Bill > SB5613

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for developing clear and objective standards for residential development in Washington state. The bill requires the Department of Commerce to form a stakeholder work group representing cities, counties, the building industry, construction trades, planning and architecture professions, and land use advocacy organizations to analyze development regulations that create barriers to housing types and suggest model codes with clear and objective standards. By January 1, 2029, cities and counties must adopt development regulations that are either directly compliant with the bill's requirements or substantially similar to a model code to be developed by the department by June 30, 2027. The bill introduces new definitions for "clear and objective development regulations" and "clear and objective design standards," which essentially mean development rules that can be understood and applied without subjective interpretation, with measurable written or graphic criteria known to applicants and officials before submission. The bill also allows jurisdictions to maintain an alternative approval process for residential development that includes some non-objective aesthetic criteria, but only if applicants can still choose to use a clear and objective process and the alternative process does not reduce the allowed density. The goal is to create more predictable, uniform, and streamlined residential development processes across Washington state.