The bill aims to increase housing options in Washington by allowing existing residential lots to be split into two separate lots, thereby providing homeowners with more flexibility and offering prospective buyers more affordable housing opportunities. The legislature recognizes that lot splitting can help maintain homeownership during changing life circumstances and can facilitate sales to affordable housing providers. To implement this, the bill mandates that cities planning under the Growth Management Act (chapter 36.70A RCW) adopt or amend their regulations by July 1, 2024, to incorporate the new requirements regarding lot splitting.

Specifically, the bill prohibits cities from banning the splitting of residential lots under certain conditions, such as ensuring the resulting lots are at least 1,500 square feet and meet specific size criteria relative to the original lot. Additionally, it restricts cities from imposing excessive regulations on the newly created lots, including limitations on parking spaces, frontage width, and easement widths. The bill also clarifies that any construction on the resulting lots must comply with existing state and local laws, except for the provisions outlined in the new section.