Housing in Snohomish

There are a total of 4,461 dwelling units in the city, housing the city's estimated population of 10,200.  Snohomish's population target for the year 2044 is 12,878 people.  The City completed a Housing Assessment and Gap Analysis (HAGA), including community and workforce profiles, an assessment of the existing housing supply, and projected demand calculations.  Download the HAGA.

The population and housing targets are a product of the Growth Monitoring Report compiled by the Snohomish County Planning & Development Services Department.  View Snohomish County's Growth Monitoring Reports.

Housing Supply and Demand

Meeting the demand for housing is a regional issue that cannot be solved by the City alone.  The City's role in helping meet regional housing needs focuses on minimizing regulatory obstacles which could impede construction of new housing, including affordable and special needs housing.  Toward this end, the Snohomish Municipal Code provides incentives to construct low-income housing and allows accessory dwelling units and manufactured housing which can be more affordable than standard dwelling units.

Comprehensive Plan - Housing Element

The City's housing goals and policies are found in the Housing Element of the City of Snohomish Comprehensive Plan.  For more information about the City's housing policies, download the Housing Element of the City of Snohomish Comprehensive Plan.

What is the state of housing in Snohomish, and what do we need to do for our housing element?

Click here to see the presentation from Chris Collier of the Alliance for Housing Affordability to the joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission on February 21, 2023. Mr. Collier discussed the housing issues the city is facing.

Click here to see the presentation from Joe Tovar, FAICP of the Department of Commerce to the joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission on February 21, 2023. Mr. Tovar discussed the requirements of the Growth Management Act and what needs to be done at the local level.

Missing Middle Housing Analysis

In an effort to increase middle housing types (for example, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes) and prepare for the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update, the City of Snohomish is working on a Middle Housing Analysis. The project team will study the existing housing stock, look for ways to increase moderate-density housing, perform an analysis to identify housing and regulations that may have racially disparate impacts, and develop a set of implementation guidelines to ensure no communities are displaced or harmed as part of the potential solutions to Snohomish’s housing challenges. Read more about this work on the project webpage.

Snohomish County Housing Policies

In collaboration with the municipalities within the county, Snohomish County has adopted 14 Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) related to housing.  The policies complement the Growth Management Act goal to encourage a full range of housing types to meet the needs of all segments of the population and to encourage the preservation of the existing housing stock.  To see all 14 housing CPPs, download the Snohomish County Countywide Housing CPPs.

One of the most significant is CPP HO-5, which requires the County, in collaboration with its municipalities, to periodically compile a "Housing Characteristics and Needs" report.  Download the most recent Housing Characteristics and Needs report.

Contact Us

  1. Brooke Eidem, AICP

    Planning Director

    Email Brooke

    Ph: 360-282-3167


    Leah Chulsky

    Planner

    Email Leah

    Ph: 425-328-0078


    Thomas Kreinbring

    Assistant Planner

    Email Tom

    Ph: 360-282-3159


    116 Union Ave.
    P.O. Box 1589

    Snohomish, WA 98290


    Hours

    In-person: 

    Tuesday & Wednesday

    8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

    By appointment: 

    Monday, Thursday, Friday

    (Excluding Holidays)

Snohomish Affordable Housing Group (SAHG)

The Snohomish Affordable Housing Group (SAHG) is a private, non-profit grass roots organization that provides transitional and permanent housing for low income, disabled, and senior households in the City of Snohomish and along its perimeter.  Learn more information about SAHG.

Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO)

The County's housing authority, HASCO, provides rental assistance to over 5,000 Snohomish County residents.  They also offer special housing options for seniors and the disabled.

In addition to owning and managing over 2,100 units of subsidized and affordable housing, HASCO also administers over 3,400 housing vouchers.

Learn more about HASCO on their website.

Alliance for Housing Affordability (AHA)

The City of Snohomish is a charter member of the Alliance for Housing Affordability (AHA), which was established in 2013 through an interlocal agreement with Snohomish County, 13 of the cities within the county, and the Housing Authority of Snohomish County.  The Alliance is a venue for Snohomish County jurisdictions to work together to understand local housing challenges and share resources to address these challenges.

A detailed picture of the affordable housing situation for each of the member cities, called housing profiles, has been created by AHA staff.  Download the City of Snohomish's 2014 Affordable Housing Profile. 

Learn more about the Alliance on the AHA website.

Fair Housing

Fair housing laws prohibit discriminatory actions against people in the housing market because of their race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, sex (gender), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.  The laws also prohibit discrimination against families with children, veterans, or members of the military.

For more information about fair housing laws, visit Snohomish County's fair housing website.