The bill amends the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to enhance the permit review processes for local governments and public utility districts. It introduces new definitions, such as "development regulations," and clarifies the terms "project permit" and "project permit application." A key feature of the bill is the establishment of specific timelines for local governments to act on project permit applications, requiring written determinations of procedural completeness within 28 days. If no determination is made, the application is automatically considered complete after 29 days. The bill also outlines conditions for modifying these timelines and stipulates consequences for non-compliance, including potential refunds of permit fees.

Additionally, the bill mandates that public utility districts and other government entities adhere to the same review timelines as local governments for residential project permits unless a waiver is agreed upon. It requires counties and cities with populations over 20,000 to track and report on their permit processing performance, particularly for housing-related applications, and to post annual performance reports online. The bill emphasizes the designation of a permit responsible official to make final decisions on applications and encourages local governments to expedite reviews for affordable housing projects. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline the permit process, improve transparency, and enhance efficiency in local government operations.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.70B.020, 36.70A.110, 36.70B.060
Substitute bill: 36.70B.020, 36.70B.070, 36.70B.110, 36.70B.060