Washington State Senate Passes Middle Housing Bill (June 2023)
The Washington State Senate has passed a Middle Housing Bill, which is designed to encourage the construction of housing such as townhouses, duplexes, and other forms of “middle housing” in certain residential areas. The bill eliminates single-family zoning in certain areas and requires counties to provide up to four units per lot. Doing so would increase the supply of housing and potentially reduce housing costs in the state.
The legislation sets several requirements for local governments. They must plan for and issue permits for middle housing that includes multifamily dwellings, duplexes, townhouses, and other forms of middle housing. They must also allow applications for these types of housing to be processed concurrently with single-family applications. This would streamline the process for developers while providing incentives to build middle housing.
The legislation will have major implications for our real estate market by increasing the housing supply and potentially reducing housing costs. It could also create additional jobs in construction and related industries, which in turn could lead to increased economic activity. In addition, the legislation could help to reduce residential segregation, improve access to housing for low-income families, and reduce the need for public housing subsidies.
With this bill, Washington is joining other states in making strides toward increasing the availability of housing and reducing the cost of living. This increased availability of middle housing can help the state meet its housing needs while still protecting local character. It is now up to the local governments to take advantage of this opportunity and ensure that the legislation is implemented successfully.
The bill was passed in the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 35 – 14; the next step is to go before Governor Inslee for his signature, at which time it will be officially enacted into Washington law.
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