Housing and Land Use on Washington's Legislative Agenda

The Washington State legislature will consider a number of bills this session that would alter planning and development in a state grappling with population growth and rising housing costs.

1 minute read

February 4, 2021, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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Thye-Wee Gn / Shutterstock

Stephen Fesler provides a look ahead at the housing and land use laws up for consideration in the Washington State Legislature this session. "Housing and land use issues remain a legislative focal point, even with the Covid pandemic and recession drawing much of the attention and energy at the Washington State Legislature," according to Fesler.

Among the crop of housing and land use bills proposed so far for this session, 25 are particularly noteworthy, according to Fesler. A table included in the article provides details about each of those 25 bills and their status in the legislature (most have already completed an initial committee hearing).

Among the 25 bills highlighted by Fesler are laws enabling new grant funding, temporary rent control measures, protections for renter-occupied accessory dwelling units, and changes to the state's urban growth boundaries, among other proposed actions.

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