"We hired MNBE to build our ADU in Bellevue, and the entire experience was amazing. They handled everything from foundations and framing to kitchen, siding, windows and HVAC."
Zena Heywood
Bellevue, WA · Attached ADU
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Do you have to live on the property?
No. Washington law bars cities from requiring the owner to live on a lot with an ADU, so you can rent the house and the ADUs. Answered by MNBE founder Aharon Ben Elisha. Checked October 28, 2026.
RCW 36.70A.681(1)(b) No owner occupancy Short-term rentals can be limited
The Short Answer
No. State law settled it.
No. Under RCW 36.70A.681(1)(b), a city or county may not require the owner of a lot with an ADU to live in the ADU or in another unit on the lot. Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond have no owner-occupancy rule today.
The rule applies inside urban growth areas, which covers nearly all of the Seattle area. It means you can rent the house, the ADUs or all of them, and you can build an ADU on a property you don't live in.
Short-term rentals are the exception. State law lets cities restrict ADUs used as short-term rentals, under 30 nights, and Seattle and Kirkland tie short-term rentals to the operator's primary residence.
Seattle · Bellevue · Kirkland · Redmond
Owner occupancy, city by city.
Each city's full rules, with the code section behind every number: Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond.
No
Seattle
No owner-occupancy rule for ADUs.
No
Bellevue
Removed in 2023.
No
Kirkland
No owner-occupancy rule for ADUs.
No
Redmond
No owner-occupancy rule for ADUs.
City by City
What the law says.
State law first, then the exception cities may use.
| Where | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Washington State | Cities and counties may not require the owner to live in the ADU or another unit on the lot. | RCW 36.70A.681(1)(b) |
| Short-term rentals | Cities may restrict the use of ADUs as short-term rentals, meaning stays under 30 nights. | RCW 36.70A.680(5)(a) |
| Seattle | No owner-occupancy rule. Short-term rental operators may run at most two units, one of them their primary residence. | SMC 6.600 |
| Bellevue | Owner occupancy was removed in 2023. | RCW 36.70A.681 |
| Kirkland | No owner-occupancy rule. An ADU registration and a recorded covenant are still required. | KZC 115.07 |
| Redmond | No owner-occupancy rule, and no recorded covenant since June 2025. | RZC 21.04.1110 |
Checked October 28, 2026. A plain-English summary, not legal advice. The code governs, and we confirm it for your lot.
Reviews
What Seattle homeowners say about building with MNBE.
Verified five star reviews from owners we guided through ADU feasibility, permitting, and construction.
"We hired MNBE for a full renovation of our 100 year old home and the results exceeded expectations, structural upgrades, new insulation, a luxury bathroom, a high end kitchen, a new roof and mini split AC."
Dave Gierok
Redmond, WA · DADU
"My mom hired MNBE Construction for her two-bedroom DADU in Seattle, and watching the process up close was impressive. They did it all: design, architectural plans, the building permit, and the full construction. … The communication was excellent and there were never any surprises."
Maryam Z.
White Center, WA · ADU
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FAQs · Related questions
Owner occupancy questions.
More answers: How many ADUs can I build on my lot? · Can an ADU be two stories? · Can an ADU have its own address?. City rules: Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond.
Yes, for long-term rentals. No city we build in requires the owner to live on the lot, so the house and both ADUs can all be rented.
Yes. Owner occupancy can't be a condition of the ADU permit.
That is where cities can still set limits. Seattle and Kirkland tie short-term rentals to the operator's primary residence, so check the city's rules before planning one.
Older ADU permits sometimes recorded one. Seattle has a form to release it, and in other cities we check the recorded documents during feasibility.
Contact Us · Free Estimate
Tell us about your project.
We'll check your address against your city's ADU code and get back to you within one business day with a clear next step.
Contact information
Thank you for considering MNBE. Thank you for considering MNBE. Tell us your address and we will tell you, in writing, what your city's code allows on your lot. We respond within one business day, Monday through Saturday.
(206) 637 0044
info@mnbe-wa.com
2014 Fairview Ave Unit 2308, Seattle, WA 98121