Advocates for state preemption of local land use authority around housing are back with another proposal to mandate city zoning policy from Olympia. HB 1660 requires all planning cities to authorize three homes on all residential lots over 4,500 square feet, regardless of local circumstances. The bill does this by authorizing two accessory dwelling
units (ADUs) per lot of that size. The bill also requires the following prescriptive ADU development regulations:
- Prohibits any off-street parking requirements near transit stops, even in areas that lack street capacity or have physical impediments to parking;
- Mandates cities to reduce impact fees;
- Restricts owner occupancy requirements for either the primary unit or one of the ADUs; and
- Restricts the ability for a city to limit the size of ADUs.
Like the now-dead missing middle density bill from earlier this session, the advocates are unwilling to acknowledge all the good work that cities are already doing on ADUs. Ninety percent of the state’s incorporated population lives in a city that
allows ADUs, but with regulations designed to fit their community’s needs rather than the state’s prescriptive vision. We need solutions that will build housing supply—especially affordable housing—not proposals that incorrectly
presume cities are the reason housing isn’t being built.
We need solutions that will build housing supply—especially affordable housing—not proposals that incorrectly presume cities are the reason housing isn’t being built.
The bill passed from its Senate policy committee to the Rules Committee with the understanding that it is a “work in progress.” If the bill is not brought up for a vote by Friday, March 4 at 5 pm, it will be dead.
Please communicate with your Senator ASAP. Express your concerns about this bill while legislators consider whether or not to support bringing it to a vote.