The bill aims to address the housing crisis in Washington state by streamlining the permitting process for affordable housing construction. It introduces a new section that emphasizes the need for expedited permit approvals, identifying the current permitting process as a significant barrier to increasing housing units. Key amendments to existing laws include a requirement for local governments to provide a written determination of project permit applications within 28 days, outlining whether the application is complete or incomplete. Additionally, the bill establishes that applications submitted with plans prepared by licensed professional engineers or architects are deemed complete, provided they meet specific criteria.

Further amendments include provisions that allow local governments to exclude certain project permits from standard review processes, particularly for interior alterations and expansions that do not significantly change the existing site layout or exceed specified size limits. The bill also mandates that local governments must exclude certain types of project permits from the provisions of chapter 36.70B RCW, such as expansions or remodeling of existing buildings under specific conditions. Overall, the legislation seeks to facilitate the construction of affordable housing by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and expediting the approval process.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 36.70B.030, 36.70A.040, 36.70B.140
Engrossed Bill: 36.70B.070, 36.70B.050, 36.70B.140, 18.43.035