SB 5190 – Middle housing

Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing.

Sponsors: Trudeau, Lovelett, Braun, Frame, Hasegawa, Hunt, Kuderer, Liias, Nguyen, Nobles, Pedersen, Shewmake, Wilson, C.

Status: DEAD

Summary

• Requires certain cities planning under the Growth Management Act to authorize minimum development densities in residential zones.
• Establishes requirements for middle housing development regulations.
• Requires the Department of Commerce to provide technical assistance to cities in implementing the requirements and to develop model missing housing ordinances.

Amended

• Modifies density requirements and population thresholds.
• Requires any combination of middle housing types to be allowed to achieve the required unit density.
• Modifies the maximum parking that may be required to one or two off-street parking spaces per unit, instead of per lot, and provides an exemption from the parking provisions under certain circumstances.
• Requires Commerce to publish model middle housing ordinances no later than six months after the effective date of the bill, instead of 18 months after the effective date of the bill.
• Allows cities to apply to Commerce for an extension in implementing the Act’s requirements in areas at risk of displacement and removes provisions related to the antidisplacement measures in the mandatory housing element.
• Requires cities to allow development in areas with water, sewer, or stormwater deficiencies if the developer commits to providing the infrastructure.