"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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Lynnwood ADU & DADU rules, in plain English
What Lynnwood's code allows for attached and detached ADUs today, rule by rule, with the code section behind each one. Written by MNBE founder Aharon Ben Elisha. Checked October 28, 2026.
LMC Title 8 (Ord. 3481) In force since Jul 1, 2025 No ADU parking
The Update
What changed in Lynnwood.
Lynnwood replaced its zoning code with a new Unified Development Code, Ordinance 3481, in force since July 1, 2025. The ADU rules are spread across several chapters of LMC Title 8, and a director's clarification of July 11, 2025 applies HB 1337 (Adopted Codes page).
Lynnwood's older ADU guides describe the pre-2025 rules: one ADU, 800 sq ft, owner occupancy and a parking stall. All of that was replaced.
Our Lynnwood plans
We designed a 760 sq ft two-bedroom DADU for Lynnwood. See it on the Lynnwood DADU page.
Rules for other cities are in our ADU rules by city guide.
Lynnwood · LMC Title 8
Lynnwood's ADU rules, by the numbers.
The four numbers homeowners ask about first. Check them against your lot with a feasibility study →
2
ADUs per lot
In any combination, under the 2025 clarification.
1,000sq ft
Size cap
Interior floor area, basements and attics included.
35feet
Height in RN
Two-story DADUs fit.
0
Parking spaces
Units under 1,200 sq ft need no parking.
The Code
Lynnwood ADU rules, line by line.
The main single-family zones. Zone-specific numbers vary, so we confirm them for each lot.
| Rule | What Lynnwood allows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ADUs per lot | Two in any combination. ADUs are allowed in the RN, RM-45, NC and CDM zones. | LMC 8.35 |
| Size | 1,000 sq ft, counting interior floor area including basements and attics. | LMC 8.99 |
| Height | 35 feet in the RN zone. The 15-foot limit for accessory buildings doesn't apply to a dwelling. | LMC 8.30 |
| Setbacks | RN detached-housing standards: 10 feet from a street, 5 feet from interior lot lines, 10 feet between buildings. We confirm with the city how they apply to a house plus DADU. | LMC 8.30 |
| Floor area | The RN zone caps floor area by the number of units on the lot, and requires outdoor amenity space. | LMC 8.30 |
| Parking | None for units under 1,200 sq ft, so ADUs need no parking. | LMC 8.40.0720 |
| Owner occupancy | Not required. | Adopted Codes page |
| Selling separately | The city's HB 1337 clarification allows ADUs to be sold as independent units. | Adopted Codes page |
| Existing structures | Converting an existing structure is allowed under state law. | RCW 36.70A.681 |
| Design | RN design standards apply to residential buildings over 200 sq ft: siding materials, a covered entry for street-facing units, minimum window area and limited roof forms. | LMC 8.45.0210 |
| Trees | A permit is needed to remove trees 3 inches and up. Significant trees are 6 inches and up, and heritage trees are protected. | LMC 17.15 |
| Pre-approved plans | Lynnwood is developing a pre-approved DADU program; it is not open yet. | Pre-approved DADUs |
| Fire | Sprinklers are required for homes 500 feet or more from a hydrant. | LMC 9.18.020 |
Checked October 28, 2026. Sources: LMC Title 8, LMC 8.40.0720, LMC 8.45.0210, LMC 17.15, the Adopted Codes page and RCW 36.70A.681. Some RN standards for a house plus DADU are confirmed with the city. A plain-English summary, not legal advice. The code governs, and we confirm it for your lot.
Your Lot
How we check a Lynnwood lot for an ADU.
The code sets the outer limits. Your lot sets the real ones. This is the order we work in during the free site visit and feasibility.
01
Zone and overlays
We confirm your zone and check Lynnwood's maps for critical areas, shoreline and slopes, which can move or shrink the buildable area.
Zoning
02
Trees
We locate the trees the code protects and their root zones before we place the ADU.
Tree code
03
Fit the footprint
We test size, height, setbacks, coverage and floor area against your house, and whether an existing building can be converted.
Footprint
04
Utilities
We check whether water, sewer and power can come from the house or need their own connections.
Utilities
05
Design and permit
We draw the plans in house, submit to Lynnwood, answer corrections and carry the project through inspections.
City review
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
Schedule Free Estimate
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FAQs · Lynnwood ADU rules
Lynnwood ADU questions we hear on site visits.
Short answers from the code. For your exact lot, call us or book the free site visit.
Two in any combination, under the city's July 2025 HB 1337 clarification.
1,000 square feet, counting interior floor area including basements and attics.
No. Lynnwood requires no parking for units under 1,200 square feet, which covers every ADU.
35 feet in the RN zone, so a two-story DADU fits.
The city is developing a pre-approved DADU program, but it is not open yet.
Contact Us · Free Estimate
Tell us about your project.
We'll check your address against Lynnwood'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 Lynnwood'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