The proposed bill aims to reform minimum parking requirements across various jurisdictions in Washington State, addressing the negative impacts of excessive parking mandates on development costs, public health, and environmental sustainability. It establishes new regulations that limit cities, code cities, and counties to a maximum of 0.5 parking spaces per residential dwelling unit and one parking space per 1,000 square feet of commercial space. Additionally, it eliminates minimum parking requirements for specific categories, including existing buildings undergoing change of use, affordable housing, and facilities serving vulnerable populations, among others.

The bill also includes provisions that allow for exceptions to these requirements based on population size or empirical studies demonstrating safety concerns. Furthermore, it mandates the state building code council to review and potentially update accessible parking space requirements to reflect current disability rates among drivers. Lastly, the bill repeals existing legislation related to minimum residential parking requirements, thereby modernizing the approach to parking regulations in the state.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 36.70A.620
Substitute Bill: 36.70A.040M
Engrossed Substitute: 36.70A.040M