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Bellingham · BEL-CP-2025 · Pages 34-47

Housing

The Housing chapter establishes goals and policies to ensure Bellingham has sufficient quantity, variety, and affordability of housing to meet all income levels and household types through 2045. It addresses barriers to housing production, anti-displacement strategies, service-enriched and emergency housing, homeownership pathways, and the full continuum from unsheltered to permanent housing. The chapter emphasizes equitable distribution of affordable housing and coordination with regional partners to address housing needs.

Housing Housing Economy Social Governance
Goals (6 total)
  • H-A: Housing Quantity – Ensure sufficient quantity of housing units and densities to accommodate projected growth
  • H-B: Housing for All Incomes – Foster a mix of housing in all neighborhoods affordable for all income levels
  • H-C: Housing Variety – Ensure sufficient variety of housing types to accommodate needs of the entire community
  • H-D: Service-enriched Housing – Support service-enriched housing options across Bellingham
  • H-E: Homeownership – Support and encourage homeownership opportunities
  • H-F: Livable Housing – Promote safe, healthy, and livable housing across Bellingham
Stronger Policy Language (18 policies)
  • H-1: Remove barriers to housing creation and preservation by periodically reviewing existing and proposed development regulations and policies for potential impacts on citywide housing capacity.
  • H-13: Actively counter displacement of residents through actions such as supporting housing assistance programs, linking residents with programs, considering displacement risk factors.
  • H-46: Enforce the City's Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program to ensure that rental housing units comply with life and fire safety standards.
  • H-45: Support fair and equal access to housing for all persons, regardless of race, religion, ethnic origin, age, household composition or size, disability, marital status.
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (30 policies)
  • H-3: Encourage preservation of existing housing and the construction of new housing as appropriate to increase housing availability and work towards a healthy vacancy rate.
  • H-6: Encourage well-designed infill housing development throughout the city, especially near amenities like transit, jobs, parks, or services.
  • H-19: Encourage the development of housing that is more affordable than current alternatives, such as modular construction, small units, co-living housing.
  • H-31: Encourage a variety of off-campus housing options that meet students' needs, are high quality, provide enough bedrooms and/or communal spaces.

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