Washington SB 5555: Creating the profession of certified peer specialists.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to zoning regulations in commercial, retail, and 1
mixed-use areas in cities and code cities; amending RCW 35.21.990 and 2
35A.21.440; and adding a new section to chapter 36.70A RCW.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) A city or code city planning under RCW 36.70A.040 must allow 7
for the following:8
(a)(i) The addition of housing units in ground floor commercial 9
or retail in a station area that is not designated as a major 10
pedestrian corridor by the city or code city;11
(ii) For the purposes of this section, a city or code city may 12
not designate more than 10 percent of its area zoned as mixed-use or 13
commercial as a major pedestrian corridor; and14
(b) An expedited ability for a development to deviate from any 15
street level use standards based on a showing that the requirement 16
would result in the creation of fewer housing units in the 17
development.18
(2) For the purposes of this section, "station area" means all 19
lots that are:20
(a) Fully within an urban growth area; and21
S-0718.1
SENATE BILL 5555
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Salomon, Alvarado, Frame, and Nobles
Read first time 01/28/25. Referred to Committee on Housing.
p. 1 SB 5555

(b) Fully or partially within:1
(i) One-half mile walking distance of an entrance to a train 2
station with a stop on a light rail system, a commuter rail stop, or 3
a stop on rail or fixed guideway systems; or4
(ii) One-quarter mile walking distance of a stop on a fixed route 5
bus system that is designated as a bus rapid transit stop in the 6
transit development plan as required in RCW 35.58.2795, for which an 7
environmental determination has been issued as required under chapter 8
43.21C RCW, and that features fixed transit assets that indicate 9
permanent, high capacity service including, but not limited to, 10
elevated platforms or enhanced stations, off-board fare collection, 11
dedicated lanes, busways, or transit signal priority.12
Sec. 2. RCW 35.21.990 and 2023 c 285 s 2 are each amended to 13
read as follows:14
(1)(a) Cities must adopt or amend by ordinance, and incorporate 15
into their development regulations, zoning regulations, and other 16
official controls the requirements of subsection (2) of this section 17
for buildings that are zoned for commercial or mixed use no later 18
than six months after its next periodic comprehensive plan update 19
required under RCW 36.70A.130.20
(b) The requirements of subsection (2) of this section apply and 21
take effect in any city that has not adopted or amended ordinances, 22
regulations, or other official controls as required under this 23
section by the timeline in (a) of this subsection and supersede, 24
preempt, and invalidate any conflicting local development 25
regulations.26
(2) Through ordinances, development regulations, zoning 27
regulations, or other official controls as required under subsection 28
(1) of this section, cities may not:29
(a) Impose a restriction on housing unit density that prevents 30
the addition of housing units at a density up to 50 percent more than 31
what is allowed in the underlying zone if constructed entirely within 32
an existing building envelope in a building located within a zone 33
that permits multifamily housing, provided that generally applicable 34
health and safety standards, including but not limited to building 35
code standards and fire and life safety standards, can be met within 36
the building;37
(b) Impose parking requirements on the addition of dwelling units 38
or living units added within an existing building, however, cities 39
p. 2 SB 5555

may require the retention of existing parking that is required to 1
satisfy existing residential parking requirements under local laws 2
and for nonresidential uses that remain after the new units are 3
added;4
(c) With the exception of emergency housing and transitional 5
housing uses, impose permitting requirements on the use of an 6
existing building for residential purposes beyond those requirements 7
generally applicable to all residential development within the 8
building's zone;9
(d) Impose design standard requirements, including setbacks, lot 10
coverage, and floor area ratio requirements, on the use of an 11
existing building for residential purposes beyond those requirements 12
generally applicable to all residential development within the 13
building's zone;14
(e) Impose exterior design or architectural requirements on the 15
residential use of an existing building beyond those necessary for 16
health and safety of the use of the interior of the building or to 17
preserve character-defining streetscapes, unless the building is a 18
designated landmark or is within a historic district established 19
through a local preservation ordinance;20
(f) Prohibit the addition of housing units in any specific part 21
of a building ex