Port Townsend has adopted policy, zoning, subdivision, and permitting processes to expand the number and type of housing units allowed in town. Recent work to the subdivision and zoning ordinances expanded opportunities for accessory dwelling units, cottage housing, and small-lot subdivisions, but the community’s demand for housing is still greater than local supply.

The City applied for and received a “Middle Housing” grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to take this work a step further, investigating remaining barriers, evaluating the success of its work to date, and developing new policies and zoning approaches to make more housing available in Port Townsend and affordable to the community’s workforce.