facilitates housing development by simplifying the design review process. These changes mean more housing can hit the market faster with lower project costs, which can result in lower costs down the line.
Upcoming Code Changes
This section includes significant code updates currently or soon-to-be in the works.
About these changes
The City is working to improve Bellingham’s development code. These changes push Bellingham toward what’s known as a unified development code (UDC). This type of code combines most topics related to development, like zoning, environmental protection, and design requirements, into one place. It is designed to make it easier to understand and quickly navigate Bellingham’s development rules. Additionally, the proposed changes would bring Bellingham’s code into compliance with state laws that are intended to decrease barriers to plentiful and reasonably priced housing.
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. Several other significant code updates are expected to follow these initial changes.
Anticipated timeline
The public hearing for these changes is targeted for fall 2027 and Bellingham City Council consideration will follow shortly after.
>> Learn more about these proposed changes on the 2027 Development Code Improvements webpage.
About this update
The City’s current critical areas ordinance was last updated in 2016. It includes management recommendations from the Washington State departments of Fish and Wildlife and Ecology for protection of critical areas. Now, our critical areas ordinance needs to be updated to incorporate the best available science produced by those agencies, and to implement Bellingham’s growth management plan.
Anticipated timeline
We will be conducting these required updates beginning in the first quarter of 2027.
