Bill > HB2346

This bill aims to address the shortage of middle housing in Washington by creating a new performance-based building code pathway for these types of buildings, which are defined as residential buildings with one to 24 dwelling units, including various attached and detached housing styles, and are not considered high-rise buildings. Instead of requiring builders to follow specific, prescriptive construction methods, this new pathway, which will be added as an appendix to the International Building Code, allows compliance to be demonstrated through measurable performance objectives, such as through testing or analysis, ensuring health, safety, and welfare protections are met. The State Building Code Council will establish this pathway by rule, with input from a technical advisory group composed of experts and state agencies, and will consider existing national standards. This approach is intended to reduce regulatory friction, improve permitting predictability, support innovation and industrialized housing construction, and allow for the reuse of approved designs across different jurisdictions, ultimately helping to reduce housing costs while also aligning with energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reduction programs. The bill also allows for the recognition of housing system and plan certifications from independent third-party organizations to demonstrate compliance.

Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2346&Year=2025&Initiative=false