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 Group, Clark County Planning Commission, and Development and Engineering Advisory Board who have experience with Title 40 and/or housing development regulations. More details regarding forum meetings, 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 forum meeting and preparing proposed code amendments. 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 - Previous and upcoming housing code changes
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 | Agenda/Minutes | Notes/Related Documents | Audio/Video |
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| Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting | Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting #6 - Series: Middle Housing/Single Family This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The public is invited to attend and observe. Written comments can be submitted to staff. Webinar ID: 875 2459 1709 +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting materials |
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| Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting | Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting #5 - Series: Middle Housing/Single Family This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The public is invited to attend and observe. Written comments can be submitted to staff. Webinar ID: 890 2143 8142 +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting materials |
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| 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. Housing Code & Comp Plan Text & Policy Amendments PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
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| Planning Commission 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. Please visit the Planning Commission's webpage for more information on how to participate. Housing Code & Comp Plan Text & Policy Amendments |
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| - | Technical Housing Code Forum Series | Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting #2 - Series: 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. Webinar ID: +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting materials |
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| Planning Commission Work Session on Housing Code Amendments | The work session will be held in person at 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, 6th Floor Training Room and virtually via Webex. Please visit the Planning Commission's webpage for more information on how to participate. Housing Code & Comp Plan Text & Policy Amendments |
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| Neighborhood Association Council of Clark County | Update on Housing Options Study and Action Plan project implementation to the Neighborhood Association Council of Clark County. |
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| - | Development and Engineering Advisory Board | Project staff will be providing an overview of the housing code amendments and answering any questions from the members. Details on how to join and participate in the Development Engineering and Advisory Board meeting can be found on their webpage.
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| Technical Housing Code Forum Series | Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting #1 - Series: 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. Webinar ID: 879 1117 8648 +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting materials |
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| Planning Commission Work Session on Housing Code Amendments | The work session will be held in person at 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, 6th Floor Training Room and virtually via Webex. Please visit the Planning Commission's webpage for more information on how to participate.
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| - | Public Informational Meeting-Housing Code Amendments | Clark County is hosting a public meeting to present the first batch of proposed housing code amendments related to middle housing and smaller single-family strategies from the county’s Housing Options Study and Action Plan. Project staff will provide a presentation on the proposed code amendments, listen to feedback, and answer questions from participants. The meeting will be hybrid and will be held both in person at 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver, 6th Floor Hearing Room and virtually via Webex. If you are having issues joining the Webex meeting, please contact Bart Catching at bart.catching@clark.wa.gov. If joining in-person and need parking information for Downtown Vancouver, please visit this interactive parking map. You do not need to register in advance. Meeting materials Overview of proposed code changes
Meeting handouts How to ask a question during the Q&A if participating online or via phone |
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| - | Technical Housing Code Forum Series | Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting #4 - Series: Middle Housing/Single Family This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The public is invited to attend and observe. Written comments can be submitted to staff. Webinar ID: 832 9013 7414 Meeting materials |
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| - | Technical Housing Code Forum Series | Technical Housing Code Forum Meeting #3 - Series: Middle Housing/Single Family This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The public is invited to attend and observe. Written comments can be submitted to staff. Meeting materials |