Fences and hedges that are no more than 60 percent sight obscuring, such as chain link, wrought iron or similar material, may be six feet in height;

Fences and hedges may be six feet in height if there is not vehicular access from the street along the lot line and the fence or hedge complies with subsection F of this section;

Fences and hedges may be six feet in height along the front lot line; provided, that the adjacent street is classified as a principal or minor arterial and the fence or hedge complies with subsection F of this section.

Fences made of barbed wire, razor wire, concertina wire or similar material;

Electric fences; and

Fencing made of plywood less than five-eighths inch thick, particle board, paper, visqueen plastic, plastic tarp, cloth, or similar material.

Within three feet of a fire hydrant;

In a manner which interferes with access to storm or sanitary sewer manholes and other appurtenances which require access for maintenance purposes.

Outdoor recreation establishments or park and recreation facilities;

Public facilities and stormwater management infrastructure;

Minor and major utility facilities;

Permitted agricultural activities;

Wireless communication facilities; or

To prohibit illegal dumping.

Rain barrels or cisterns, six feet or less in height;

Planter boxes;

Bioretention areas; and

Similar low impact storm water management features, as determined by the director.

Provide homeowners with a means of providing companionship and security.

Add affordable units to the existing house supply.

Make housing units within the city available to households with a variety of incomes.

Provide an increased choice of housing that responds to changing needs, lifestyles (e.g., young families, retired), and modern development technology.

Protect neighborhood stability, property values, and the single-family residential appearance by ensuring the ADUs are installed in a compatible manner under the conditions of this section.

Increase density in order to better utilize existing infrastructure and community resources, support public transit, neighborhood retail and commercial services.

Any person desiring to establish, construct, or legalize an ADU shall submit an application prepared using forms and checklists provided by the director. The director shall prepare a submittal checklist providing a list of the application materials that shall be considered the minimum necessary to constitute a complete application.

The owner(s) of the property shall occupy the primary dwelling unit or the ADU as their principal residence for at least six months of every year on any lot that contains any undevelopable critical area, as defined in BLMC 16.20.030, or that is fully or partially located within a watershed serving a reservoir for potable water if that watershed is or was listed, as of July 1, 2025, as impaired or threatened under Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1313(d)).

The property owner(s) shall sign a covenant documenting the existence of a lawfully permitted ADU and any conditions of the permit, agreeing to these conditions and the other requirements of this section, which shall be recorded with the Pierce County auditor. The applicant is responsible for recording the document with the Pierce County auditor and providing a conformed copy to the city. The form of the covenant shall be specified by the director.

After receiving a completed application and approving an ADU permit, the ADU shall be inspected to ensure that the ADU complies with all of the requirements of subsection C of this section.

Satisfactory inspection of the property and verification that the covenant discussed in subsection (B)(3) of this section has been recorded with Pierce County shall result in the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

The proposed ADU must be located on a legal building lot 2,000 square feet or greater in size as an accessory use to the primary dwelling unit, as follows:

An ADU shall not be located on a lot which contains multifamily dwelling units.

Either the primary dwelling unit or the unit designed to become the ADU may be constructed first. If the unit designed to be the ADU is built first, it shall be considered the primary dwelling unit until a second unit is built and shall be subject to the utility connection fees provided for in BLMC § 13.04.070 and 13.12.100. The second unit built shall be considered an ADU for purposes of the utility connection fee exemptions provided for in BLMC § 13.04.070(D)(2)(c) and 13.12.100(E).

Size.

Detached and attached ADUs may be segregated in ownership from the primary dwelling unit through:

Utility Connections.

Parking.

The ADU shall comply with the setback and bulk regulations established by the underlying zoning classification; provided, that

The ADU shall meet all technical code standards including building, electrical, fire, plumbing and other applicable code requirements.

Legalization of Nonconforming ADU. All owners of an illegal ADU shall be required to:

All multiple dwelling units shall comply with BLMC § 18.31.010, whether or not one or more buildings are used; and

The parking lot or area shall be so designed as to give ingress and egress according to the city codes and standards and prior to the issuance of a building permit for a multiple dwelling unit; a parking plan must be submitted to and approved by the director;