The bill aims 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 includes 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 larger tracts, from standard regulations, while ensuring that development regulations set timeframes for local government actions on project permit applications.

Moreover, the bill sets specific deadlines for local government actions on project permit applications, with a 65-day deadline for permits not requiring public notice and a 170-day deadline for those needing both public notice and a hearing. It requires counties and cities with populations over 20,000 to track and report processing times for permit applications, particularly related to housing, and to issue annual performance reports. If local governments fail to meet these deadlines, a portion of the permit fee must be refunded to the applicant. The bill also allows for deadline extensions through mutual written agreement but prohibits local governments from requiring such extensions at the initial submission of a project permit application.

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