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WashingtonHB 24182025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning permit review processes.

Sponsored By: Davina Duerr (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Faster utility and district reviews

When a local government sends a complete referral, a district has 15 days to say it is incomplete. Otherwise, review starts. For routine work, districts must issue written technical comments within 45 business days. For complex work, they can take up to 60 more business days, but no review can exceed 120 calendar days, excluding paused time. The review clock does not count time waiting on state or federal approvals, right-of-way permits, utility coordination, final design conditions, or your plan revisions. If a district misses its review period, it must refund or give up 20% of the civil plan or infrastructure review fee. Missing a deadline is not automatic service approval.

One-stop permit process for housing

Local governments must adopt an integrated, consolidated permit process by June 30, 2027. For housing permits, they must name a permit responsible official with final decision power. If they lead environmental review, the same person is the SEPA official. Every application gets one point of contact. Consolidated reviews allow at most one open-record hearing and one closed-record appeal. Closed-record appeals use the existing record only. When no predecision hearing is needed, the government issues one report with all decisions and required mitigation. Agencies must also track and enforce permit conditions.

Refunds when local reviews are late

If the local government misses its permit deadline, you get part of your fee back. If the delay is 20% or less past the deadline, the refund is 10%. If the delay is more than 20%, the refund is 20%. A city or county can collect only 80% up front and collect the last 20% only if it meets the time limits. No refund applies if the government already uses at least three listed speed-up options.

Clear permit timelines and pauses

The government must say in writing within 28 days if your permit is complete. If it says nothing, it is complete on day 29. After you submit requested items, it has 14 days to respond. Final decisions must come within 65 days (no public notice), 100 days (notice), or 170 days (notice plus hearing). For permits filed after January 1, 2025, local rules must spell out what a complete application needs. The review clock pauses while you respond, when you ask to pause, during other-agency actions, and during EIS work and appeals. The government may add 30 days if you pause more than 60 days or do not respond for 60 days after a notice. If you change the use and the new use fails completeness, timing restarts. The government must also list other agencies with jurisdiction. Some code-only building permits and utility-district service or plan reviews are not project permits.

Refunds if outside reviewers are late

Any nonlocal reviewer that charges a fee for a home project must finish within the standard permit time limits, unless you waive the deadline in writing. If it is late, it must refund or forgo 20% of its review fee. This includes public utility districts and certain water and flood districts. If a state department reviews your permit for a fee, it must meet the same local-decision timelines. Its clock starts when it gets the needed information and pauses for the same reasons. No refund is owed for parts of a review where no fee was charged.

Yearly permit performance and accountability

Covered counties and cities (20,000+ people) must post a yearly permit report and send it to Commerce by March 1. The first report is due March 1, 2025, for 2024 data. Commerce publishes a statewide report by July 1. The law lists options to speed housing permits, such as faster review for code-compliant or affordable homes. After January 1, 2026, if a city or county adopted at least three options more than five years ago but still misses deadlines at least half the time, it must add more at its next plan update or face fee-refund rules. Districts must share key dates and refund status with the local government to support these reports.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Davina Duerr

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Janice Zahn

    Democratic • House

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Parshley

    Democratic • House

  • Strom Peterson

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 238 • No: 0

House vote • 3/11/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/4/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 2/13/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 93 • No: 0 • Other: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/27/2026House

  2. Chapter 235, 2026 Laws.

    3/27/2026House

  3. Governor signed.

    3/27/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. President signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/11/2026House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    3/11/2026House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/4/2026House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/4/2026House

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

    3/4/2026House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/27/2026House

  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/24/2026House

  14. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/23/2026House

  15. LGV - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    2/23/2026House

  16. First reading, referred to Local Government.

    2/17/2026House

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 93; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 5.

    2/13/2026House

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/13/2026House

  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/13/2026House

  20. 2nd substitute bill substituted.

    2/13/2026House

  21. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    2/11/2026House

  22. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/9/2026House

  23. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/7/2026House

  24. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/7/2026House

  25. Referred to Appropriations.

    1/27/2026House

Bill Text

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