This bill establishes new requirements for cities and code cities in Washington regarding the designation of historic landmarks. It mandates that cities must adopt or amend their development regulations, zoning regulations, and preservation ordinances to comply with specific criteria for designating properties as historic landmarks. Notably, properties less than 40 years old cannot be designated, and any designation that restricts the use, alteration, or demolition of a property requires the written consent of the property owner. If a city fails to adopt the necessary regulations within one year, the new requirements will automatically apply, overriding any conflicting local regulations. Exceptions to these rules exist for properties within historic districts or those over 100 years old.

Additionally, the bill reenacts and amends existing laws to clarify that certain actions taken by cities to implement these new requirements are not subject to administrative or judicial appeals. This includes actions consistent with the new sections added to chapters 35.21 and 35A.21 RCW. The intent of the bill is to streamline the process for designating historic landmarks while ensuring property owners have a say in the designation of their properties.