This monthly update is published by the City of Poulsbo Planning and Economic Development (PED) Department to highlight news and trends in planning and development. For details on these topics and the department, visit our website.

The Director's Chair

Two New Permit Ready ADU’s

Last June, the City released four pre-approved designs by Artisans Group Architect for small residential units, ranging from 480 to 800 square feet. These plans were created to make building accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or smaller secondary (or primary) homes, more accessible by reducing or eliminating the cost of hiring an architect and simplifying the permitting process. The plans are free to use, and projects using them benefit from a streamlined review process and reduced permitting costs.

While these plans are available in Poulsbo, they are also being used in Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Bremerton, and parts of Kitsap County, helping expand housing options throughout the region.



The City’s contract with the architect included six total designs. The first four were already in use in other Western Washington communities, while the final two were designed specifically for Kitsap County. These regionally tailored plans, the Kitsap and the Salish (see below), were shaped by input from the Kitsap Builders Association, a key partner in promoting high-quality, attainable housing.

Housing Affordability Workshop Series Continues

The City’s Housing Affordability Workshop Series is well underway, with Workshops 1 and 2 now complete and strong discussion from City Council about the challenges and opportunities around housing in Poulsbo.

Workshop 1 Understanding Local Cost Drivers | January 7, 2026

The first workshop focused on building a shared foundation around what drives housing costs in Poulsbo and where the City does and does not have control. Council reviewed local housing needs data, explored what affordable housing means in a Poulsbo context, and examined the difference between market forces such as interest rates, labor, and material costs and locally controlled cost drivers like development standards, permitting timelines, impact fees, utility charges, and infrastructure requirements.

This session was informational and designed to establish a common vocabulary and baseline understanding to support more targeted policy conversations later in the series.

Workshop 2 Programs and Incentives | February 4, 2026

The second workshop shifted from why housing is expensive to what tools the City could use to improve feasibility and affordability. Council explored a wide range of potential programs and incentives, including tax exemptions, fee reductions or deferrals, density bonuses, parking flexibility, expedited review, partnerships, and grant based approaches.

Discussion centered on which tools might best align with Poulsbo’s goals, market conditions, and staff capacity, and how incentives can be structured to deliver real affordability outcomes while balancing fiscal and administrative trade offs.

Coming Up Workshop 3 Implementation and Trade Offs | February 18, 2026

The third workshop will focus on how these ideas translate into real world implementation. Council will take a deeper look at the fiscal impacts, staffing and administrative requirements, and sequencing considerations for the priority tools identified so far. This session is a key step toward understanding what is feasible in the near term versus longer term strategies, and what trade offs may be required to move forward.

Learn More

All workshop materials, including presentations, memos, and background information, are available on the Housing Affordability website. Community members are encouraged to review the materials and follow along as the City works through this structured, multi step process to shape future housing affordability strategies.

Above: Proposed Viking Commercial Center Binding Site Plan.

In Development

The following projects are currently under construction:

Projects under construction for site work (grading, stormwater vaults, installation of sewer lines, etc.) are managed by the Engineering Department. Please contact them for questions or concerns.

Projects under construction for buildings (vertical construction) are managed by the Building Department. Please contact them for questions or concerns.

The Many Roles of PED Staff

Did you know? On top of the larger land use applications, the PED Department staff also responds to public records requests, business license applications, sign permits, tenant improvements, deck permits, grading permits, and code enforcement requests.

For the month of January PED staff reviewed/responded to:

• 35 Business Licenses
• 4 Public Record Requests
• 1 New Single Family Residence
• 1 Single Family Remodel
• 1 Commercial Tenant Improvement
• 1 Retaining Wall

Planning Commission Calendar

See below for agenda items for Planning Commission meetings. Please note that agenda items are subject to change. Check the website for the official agenda.

February 10 - Cancelled

February 24 - Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendments Workshop and Selection of Planning Commission Vice Chair