HB 2269 — Concerning middle housing in unincorporated areas.

H-2941.1H-2627.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2269 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By House Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Bernbaum, Engell, Peterson, Reed, Leavitt, and Gregerson)Gregerson READPrefiled FIRST01/06/26. TIME 01/27/26.

Read first time 01/12/26.

Referred to Committee on Housing.

(1)(1)(a) Any rural county that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 may provide by ordinance and incorporate into its development regulations, zoning regulations, and other official controls, authorization for the((the following:

(((1)))(a)(i)(1)(a) MiddleMiddle)) middle housing types on each parcel that permits single-family residences in limited areas of more intensive rural development designated according to the requirements in RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(i);36.70A.070(5)(d)(i)((;)).

(((b)))(b) (ii) If a rural county takes action authorized by this subsectionsubsection, (1)(a), it may not authorize more than ((4 [four])) four residential units per lot in limited areas of more intensive rural development designated according to RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(i), and its development regulations must:

(((i)))(i) (A) Not require any standards for middle housing that are more restrictive than those required for detached single-family residences, but may apply any objective development regulations that p.

1 SHBHB 2269 are required for detached single-family residences, including, but not limited to, setback, lot coverage, stormwater, clearing, and tree canopy and retention requirements;

(((ii)))(ii) (B) Apply to middle housing the same development permit and environmental review processes that apply to detached single-single-family family residences, unless otherwise required by state law, including, but not limited to, shoreline regulations under chapter 90.58 RCW, building codes under chapter 19.27 RCW, energy codes under chapter 19.27A RCW, or electrical codes under chapter 19.28 RCW;

((andand (iii)))(iii) (C) Require that middle housing in limited areas of more intensive rural development in a rural county be served by ((existing sewer service)) a publicly owned sanitary sewer system or a large on-site sewage system;system.

and(c) (D)For Requirethe thatpurposes middle housing in limited areas of morethis intensivesubsection rural(1): development in a nonrural county be served by ((existing sewer service)) a publicly owned sanitary sewer system.

(((2)(a)))(i) (b)(i)"Rural Middlecounty" housinghas typesthe onsame eachmeaning parcelas that permits single-family residences in designatedRCW urban43.160.020; growth areas.

(((b)))and (ii) If"Large aon-site countysewage takessystem" actionhas authorized by this subsection (1)(b), it may not authorize more than four residential units per lot within the designatedsame urbanmeaning growthas areain andRCW its70A.115.010. development regulations must:

(((i)))(2)(a) (A)((Middle)) NotAny requirecounty anythat standardsis forrequired middleor housingchooses thatto areplan moreunder restrictiveRCW than36.70A.040 thosemay requiredprovide forby detachedordinance, single-familyand residences,incorporate butinto mayits apply any objective development regulationsregulations, thatzoning areregulations, requiredand forother detachedofficial single-familycontrols, residences,authorization including,for butmiddle nothousing limitedtypes to,on setback,each lotparcel coverage,that stormwater,permits clearing,single-family andresidences treein canopydesignated andurban retentiongrowth requirements;areas.

(((ii)))(b) (B)If Applya tocounty middletakes housingaction theauthorized same development permit and environmental review processes that apply to detached single- family residences, unless otherwise required by statethis law,subsection, including,it butmay not limitedauthorize to,more shorelinethan regulationsfour underresidential chapterunits 90.58per RCW,lot buildingwithin codesthe underdesignated chapterurban 19.27growth RCW,area energyand codesits underdevelopment chapterregulations 19.27Amust: RCW, or electrical codes under chapter 19.28 RCW;

and(i) (((iii)))Not (C)require Requireany thatstandards for middle housing inthat designatedare urbanmore growthrestrictive areasthan bethose servedrequired byfor waterdetached single-family residences, but may apply any objective development regulations that are required for detached single-family residences, including, but not limited to, setback, lot coverage, stormwater, clearing, and sewertree services.canopy and retention requirements;

(2)(ii) ForApply purposesto ofmiddle thishousing section:the same development permit and environmental review processes that apply to detached single-family residences, unless otherwise required by state law, including, but not limited to, shoreline regulations under chapter 90.58 RCW, building codes under chapter 19.27 RCW, energy codes under chapter 19.27A RCW, or electrical codes under chapter 19.28 RCW;

(a) "Rural county" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.160.020;

2 SHBHB 2269 (b)(iii) "LargeRequire on-sitethat sewagemiddle system"housing hasin thedesignated sameurban meaninggrowth asareas inbe RCWserved 70A.115.010.by water and sewer services.

3 SHBHB 2269