Chapter 18.68
COTTAGE HOUSING
Sections:
18.68.040 Authority and administration.
18.68.050 Development standards and requirements.
18.68.010 Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Cowlitz County Cottage Housing Ordinance.” [Ord. 18-093 § 3, 10-16-18.]
18.68.020 Purpose and intent.
It is the intent of this chapter to:
A. Support the county’s goals for economic development and associated housing;
B. Encourage the efficient use of land in areas of existing public services;
C. Provide diverse housing options;
D. Encourage affordability, creativity and variety in housing design and site development;
E. Promote a variety of housing choices to meet the needs of a population with a variety of individual needs;
F. Allow for a higher residential density than otherwise permitted given the smaller than average home size. [Ord. 18-093 § 3, 10-16-18.]
18.68.030 Applicability.
The regulations contained in this chapter shall apply in areas classified as “urban” and “suburban” in the Cowlitz County Comprehensive Plan. [Ord. 18-093 § 3, 10-16-18.]
18.68.040 Authority and administration.
All applications under this chapter shall be made to the Cowlitz County Building and Planning Department. The Director or his/her designee shall administer, interpret, and enforce the provisions of this chapter and shall provide such forms and establish such procedures as may be necessary to administer this chapter. [Ord. 18-093 § 3, 10-16-18.]
18.68.050 Development standards and requirements.
A. Two options exist for review of cottage housing development:
1. Cottage housing may be located on an individual lot by creating individual platted lots, which will be subject to land division application.
2. Cottage housing may be located on a common parcel, with access to shared amenities, which will be subject to review as a planned unit development under Chapter 18.30 CCC. The minimum site area standards of CCC 18.30.320 shall not apply.
B. Cottage housing developments shall contain a minimum of four dwelling units.
C. Cottage housing shall be developed in clusters with a maximum of 12 units in each cluster, provided that the overall development may contain more than one cluster.
D. Cottage housing developments may be allowed up to 200 percent of the maximum density of the underlying zoning district based on the minimum lot area standards found in CCC 18.10.501.
E. Attached housing types are allowed in cottage housing within the density allowances otherwise provided.
F. Accessory dwelling units shall not be allowed in cottage housing developments.
1. For cottage developments reviewed through land division, a plat restriction shall be included on the face of the final plat prohibiting accessory dwelling units.
2. For cottage developments not subject to land division, a covenant shall be recorded with the Cowlitz County Auditor’s Office prohibiting accessory dwelling units.
G. Minimum lot area and lot dimension standards of the underlying zone shall not apply.
H. The following setbacks shall apply, in addition to those found in the underlying zone:
1. Ten feet from public rights-of-way or private street easements.
2. Ten feet minimum space between buildings (including accessory structures).
3. Twenty feet minimum from a street for garage doors; except this may be reduced to five feet where a garage is accessed via an alley.
I. Parking shall be provided as outlined in CCC 18.10.560 through 18.10.562. Parking may be clustered in common parking lots or detached or attached garages or carports.
J. Cottages shall have a minimum habitable space as allowed by state law and the Cowlitz County Building Code (Chapter 16.05 CCC) and a maximum habitable space of 1,200 square feet.
1. For cottage developments reviewed through land division, a plat restriction shall be included on the face of the final plat prohibiting development/expansion of habitable space beyond 1,200 square feet.
2. For cottage developments not subject to land division, a covenant shall be recorded with the Cowlitz County Auditor’s Office prohibiting development/expansion of habitable space beyond 1,200 square feet.
K. The maximum building height for cottages and accessory structures within the cottage development shall be 25 feet.
L. Each cottage shall provide a covered entry feature with minimum dimensions of six feet by six feet facing a street, pathway or common open space.
M. Cottage developments shall provide a minimum of 400 square feet common usable active open space per dwelling unit.
N. Common on-site accessible open space shall abut a minimum of 50 percent of the cottages in each cluster.
O. Each cottage shall have a minimum of 200 square feet of usable active private open space immediately adjacent to and accessible from the dwelling with no dimension less than 10 feet. [Ord. 22-044 § 1, 5-3-22.]
18.68.060 Enforcement.
Cowlitz County Department of Building and Planning is hereby charged with enforcement of this chapter. [Ord. 18-093 § 3, 10-16-18.]
18.68.070 Severability.
If any section, subsection, clause, phrase or word in this chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such section shall be deemed a separate provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this chapter. [Ord. 18-093 § 3, 10-16-18.]