The bill addresses Washington's housing crisis by promoting the development of detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in rural areas, recognizing the need for an additional 1.1 million homes by 2044. It allows counties to authorize the construction of detached ADUs on lots of any size, overriding local planning restrictions. The legislation sets specific requirements for these units, including limitations on water usage and sewage system capacity, while ensuring they adhere to design standards that align with the primary dwelling. Additionally, it clarifies definitions related to ADUs and establishes that population growth from these units will not count towards rural or urban growth targets in comprehensive plans.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws regarding the review and revision of county comprehensive plans and urban growth areas, establishing criteria for counties to follow when revising these areas to accommodate projected urban growth. It mandates that counties update their comprehensive plans to reflect the new provisions for detached ADUs and emphasizes collaboration between counties and cities in planning policies. The bill also introduces requirements for multicounty planning policies, specifying that they must be adopted by counties with populations of 450,000 or more, and outlines the consequences for counties that fail to comply with the established planning policies and deadlines.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 36.70A.696, 36.70A.177, 36.70A.130, 36.70A.210