Home Remodeling in
Kent, WA

Kent allows two ADUs per lot: one attached and one detached, two attached, or two detached. An ADU joined to a garage or connected only by a breezeway or shared roof counts as detached.

No owner-occupancy covenant is required, and older covenants can be released by the planning director. An ADU and the main house can even be held in separate ownership, although condominiums are governed by state law rather than the city.

An existing structure such as a garage can be converted to an ADU even if it does not meet current setbacks or lot coverage.

An attached ADU follows the zone's setbacks. A detached ADU in the rear half of the lot can be built to within 2 feet of the side and rear lot lines, and it can sit on a lot line that backs onto a public alley, unless the alley is regularly plowed for snow.

A detached ADU can be up to 24 feet tall. Each ADU can be up to 1,000 square feet, and that figure leaves out areas under 7 feet of ceiling height, covered decks and porches up to 200 square feet in total, and any accessory building the ADU is built within or above.

One design rule catches people out: Kent does not allow metal, aluminum or fiberglass siding on an ADU.

The Permit Center is at 400 W Gowe St., open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All applications go through the online Permit Portal. General questions go to (253) 856-5300, building code questions to (253) 856-5412, and ADU zoning questions to the planning line on (253) 856-5454.