"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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Medina ADU & DADU rules, in plain English
What Medina'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.
MMC 16.34.020 In force since Jul 1, 2025 2 ADUs per home
The Update
What changed in Medina.
Medina adopted its HB 1337 rules in Ordinance 1040, effective July 1, 2025. The rules sit in MMC 16.34.020. Medina's October 2026 amendments (Ordinance 1062) may affect setbacks and other standards, and recent ordinances are not all in the online code yet, so we confirm the controlling setback table for each property.
Medina's rules are stricter than most cities around it: an ADU needs a parking space, public sewer and a lot outside critical areas and shoreline jurisdiction. Where the city code and state law differ, we confirm with the city before design.
Rules for other cities are in our ADU rules by city guide.
Medina · MMC 16.34.020
Medina'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 home
Inside the house or in a detached building.
1,000sq ft
Size cap
A larger detached unit is treated as a cottage.
25feet
DADU height
Or the house's limit, if lower.
1
Parking space
Per ADU, on top of the house's spaces.
The Code
Medina ADU rules, line by line.
The main single-family zones. Zone-specific numbers vary, so we confirm them for each lot.
| Rule | What Medina allows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ADUs per lot | Up to two with a single-family home, inside the house or in a detached accessory building, in any mix. None on a lot with a duplex or two middle housing units. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Size | 1,000 sq ft of gross floor area. A larger detached unit falls under the cottage (middle housing) rules. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Height | 25 feet, or the house's height limit if lower. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Setbacks | The house setbacks apply: front and rear 25 to 30 feet by lot size, and side setbacks that grow with lot size. Recent amendments changed side setbacks, so we confirm the current table for each lot. | MMC land use chapters |
| Coverage | Structural coverage from 30% down to 21% as lots get larger, and impervious surface from 55% to 50%. The ADU counts toward both. | MMC 16.23.020 |
| Minimum lot size | The lot must meet the zone minimum: 16,000 sq ft in R-16, 20,000 in R-20, 30,000 in R-30. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Parking | One space for the ADU, on top of the house's spaces. State law bars ADU parking within half a mile walking distance of a major transit stop. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Owner occupancy | Not required. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Where ADUs aren't allowed | On lots with critical areas or their buffers, without public sewer, or in shoreline jurisdiction. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Design and registration | The ADU must be cohesive with the house in roof shape, glazing, materials and colors. It is registered with the city under an owner agreement recorded with King County. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Rentals and utilities | Short-term rentals are not allowed. City of Bellevue Utilities certifies water and sewer. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Existing structures | A garage or accessory building can be converted; Medina's code asks for lost parking to be replaced on site. | MMC 16.34.020 |
| Trees | Significant trees are 6 inches and up, with larger legacy and landmark categories, and a minimum tree density for lots under development. | MMC Title 16.5 |
Checked October 28, 2026. Sources: MMC 16.34.020, MMC land use chapters, Ordinance 1062, MMC tree rules and RCW 36.70A.681. Recent ordinances are not all in the online code yet. A plain-English summary, not legal advice. The code governs, and we confirm it for your lot.
Your Lot
How we check a Medina 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 Medina'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 Medina, 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 · Medina ADU rules
Medina ADU questions we hear on site visits.
Short answers from the code. For your exact lot, call us or book the free site visit.
Yes, up to two with a single-family home, on a lot that meets the zone minimum, has public sewer, and is outside critical areas and shoreline jurisdiction.
1,000 square feet of gross floor area. A larger detached unit falls under Medina's cottage rules instead.
25 feet, or the house's height limit if that is lower.
Medina's code asks for one space per ADU on top of the house's spaces. State law bars ADU parking within half a mile walking distance of a major transit stop.
No. Medina prohibits short-term rentals in ADUs.
Contact Us · Free Estimate
Tell us about your project.
We'll check your address against Medina'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 Medina'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