EVERETT
Snohomish County officials moved to streamline residential lot splitting by adopting Ordinance 26-036, which shifts approval authority from the county council to the planning and development services department. The council gave the measure unanimous support during its Wednesday session.
The updated process eliminates the need for formal council votes and public hearings as standard practice, though hearings can still be requested by applicants or community members. Under the new framework, individuals seeking to divide a single parcel into two residential lots can file applications directly with county staff, who review and issue approvals without council involvement.
County planning staff noted that the previous path often involved extended timelines, and the revised approach is designed to accelerate approvals while maintaining regulatory rigor. Michael Saponaro, leading the initiative, emphasized that the revised process keeps infrastructure responsibilities clear: only improvements such as sidewalks, road upgrades, and other public right-of-way enhancements required under existing code must be delivered by the applicant.
The ordinance sets specific conditions for eligible splits: both resulting parcels must remain viable for residential use, only one split per property is permitted at a time, and any further division of the newly created lots may proceed under existing subdivision rules.
Natalie Reber, a government affairs manager with the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, voiced support for the ordinance during the hearing and explained afterward that flexibility remains key, some landowners may opt to preserve portions of their property as open space rather than develop immediately. She expressed optimism that the change would contribute meaningfully to local housing supply goals.
“Ultimately, this is one small step toward addressing our regional housing challenges and helping the county meet its projected growth targets,” Reber said.
County officials also highlighted alignment with state-level momentum. In 2025, the Legislature enacted House Bill 1096, mandating that cities treat lot splitting as an administrative action to encourage denser, infill development. Though the county was not bound by the law, staff chose to adopt similar practices proactively, seeing it as an opportunity to reinforce affordability and expand housing options.
Council member Megan Dunn remarked after the vote that the updated code supports a broader range of homeownership opportunities. Smaller lots, she noted, can facilitate construction of more attainably priced homes. Existing homes with detached accessory dwelling units may also benefit: the primary residence and ADU could be legally separated, allowing owners to sell them independently.
Reber added that this option offers practical benefits for aging residents. Seniors who wish to remain in their neighborhoods can downsize into one parcel while selling off the other, capturing equity without pursuing a reverse mortgage. “They’re able to divide the land and realize financial value from it right away,” she said.