Bill > SB6069

This bill aims to address the housing shortage and homelessness crisis in Washington by encouraging the development of permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters. It mandates that counties and cities allow these housing types in urban growth areas in zones where residential dwellings or hotels are already permitted, and prohibits them from being exclusively zoned for industrial use. The bill also stipulates that these housing types cannot face more restrictive development standards, conditions, or permit processes than other residential or lodging developments in the same zone, though objective standards for public health and safety can still be applied. For indoor emergency shelters and housing, specific, limited notification and community meeting requirements are allowed, and sponsors must provide a written certification of compliance. The bill clarifies that it does not require approval for housing in critical areas, natural hazard zones, or resource lands, and it also amends existing laws to streamline permitting for adding housing units within existing buildings, removing certain restrictions on density, parking, and permitting processes for such conversions, with exceptions for life safety standards.