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WashingtonHB 24182025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning permit review processes.

Sponsored By: Davina Duerr (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

District Review Deadlines And Fee Refunds

Beginning June 11, 2026, covered residential permit referrals to special purpose and public utility districts receive review deadlines. Referrals must include district-required civil plans and materials; districts have 15 calendar days to flag missing items before referrals become complete. Routine reviews require written comments within 45 business days; qualifying complex reviews get up to 60 extra business days. Total review cannot exceed 120 calendar days, excluding specified waits for outside approvals, coordination, land-use decisions, and applicant revisions. Late covered district reviews require a 20% refund or waived charge on the civil-plan or infrastructure review fee portion. Covered fee-based residential reviews by the Washington Department of Ecology also carry a 20% refund or waived charge for missed deadlines. Ecology follows the applicable local decision deadlines; no refund applies to fee-free review portions, and district delays do not approve service.

Encouraged Faster Reviews For Affordable Housing

Washington encourages local governments to speed permit reviews for projects with homes affordable to low- or moderate-income households. Monthly housing costs, including utilities except telephone, must be no more than 30% of family income. Low-income means below 80% of county median income; moderate-income means no more than 120% of county or city median income. Projects consistent with adopted development rules also qualify for encouraged faster review. Faster review is not required for any particular application.

Clearer Permit Rules With Narrower Coverage

Beginning June 11, 2026, building-code permits and specified district reviews are excluded from the general project permit rules. District exclusions cover service availability, system capacity, infrastructure needs, and water, sewer, or stormwater plans; separate district deadlines still apply. For covered applications, local governments cannot base procedural completeness on whether submitted information is accurate, adequate, or sufficient. Applications meeting submission rules become complete on day 29 without written notice of incompleteness; this does not mean project approval. Local governments cannot request or require deadline extensions at initial submission. Later extensions require written agreement for a reasonable, set period before denial or deadline expiration; the usual statutory review provisions do not apply during that extension.

Coordinated Housing Reviews With Decision Deadlines

Covered Washington local governments must establish a coordinated permit process by June 30, 2027, with one contact per application. A designated official makes final administrative decisions for residential projects and also leads environmental review when the local government leads it. Beginning June 11, 2026, the required process includes decision notices within the applicable legal deadline. Deadlines are 65 calendar days without public notice, 100 with notice, or 170 with notice and a hearing, excluding allowed pauses. The law removes the prior stated process requirement to finish environmental review, public review, and local appeals within earlier review periods.

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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