What this Work is About

King County is looking at ways to create more affordable housing and help people stay in their communities. We're exploring whether to expand existing housing policies to more unincorporated areas. This includes:

• Expanding inclusionary housing policies
• Considering a community preference program in more places
• Studying a Multifamily Housing Tax Exemption (MFTE) program
• Looking at other tools to increase affordable housing and reduce displacement

Why this Work is Happening

In 2022, King County adopted new housing policies in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline, based on recommendations from community members to prevent displacement in those neighborhoods outlined in the Anti-Displacement Strategies Report. They included:

• Requiring affordable housing in commercial areas
• Incentivizing affordable housing in other areas
• Prioritizing community members with connections to the areas for new affordable housing

The 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan expanded affordable housing incentive policies to more unincorporated areas and the Rural Towns of Vashon and Snoqualmie Pass. The County also directed staff to study whether stronger tools – like required affordable housing, community preference, and MFTE – could work in more communities without causing unintended impacts.

What to Expect

King County, BERK Consulting, and other partners will:

• do research and technical analysis
• talk with communities who may be affected
• develop recommendations
• share findings with the public

• propose recommendations and next steps to King County Council

Key Terms

What is voluntary inclusionary housing?

This is when developers choose to include a set number of affordable homes in new housing projects. In return, they may get benefits like being allowed to build more homes or taller buildings. The goal is to add more affordable housing as new development happens. This incentive is available in most residential and commercial zones in unincorporated King County.

Modified UNSW CIAS graphic to show example height incentive.​

What is mandatory inclusionary housing?
This is when developers are required to include a set number of affordable homes in new housing projects. The goal is the same: increase affordable housing as communities grow. Right now, this requirement only applies in the commercial core of Skyway-West Hill and North Highline. The County is studying whether to expand it to other areas, such as East Renton Highlands, Lakeland North, Lakeland South, Fairwood, Redmond Ridge, Vashon Town, Snoqualmie Pass, and other parts of Skyway-West Hill and North Highline.

UNSW Cities Institute Agenda Setting, 2024. Inclusionary zoning: Considerations in the current affordable housing debate, p 5.

What is community preference?

A community preference program helps reduce displacement by giving priority for affordable housing to people with ties to a neighborhood, such as current residents or those who were displaced by rising housing costs. In Skyway-West Hill and North Highline, 40% of affordable homes are set aside for people connected to the community.

An applicant is considered to have a connection to the community if they:

• live there now or used to
• Have relatives (i.e. parent, guardian, or ancestor) who lived there
• work, volunteer, or participate in local organizations; or
• Live nearby (within half a mile)

What is Multifamily Housing Tax Exemption (MFTE)?

MFTE is a program that lowers property taxes for housing developers that include affordable homes. It can apply to housing like:

• Apartments
• Townhomes
• Fourplexes
• Cottage Housing
• Condos

State law now allows MFTE in parts of unincorporated King County. The County is studying how to design and apply this program locally.