The bill seeks to enhance the efficiency and clarity of land use permitting processes for local governments in Washington State by amending various sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). It allows cities, towns, or counties to adopt ordinances for land divisions using binding site plans, specifically for the sale or lease of commercially or industrially zoned properties, which now also include areas permitting multifamily residential uses. The bill mandates that binding site plans be filed with the county auditor and establishes that any sale or lease not conforming to these plans will be deemed a violation of existing law. Additionally, it exempts certain land divisions, such as those for cemeteries and those made by testamentary provisions, from the chapter's requirements.

Further amendments focus on the timelines for local government actions regarding project permit applications, setting specific deadlines for issuing final decisions based on the type of permit. For permits not requiring public notice, decisions must be made within 65 days, while those requiring public notice and hearings must be decided within 170 days. The bill also requires local governments with populations over 20,000 to track and report on project permit applications, including the average processing time, and to publish an annual performance report. If local governments fail to meet the established timeframes, a portion of the permit fee must be refunded to the applicant, and they cannot request deadline extensions as a condition for initial permit submissions.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 58.17.035, 58.17.040, 64.90.025, 36.70B.080
Substitute Bill: 58.17.035, 58.17.040, 64.90.025, 36.70B.080
Engrossed Substitute: 58.17.035, 58.17.040, 64.90.025, 36.70B.080
Bill as Passed Legislature: 58.17.035, 58.17.040, 64.90.025, 36.70B.080
Session Law: 58.17.035, 58.17.040, 64.90.025, 36.70B.080