County to align unincorporated zoning with new middle-housing law

Jackson County staff told the joint meeting that recent state legislative changes now apply middle-housing requirements to unincorporated areas, prompting a review of the Land Development Ordinance to ensure compliance.

"It was only this last legislative session that, they decided that unincorporated cities would also be included in the middle housing legislation," said speaker 2, describing why the county must amend zoning language to allow duplexes and manufactured homes where required. Staff noted the county already has many middle-housing forms in White City but will formalize necessary LDO edits.

The planning commission will review a DLCD-funded White City middle-housing project (conducted by RVCOG) and recommend LDO amendments where statutory changes require updates. No adoption vote occurred; staff will return with specific code language and proposed map/zoning clarifications for the commission to consider.