SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane is gearing up for the integration of co-living spaces as a requirement of state law.
Former Governor Jay Inslee signed the co-living law in Washington a year and a half ago. By December, cities must comply with the new regulations.
“Okay, so what co-living is, a kind of residential development where you have the individual sleeping units, which are rentable as individual units, but they do share the cooking facilities,” said Spokane City Planner Brandon Whitmarsh.
Though not a new concept in America or Spokane, co-living traces back to the 1930s, 40s and 50s when it was popular for its affordability.
However, public sentiment shifted in the late 1950s, leading to regulations that discouraged this housing model.
“Currently we have some restrictions on what you call co-living,” said Spokane City Planner Spencer Gardner.
Gardner explained these restrictions need to be removed to comply with state law.
Gardner also noted that Spokane has been more open to co-living than many other areas, so he explained these changes aren’t as much as an adjustment.
“But it’s I think, less impactful than other communities that prohibited them outright in a lot of circumstances,” Gardner said.
He added that co-living will be allowed anywhere housing is permitted in Spokane.
The Spokane Planning Commission discussed the benefits of co-living during their September 24 meeting, particularly emphasizing its affordability.
“There’s a lot of benefits to co-living,” Whitmarsh said. “One of those being the affordability of co-living.”
Representative Mia Gregson echoed this sentiment on January 8, 2024, when the Washington State Law was first presented in committee.
“It’s definitely an affordable way to be able to continue to live in a healthy, small home,” said Gregson.
She further explained that this housing model aims to provide access to affordable housing for those below the annual median income, addressing Washington’s “housing affordability crisis.”
The Spokane Planning Committee will meet on October 8 to refine the ordinance language before it is presented to the city council. The public is invited to comment at both meetings.
As for the likelihood of co-living spaces rapidly emerging across Spokane, Gardner believes the growth will be gradual.
“It’ll be more of a trickle than a flood,” said Gardner.
