Last reviewed October 18, 2026 by Sean McConnell, Team Leader, McConnell Group
Where are the floating homes in Westlake?
Westlake is the west shore of Lake Union, along Westlake Ave N. It has a mix of floating home docks and marinas with houseboats (FOWRs). The Floating Homes Association names Westlake among the main Lake Union floating home areas.
Docks and marinas line the west shore of Lake Union, so they face east across the lake. Source: Floating Homes Association: Locations
Floating homes or houseboats? What you'll find here
Both, which makes Westlake the place to be most careful about type. Marinas here hold houseboats (FOWRs) in slips, while docks hold floating homes. Check whether a listing is a floating home or a FOWR, because the lender list for houseboats is very short.
Moorage types on these docks
It changes from dock to dock and marina to marina, so verify each one. Houseboats here lease marina slips with liveaboard permission. Slip pricing can vary within one marina: a recent listing showed a premium slip at a high monthly rate and noted lower cost slips were identified.
Getting around
The Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop runs along the shore. Seaplanes take off and land on Lake Union, so some docks hear them. In one recent marina listing, black water was pumped by a service rather than a city sewer line.
A dated example
Recent dues and slip fee examples, with dates, are in the guide.
Rules that apply on every dock
Seattle code sets a few rules for every floating residence, wherever it sits. Each verified residence has a unique 3-digit City number it must display. No floating residence may be used as a short-term rental under 30 nights (SMC 23.42.060). Floating homes need direct sewer and water connections, must have been legally established or permitted by June 15, 2015, and need an SDCI permit before exterior repair, remodel, expansion or rebuild.
A FOWR is a vessel or other floating structure used mainly as a residence, with detachable utilities, and its owner must have held marina space since before July 1, 2014. Because no new floating homes are being added, supply in Westlake stays limited, and it helps to have financing and insurance arranged before the right home is listed. Source: SDCI Tip 229 Source: RCW 90.58.270, Washington State Legislature Source: Seattle SDCI: Floating Residences Source: Lake Life Seattle: Floating Home Buying Guide (2026)
What to check before you buy here
Each dock has its own rules, budget and float condition.