Bill > SB6026

This bill aims to increase housing availability by prohibiting certain cities and counties, specifically those with populations of 30,000 or more or counties not defined as rural, from banning residential development in areas zoned for commercial or mixed-use purposes, unless specific exceptions apply, such as historic sites or areas designated for business improvement or main street revitalization. It also generally prevents these jurisdictions from mandating mixed-use or ground-floor commercial spaces as a condition for residential development, with exceptions for areas around transit stations, up to 20% of the total commercial and mixed-use zoned area, or areas where a height incentive of up to 85 feet is provided, unless the housing is publicly subsidized affordable housing. Jurisdictions can opt out of these requirements if they conduct an empirical study by a credentialed expert to balance housing needs with ground-floor commercial uses and adopt ordinances reflecting these findings within a year of their next comprehensive plan update. The bill outlines several exceptions where residential development can still be prohibited, including in industrial zones, near refineries, if demolition of a historic landmark is required, outside urban growth areas, in areas where residential uses are already prohibited by law, in tax increment financing areas, adjacent to shorelines prohibiting multifamily residential development, or within critical area buffers or critical areas, with some exceptions for aquifer recharge areas. The bill clarifies that it does not require a city to issue a building permit if other requirements are not met, nor does it force cities to update their growth assumptions before their next comprehensive plan update after January 1, 2031, and it emphasizes that local governments can still work to ensure access to essential services like grocery stores.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6026&Year=2025&Initiative=false