Washington HB 2474: Concerning compliance with siting requirements for transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, indoor emergency shelters, and indoor emergency housing.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to compliance with siting requirements for 1
transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, indoor emergency 2
shelters, and indoor emergency housing; and amending RCW 35.21.683 3
and 35A.21.430.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 35.21.683 and 2021 c 254 s 4 are each amended to 6
read as follows:7
(1) A city shall not prohibit transitional housing or permanent 8
supportive housing in any zones in which residential dwelling units 9
or hotels are allowed. Effective September 30, 2021, a city shall not 10
prohibit indoor emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in 11
any zones in which hotels are allowed, except in such cities that 12
have adopted an ordinance authorizing indoor emergency shelters and 13
indoor emergency housing in a majority of zones within a one-mile 14
proximity to transit. Reasonable occupancy, spacing, and intensity of 15
use requirements may be imposed by ordinance on permanent supportive 16
housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor 17
emergency shelters to protect public health and safety. Any such 18
requirements on occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use may not 19
prevent the siting of a sufficient number of permanent supportive 20
housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoor 21
H-2823.1
HOUSE BILL 2474
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By Representatives Peterson, Alvarado, Gregerson, Berry, Leavitt,
Fosse, Macri, Nance, Chopp, and Bateman
Read first time 01/24/24. Referred to Committee on Housing.
p. 1 HB 2474

emergency shelters necessary to accommodate each city's projected 1
need for such housing and shelter under RCW 36.70A.070(2)(a)(ii).2
(2)(a) Before denying or rescinding a project permit application 3
for transitional housing or permanent supportive housing, a city must 4
submit any zoning ordinance and related development regulations 5
addressing the reasonable occupancy, spacing, or intensity of use 6
requirements for such housing to the department of commerce for 7
review and approval. If the department of commerce finds that the 8
city ordinance, denial, or rescission violates this section, the city 9
may not establish or enforce zoning ordinances for any zone in which 10
residential dwelling units or hotels are allowed, and the department 11
of commerce shall be responsible for developing all zoning 12
regulations within any zone that allows residential dwelling units or 13
hotels within the city, until the city ordinance is amended to be in 14
compliance with this section.15
(b) Before denying or rescinding a project permit application for 16
indoor emergency housing or indoor emergency shelters, a city must 17
submit any zoning ordinance and related development regulations 18
addressing the reasonable occupancy, spacing, or intensity of use 19
requirements for such housing to the department of commerce for 20
review and approval. If the department of commerce finds that the 21
city ordinance, denial, or rescission violates this section, the city 22
may not establish or enforce zoning ordinances for any zone in which 23
hotels are allowed, and the department of commerce shall be 24
responsible for developing all zoning regulations within any zone 25
that allows hotels within the city, until the city ordinance is 26
amended to be in compliance with this section.27
Sec. 2. RCW 35A.21.430 and 2021 c 254 s 3 are each amended to 28
read as follows:29
(1) A code city shall not prohibit transitional housing or 30
permanent supportive housing in any zones in which residential 31
dwelling units or hotels are allowed. Effective September 30, 2021, a 32
code city shall not prohibit indoor emergency shelters and indoor 33
emergency housing in any zones in which hotels are allowed, except in 34
such cities that have adopted an ordinance authorizing indoor 35
emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in a majority of 36
zones within a one-mile proximity to transit. Reasonable occupancy, 37
spacing, and intensity of use requirements may be imposed by 38
ordinance on permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, 39
p. 2 HB 2474

indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters to protect 1
public health and safety. Any such requirements on occupancy, 2
spacing, and intensity of use may not prevent the siting of a 3
sufficient number of permanent supportive housing, transitional 4
housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoor emergency shelters 5
necessary to accommodate each code city's projected need for such 6
housing and shelter under RCW 36.70A.070(2)(a)(ii).7
(2)(a) Before denying or rescinding a project permit application 8
for transitional housing or permanent supportive housing, a code city 9
must submit any zoning ordinance and related development regulations 10
addressing the reasonable occupancy, spacing, or intensity of use 11
requirements for such housing to the department of commerce for 12
review and approval. I