Everett City Council Unanimously Adopts NR-MHC Zone: Seven Manufactured Home Parks Now Permanently Protected

Q: What did the Everett City Council just vote on?
A: On May 7, 2026, the council unanimously adopted an ordinance creating the NR-MHC (Neighborhood Residential – Manufactured Housing Community) zone, permanently protecting seven named manufactured home parks from redevelopment for other uses.

Seven manufactured home parks in Everett can’t be redeveloped for other uses under a new zoning ordinance the City Council unanimously adopted on May 7, 2026.

The ordinance establishes a new land use zone called Neighborhood Residential – Manufactured Housing Community (NR-MHC) and immediately rezones seven named parks to that classification. It also repeals Title 17 of the Everett Municipal Code, a section of zoning law the city described as defunct and no longer administered.

Mayor Cassie Franklin issued a statement following the vote: “Thank you to the Council for approving this important action to preserve an affordable housing option in Everett. Manufactured home parks provide one of the most affordable home ownership options. Potential redevelopment of these properties and rising rents are threats to the homeowners’ tenure. Residents don’t own the land under their homes and pay rent. It may not be possible to find a new site for their home if their current location is no longer an option due to redevelopment. This new ordinance offers new protections for the homeowners, preserving this housing option into the future.”

The Seven Parks Now Under NR-MHC Protection

The ordinance rezones these communities to NR-MHC effective upon adoption:

Creekside Mobile Home Park — 5810 Fleming St.
Fairway Estates Mobile Home Park — 1427 100th St.
Lago De Plata Villa — 620 112th St.
Loganberry Mobile Home Park — 9931 18th Ave. W
Mobile Country Club — 1415 84th St.
Silver Shores Senior Mobile Home Park — 11622 Silver Lake Road
Westridge Mobile Home Park — 7701 Hardeson Rd.

What the New Zone Actually Allows — and Doesn’t

The NR-MHC zone limits land use to the continuation of a manufactured housing community. That means each property must keep operating as a manufactured home park under normal circumstances.

The single exception: if circumstances beyond the control of the property owner change in a way that results in no reasonable economic use of the property, the owner could seek a different use. That’s a high bar — it’s not a backdoor to redevelopment based on rising land values or more profitable zoning alternatives.

Permitted uses within NR-MHC include replacement or modification of manufactured homes or tiny homes, and accessory structures including community rooms and laundry facilities. The zone does not allow conversion to apartments, retail, commercial development, or other uses typical in residential or mixed-use zoning.

Why This Matters for Manufactured Home Residents

People who own a manufactured home typically own the home itself but not the land it sits on. They rent a pad — the lot — from the park owner. If a park is sold for redevelopment, residents often can’t simply move their homes. Relocation is typically cost-prohibitive, and many older manufactured homes can’t survive a move at all.

That dynamic has displaced manufactured home communities in high-growth cities throughout the Puget Sound region over the past decade. The NR-MHC zone is Everett’s mechanism for preventing that outcome in the seven parks it covers.

The ordinance implements two goals from Everett’s Comprehensive Plan: HO-10, which directs the city to protect existing affordable housing stock, and HO-19, which specifically addresses manufactured housing community preservation.

What the Title 17 Repeal Means

The ordinance also repeals Title 17 of the Everett Municipal Code. City staff described Title 17 as a section of zoning law that has not been actively used or administered in recent years and is considered defunct. The repeal is housekeeping — removing dormant code language — rather than a substantive change in how anything currently works.

Context: Where This Fits in Everett’s Housing Picture

Everett’s planning commission and city council worked on the NR-MHC ordinance as part of the city’s broader housing affordability effort. A public hearing was held May 6 at 6:30 PM in City Council Chambers at 3002 Wetmore Ave. The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance the following day, May 7.

The vote comes as the city navigates a projected $14 million general fund deficit heading into the 2027 budget cycle and considers several revenue-side options including the utility tax increase currently working through council readings. The NR-MHC ordinance doesn’t cost the city anything to implement — the protection comes through the zoning map, not city expenditure.

Snohomish County approved $23 million in housing funding across six projects on April 24, including three in Everett — a signal that housing preservation and production is a coordinated regional priority.

What To Do Next

If you live in one of the seven parks: The ordinance is now in effect. Your park cannot be rezoned for other uses without extraordinary circumstances that must be demonstrated to the city. If you receive any notice from your park owner about redevelopment or sale, contact the City of Everett Planning Division at 425-257-8731 or visit everettwa.gov.

To review the ordinance: The ordinance and associated documents, including the rezoning map (Exhibit A) and staff memo, are available through the City of Everett Agenda Center at everettwa.gov/agendacenter under the May 7, 2026 City Council meeting materials.

To stay current with Everett zoning changes: Sign up for news flash notifications at everettwa.gov to receive city announcements directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this ordinance cap my rent?

No. The NR-MHC zone controls what the land can be used for, not what a park owner can charge for pad rental. Rent is governed by lease terms and Washington landlord-tenant law — not this ordinance.

Can the park owner sell the property?

Yes. The NR-MHC zone follows the property, not the owner. If a park is sold, the new owner takes ownership of a parcel zoned NR-MHC and cannot redevelop it for other uses except under the narrow economic-use exception.

What was Title 17 EMC?

Title 17 was an older section of Everett’s zoning code that had not been actively used for some time. Its repeal is cleanup — removing defunct language — not a change to any active regulations.

Are there other manufactured home parks in Everett not covered by this ordinance?

The ordinance covers the seven parks identified in Exhibit A of the staff memo. The city did not publicly identify additional parks as being under active redevelopment threat. Parks not on the list are governed by their existing zoning designation.