Housing Options Study and Action Plan

Project Overview

The Clark County Housing Options Study and Action Plan (HOSAP) identifies housing challenges and opportunities to encourage development of housing that is affordable to a variety of household incomes through the removal of regulatory barriers and/or implementation of other strategies. These strategies are needed to help ensure future generations have access to affordable, quality and diverse housing opportunities.

The project area is a large urban area with an estimated population of 161,300, next to, but not incorporated into, the City of Vancouver. This area is the focus for the county, as it is its urban jurisdiction where different types of housing (duplex, triplex, quadplex, condominiums, multi-family apartments, etc.) can be built and where urban services are available and can be provided in an efficient manner.

On May 17, 2022, the Clark County Council voted unanimously to approve the Housing Options Study and Action Plan and directed staff to begin implementation of the plan.

HOSAP Implementation

Phase 1 - Middle Housing & Small Single-Family Strategies

Following the adoption of the HOSAP in May 2022, county staff and their consultants worked on proposed code changes to implement the shorter-term middle housing and small single-family strategies of the plan. The Technical Housing Code Forum provided input on the proposed code concepts and language.

On March 5, 2024, the Clark County Council unanimously approved the proposed housing code modifications. Ordinance 2024-03-02 and Ordinance 2024-06-04 codify the code changes. Please see additional information in the meetings grid below and the Middle Housing Code Changes Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

Phase 2 - Multi-family & Regulated Affordable Housing Strategies

The county is currently working on phase 2 of this project with review and feedback on code concepts and potential code language from the Technical Housing Code Forum. Forum meetings include participation from members of the HOSAP Project Advisory GroupClark County Planning Commission, and Development and Engineering Advisory Board who have experience with Title 40 and/or housing development regulations. 

The most recent Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting was held May 22, 2024. More details, including the meeting materials, are provided in the meeting grid below.

County staff and consultants are in the process of reviewing comments from the most recent meeting and preparing information for the next forum meeting planned for later in 2024. Please keep checking back here for updated information and dates/times of upcoming meetings. You can also sign up for email updates, by selecting the Housing Options Study and Action Plan.

Additional Information

 Middle Housing Code Changes Frequently Asked Questions

Housing handout - What types of housing are needed and what kind of house can I afford?


Alternate Languages

Information is available in an alternate language by request to jenna.kay@clark.wa.gov.

La información está disponible en otros idiomas previa solicitud a jenna.kay@clark.wa.gov.

Информация доступна на другом языке по запросу на электронную почту jenna.kay@clark.wa.gov.

Staff Contacts

Jose Alvarez
564.397.4898 or jose.alvarez@clark.wa.gov

Susan Ellinger
564.397.4516 or susan.ellinger@clark.wa.gov

Amy Wooten
564-397-4913 or amy.wooten@clark.wa.gov

Please note: Final, approved project documents are posted to the "Project Library" page.

Project Events, County Council, and Planning Commission Meetings

Date Meeting/Event Notes/Related Documents Audio/Video
County Council Hearing - Housing Ordinance

The hearing will be held in person at 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, 6th Floor Training Room and virtually via Webex. Additional meeting details and information on how to join remotely can be found on the County Council's meeting page.

- Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting

Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting: Multi-family and regulated affordable housing

This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The public is invited to attend and observe. Written comments can be submitted to staff.

Meeting information:
Zoom link
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting Materials:
Memo
Agenda

 

 

Video

County Council Hearing - Housing Ordinance

The hearing will be held in person at 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, 6th Floor Training Room and virtually via Webex. Additional meeting details and information on how to join remotely can be found on the County Council's meeting page.

Video

County Council Hearing on Housing Code Amendments

The hearing will be held in person at 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, 6th Floor Training Room and virtually via Webex. Additional meeting details and information on how to join remotely can be found on the County Council's meeting page.

New Information for the March 5, 2024 hearing:

Some files are divided into parts due to file size.

 

Information from the July 25, 2023 hearing:

Some files are divided into parts due to file size.

Video

County Council Work Session on Housing Code Amendments

County Council will conduct a work session on Wednesday, January 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. regarding further refinements to the proposed housing code. The meeting will be held in person at 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver, 6th Floor Hearing Room and virtually via Webex. The work session is an informational session for the council to be briefed by staff. The public is welcome to attend, however there will be no public comment at that time. 

Additional meeting details and information on how to join remotely can be found on the County Council's meeting page.

Video