City of Kent Begins Phase 3

Since adopting code changes in the comprehensive plan that were required by the WA legislature in 2025, the city of Kent launched an additional regulatory reform initiative called ReCode Kent – Phase 2. That effort, which is nearly concluded with support from Seattle King County REALTORS®, involves significant additional reforms including, but not limited to:

• Allowing more types of housing in the city’s Community Commercial zone by providing flexibility for ground-floor residential uses in commercial property, as well as revising other limitations that limited residential uses.
• Increasing residential density within a ¼-mile of 104th Ave SE.
• Revisions to multifamily residential design standards, and
• Increasing site-coverage ratios to and increasing building heights to 5 stories.

Now, Mayor Dana Ralph has announced Kent is moving forward with ReCode Kent – Phase 3. Seattle King County REALTORS® will continue to be involved because the initiative will continue to update city development regulations to support more housing, and a sustainable and vibrant Kent.

Phase 3 includes a plan for Downtown Kent, aimed at encouraging the reuse of vacant land, mixed-use and mixed-income development, and improving public safety. City leaders hope to revitalize the identity of the downtown core and promote it as a regional destination for shopping and events.

Phase 3 will also update the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance and continue efforts to clean up brownfields, which are vacant or underused properties where redevelopment is complicated by potential environmental concerns. The City of Kent received a $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant to identify potential sites, assess environmental risks, and develop cleanup and reuse plans with property owners and community members to move challenging properties toward redevelopment, while protecting public health and supporting economic growth.