Olympia 2025

State Legislature Can Continue Momentum on Housing

By Michael Pattison (February 24, 2025)

Washington state continues to struggle with the ongoing housing crisis. Too many families are unable to find adequate and attainable housing near where they work. The consequences of that are many.

With costs at all-time highs, mortgage rates over seven percent, lack of supply, the threat of tariffs, economic uncertainty and more, that is not going to change overnight.

In recent years Olympia wisely passed landmark legislation on middle housing, accessory dwelling units and more to address the problem. Unfortunately, it will take time for those efforts to turn into new homes. A homebuilder must first find a willing seller of scarce land supply. Then, it can take four to five years to navigate the acquisition, entitlement and construction process before finally turning over the keys to a new home. Even then, the affordability hurdle remains — but increasing supply is the crucial first step.

The 2025 legislature can’t lower mortgage rates, improve consumer confidence or create new land supply. However, it can continue its progress towards more attainable housing supply by adopting several incremental steps related to regulatory reform, process streamlining, code flexibility and more. These modest provisions will add momentum to new housing starts when middle housing and accessory dwelling unit opportunities begin coming to fruition.

A few bills currently under consideration that should be passed include:

HB 1096 Increasing housing options through lot splitting. — Streamlines the outdated subdivision and approval process for very small sites. Big lots encourage big, expensive homes. Splitting large lots allows for more land to build, smaller, affordable homes, duplexes and townhomes. More from Sightline on LOT SPLITTING.

SB 5613 Concerning the development of clear and objective standards, conditions, and procedures for residential development. — Ensures only clear and objective standards are employed for residential development regulation. Clearer rules prevent construction delays due to confusion and litigation.

SB 5148 Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act. — Makes certain that jurisdictions comply with their own adopted Housing Elements contained in their comprehensive plans. A jurisdiction must submit any housing element and any housing development regulations adopted, to the State Department of Commerce (DoC) for review to determine whether the housing element or housing development regulations comply with laws and regulations. In jurisdictions which fail to meet state law, with projects containing affordable or moderate-income housing, the DoC can grant automatic permit approval.

SB 5471 Authorizing middle housing in unincorporated growth areas and unincorporated urban growth areas, certain limited areas of more intensive rural development, and fully contained communities. — Allows middle housing (Duplexes and Townhomes) in unincorporated, urban areas. There is no reason to allow pockets of unincorporated land within Urban Growth Areas (UGA) to not support middle housing. Recently passed middle housing legislation only applied to cities. But there are lots of unincorporated land inside UGA’s that is just as urban as any city. It should be allowed to achieve the same middle housing density.

HB 1183 Concerning building code and development regulation reform. — Allow for modest flexibility in building codes to support affordable, sustainable construction.

HB 1061 Providing additional parking flexibility in residential neighborhoods. — Reducing construction mandates for parking stalls and lots to free up limited land supply for housing units is a win-win. This perspective also recognizes use of ride-sharing apps as a transportation option.

HB 1022 Creating a homes for heroes program — A pilot program creating downpayment assistance for certain essential workers. The "Heroes" are: Firefighters, police officers, nurses, military servicemembers and mental health professionals. Downpayments and closing costs are one of the biggest barriers to homeownership. Any movement here is a step forward.

State lawmakers are encouraged to keep building on progress already made on housing by adopting these modest bills that will eventually result in new, more attainable housing.

Michael Pattison considers horses Zen. He is former legislative affairs director of Master Builders of King and Snohomish Counties.

(Image: Zoonar/Erwin Wodicka. Alamy Images.)

CASCADE PARTY of WASHINGTON
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Seattle, WA 98118