The illegal accessory apartment over the garage is empty, too.

Officials have been considering the changes since 1989 and a public hearing on the issue of accessory apartments is expected this fall.

"It's so widespread already, if you could get rid of accessory apartments, where are the people in them supposed to go?"

The new rules also limit owners' rights to alter the property or to create accessory apartments.

Yet both political and practical problems cast shadows on the future of accessory apartments.

Since the law was changed, 28 owners of accessory apartments registered them with the town and four new units were built.

In Washington, larger cities and counties must have provisions for accessory apartments under the state's growth management policies.

There are two scenarios: First, those who need the income an accessory apartment in their home would provide.

Some of them are accessory apartments in private homes, and others are above stores.

Rents run from $750 to $1,000 a month for small - and scarce - accessory apartments.