HomeMy WebLinkAbout082125 - Rulemaking notice_ Commerce announces final rules to support planning for housingALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
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AUG. 21, 2025
Rulemaking notice: Commerce announces final rules to support planning for housing
Rules will take effect Sept. 20
This week, the Department of Commerce wrapped up years of work on new administrative rules that will guide local communities as they implement the Growth Management Act.
These rules covered 24 pieces of housing-related legislation <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdeptofcommerce.app.box.com%2Ffile%2F1689235518902/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab2762-a43e-4c40-a
cc3-566a0e37a9e9-000000/Z_YypIn1uPwd4eBgucg3Q0D4KUNSl5yIFjrrXbsEonc=419> enacted between 2019 and 2024. They will support how local governments plan for affordable housing and increase
residential density.
The update includes revisions to:
* Chapter 365-196 WAC, Procedural Criteria for Adopting Comprehensive Plans and Development Regulations
* Chapter 365-199 WAC, Procedures for making determinations of compliance for jurisdictions seeking voluntary reversion to partial planning status, certification of an empirical parking
study, and certification and approval of alternative pathways to comply with density requirements
Commerce initiated rulemaking in June 2023, and final rules take effect Sept. 20, 2025.
Growth Management Services thanks everyone who participated in this complex and important process. They also remind folks that the Commerce website <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fww
w.commerce.wa.gov%2Fgrowth-management%2F/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab2762-a43e-4c40-acc3-566a0e37a9e9-000000/LSdDnyK7dBRFQlh5CGcgxnwlb7fB4taW6wXFIjP7Q9g=419> is full of comprehensive and
engaging resources for cities, counties and others tasked with land-use implementation. Providing expertise and technical assistance is core to the Growth Management Services mission.
Relevant documents
* CR-101 (PDF) <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdeptofcommerce.app.box.com%2Fs%2F1031y2iofxi163l8kpm89sgqzeyt8gcp/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab2762-a43e-4c40-acc3-566a0e37a9e9-000000/Q347xd
lr-Fg3U7m48qBfKwO3ba0E4aBviffpDGYICYA=419>
* CR-102 (PDF) <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdeptofcommerce.app.box.com%2Fs%2F4mfkpa5y19kdv5z38vpx66jl85peymgo/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab2762-a43e-4c40-acc3-566a0e37a9e9-000000/0EMOE4
VbIozrt-umGw5JAWF2SBzkcV_6o7Yali4zArQ=419>
* CR-103 (PDF) <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdeptofcommerce.box.com%2Fs%2Fdteorulcuqkgzsr54ro6a7olky64i5r3/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab2762-a43e-4c40-acc3-566a0e37a9e9-000000/M60C0-GAYK
a8foOk7bmweigt8fB3jkt3yTS9aVQzokg=419>
* Revisions to Chapter 365-196 (PDF) <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdeptofcommerce.box.com%2Fs%2Fmos7nla86gvr2y79vs3zyb51sr0k1r89/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab2762-a43e-4c40-acc3-566a0e37
a9e9-000000/S85iJUCvIpZulvel7bpDcepztU47u3XUd2uvkWVFtm4=419>
* Revisions to Chapter 365-199 (PDF) <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdeptofcommerce.box.com%2Fs%2F7os47fk60f1uya4b216ykc16jugevoe1/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab2762-a43e-4c40-acc3-566a0e37
a9e9-000000/rhQW6irXdVyMTnoskArhLQDWPyEGrUvj7JjYF5TSLm0=419>
* Concise Explanatory Statement and Response to Comments (PDF) <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdeptofcommerce.box.com%2Fs%2Fra8x17nmx4lodck1cb2xlu4hx1k5ua3h/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab27
62-a43e-4c40-acc3-566a0e37a9e9-000000/Vb2CFHEnA21PDD66ZG08aHEvoM43QX_4S9GCL2uqqu0=419>
* State Environmental Policy Act Comments (PDF) <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdeptofcommerce.box.com%2Fs%2F4835m6wu34ny7oyobiauwpwy0oalwmyu/1/01010198cd94fd47-97ab2762-a43e-4c40-ac
c3-566a0e37a9e9-000000/1dgiqX28m0GLadjQ2ECvLpsHtWpWlALkEAbafDFU5Wg=419>
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