Bellingham City Council

The Bellingham City Council advanced a significant housing policy initiative by unanimously adopting an interim ordinance expanding middle housing options citywide. The ordinance extends the city's infill housing toolkit—previously limited to certain areas—to all residentially zoned neighborhoods except the Lake Whatcom watershed. This change allows up to four housing units per lot by right, with potential for five or six units if affordable units are included. A key amendment was approved 5-2 to adopt the state's floor area ratio (FAR) standards from the Middle Housing Model Code, replacing the city's existing ratios. Council members debated whether this change was premature for an interim ordinance, but supporters argued it provides necessary flexibility to test housing production approaches. The ordinance fulfills part of Mayor Lund's executive order to proactively implement housing reforms ahead of state requirements. Under House Bill 1110, Bellingham must implement middle housing regulations by June 30, 2026. The interim ordinance allows the city to test approaches while developing permanent regulations through a type-six legislative process. Public testimony was strongly supportive, with housing advocates, Strong Towns members, and developers backing the proposal. Opposition came primarily from tenant advocates who argued the ordinance lacks meaningful affordability requirements and from a former planning commissioner who criticized the focus on market-rate housing.