Washington State is the latest example of a state that wants to preempt local planning law to make it easier to add housing units to single-family residential properties all over the states.
Dan Bertolet reports on statewide legislation introduced yesterday in Washington by State Representative Nicole Macri (D-Seattle) that would "lift local bans on small-scale, multiple-dwelling homes known as 'middle housing,'"
As explained by Bertolet, HB 2780 would re-legalize, "triplexes on any lot, and up to sixplexes in single-detached house zones in counties and cities of 15,000 or more," as well as, "duplexes on any lot in all cities between 10,000 and 15,000."
HB 2780 joins a growing roster of bills currently under consideration in the Washington Legislature that would ease zoning restrictions and other forms of housing regulation around the state. HB 2570 would ease the construction of backyard cottages and mother-in-law apartments. HB 1923, approved in 2019, increased building capacity around the state, but through incentives rather than a mandate.
HB2780 also joins a growing roster of bills in other states that would preempt local law to allow for more density in single-family zones around the state. Oregon already passed a law, but California, Maryland, Virginia, and Nebraska are considering similar reforms of the traditional single-family zoning designation to allow more space for homes of different sizes in residential neighborhoods.
FULL STORY: WASHINGTON TO CONSIDER RE-LEGALIZING DUPLEXES AND ROWHOUSES STATEWIDE
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.