Washington HB 2020: Concerning the creation of affordable and sustainable housing in the state.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to the creation of affordable and sustainable 1
housing in the state; adding new sections to chapter 36.70A RCW; and 2
declaring an emergency.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 36.70A 5
RCW to read as follows:6
(1) Any city or county planning under RCW 36.70A.040 must enact 7
affordable housing programs providing for the development of low and 8
moderate-income housing units, as follows:9
(a) All residential zoning within:10
(i) One-quarter mile of light rail or a major transit hub must 11
require a minimum base height of nine stories;12
(ii) One-half mile of light rail or a major transit hub must 13
require a minimum base height of six stories; and14
(iii) One mile of light rail or a major transit hub must require 15
an average minimum base height of five stories.16
(b) No density limits may be imposed within one mile of a light 17
rail or major transit hub, but bulk and height regulations shall be 18
permitted.19
(c) All zoning within one-quarter mile of light rail or a major 20
transit hub may allow for zero parking minimums and may not exceed 21
H-2160.1
HOUSE BILL 2020
State of Washington 67th Legislature 2022 Regular Session
By Representatives Walen, Fitzgibbon, Leavitt, Ramel, Ryu, Macri,
Bateman, Lekanoff, and Pollet
Read first time 01/17/22. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
p. 1 HB 2020

parking maximums as calculated by the King county right size parking 1
calculator.2
(2) Buildings within a development project that commits to a 3
minimum of 20 percent affordable units for low and moderate-income 4
households shall be permitted one additional floor beyond the zoning 5
code regulation for that area.6
(3) For purposes of this act, "major transit hub" means:7
(a) A stop on a high capacity transportation system funded or 8
expanded under the provisions of chapter 81.104 RCW;9
(b) Commuter rail stops;10
(c) Stops on rail or fixed guideway systems, including 11
transitways;12
(d) Stops on bus rapid transit routes or routes that run in high 13
occupancy vehicle lanes; or14
(e) Stops for a bus or other transit mode providing actual fixed 15
route service at intervals of at least 15 minutes for at least five 16
hours during the peak hours of operation on weekdays.17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 36.70A 18
RCW to read as follows:19
Any city or county planning under RCW 36.70A.040 must enact 20
sustainable housing programs providing for the development for new, 21
certified sustainable housing as follows:22
(1) For areas within one mile of light rail or a major transit 23
hub, cities shall complete a one-time, planned designation which may 24
be updated every five years at the individual city's option to ensure 25
that transportation planning aligns with increased density.26
(2) Standards set by local design review boards must allow for 27
buildings constructed with passive house, LEED, or living building 28
challenge certifications.29
(3) Cities must create a preferred permit path program. 30
Development projects may apply to the program if 20 percent or more 31
of the housing units produced will be affordable for low or very low-32
income households, as defined under this chapter, or if they are 33
passive house or living building challenge certified. Development 34
projects accepted to the preferred permit path program must receive 35
an expedited permit processing timeline that may not exceed 120 days. 36
The jurisdiction may establish their own accountability system for 37
determining whether a project will offer affordable housing.38
p. 2 HB 2020

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 36.70A 1
RCW to read as follows:2
A performance fund shall be established for the jurisdictions 3
that achieve affordability goals as set by the sustainable equitable 4
affordable measured board established in section 5 of this act.5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 36.70A 6
RCW to read as follows:7
(1) All new development requirements added to city zoning codes 8
and any change of interpretation of those codes and other 9
requirements shall be analyzed by the jurisdiction for their impact 10
on the cost of housing construction. Each analysis shall include 11
options for cost reductions, cost mitigation, and the minimum 12
increase of costs.13
(2) Nothing in this section limits jurisdictions from 14
implementing new rules that increase the cost of new sustainable, 15
equitable, and affordable housing, but rather clarifies what those 16
estimated costs and options to reduce the impact of those increased 17
costs will be.18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 36.70A 19
RCW to read as follows:20
(1) The department shall establish a sustainable equitable 21
affordable measured board and appoint 10 to 20 members with a wide 22
range of relevant experience to provide oversight and guide local 23
jurisdictions in achieving the goals for ex