Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Washington Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5509 Chapter 276, Laws of 2025 69TH LEGISLATURE 2025 REGULAR SESSION CHILD CARE CENTERS—ZONING EFFECTIVE DATE: July 27, 2025 Passed by the Senate March 6, 2025 Yeas 42 Nays 7 DENNY HECK President of the Senate Passed by the House April 10, 2025 Yeas 95 Nays 0 LAURIE JINKINS Speaker of the House of Representatives CERTIFICATE I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5509 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. SARAH BANNISTER Secretary Secretary Approved May 13, 2025 10:51 AM FILED May 14, 2025 BOB FERGUSON Governor of the State of Washington Secretary of State State of Washington ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5509 Passed Legislature - 2025 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Alvarado, Salomon, Bateman, Conway, Nobles, Saldaña, Trudeau, Valdez, and C. Wilson) READ FIRST TIME 02/14/25. AN ACT Relating to the siting of child care centers; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 35A.21 RCW. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows: (1) Cities and towns must allow child care centers, and the conversion of existing buildings for use as child care centers, as an outright permitted use in all zones except industrial zones, light industrial zones, and open space zones. (2) Cities may impose reasonable restrictions on the permit, including pickup and drop-off areas. (3) Cities that plan under the growth management act and that are required to submit their next comprehensive plan update in 2027 pursuant to RCW 36.70A.130 must adopt or amend by ordinance, and incorporate into their development regulations, zoning regulations, and other official controls, the requirements of this section in their next comprehensive plan update. All other cities must implement the requirements of this section within two years of the effective date of this section. (4) Nothing in this section limits a city from allowing child care centers in other zones, including industrial zones or light industrial zones. A city must provide for a conditional use approval of an on-site child care center in industrial or light industrial zones, except in or around high hazard facilities. (5) For the purposes of this section, "child care centers" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.216.010. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 RCW to read as follows: (1) Code cities and towns must allow child care centers, and the conversion of existing buildings for use as child care centers, as an outright permitted use in all zones except industrial zones, light industrial zones, and open space zones. (2) Code cities may impose reasonable restrictions on the permit, including pickup and drop-off areas. (3) Code cities that plan under the growth management act and that are required to submit their next comprehensive plan update in 2027 pursuant to RCW 36.70A.130 must adopt or amend by ordinance, and incorporate into their development regulations, zoning regulations, and other official controls, the requirements of this section in their next comprehensive plan update. All other code cities must implement the requirements of this section within two years of the effective date of this section. (4) Nothing in this section limits a code city from allowing child care centers in other zones, including industrial zones or light industrial zones. A code city must provide for a conditional use approval of an on-site child care center in industrial or light industrial zones, except in or around high hazard facilities. (5) For the purposes of this section, "child care centers" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.216.010. Passed by the Senate March 6, 2025. Passed by the House April 10, 2025. Approved by the Governor May 13, 2025. Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 14, 2025.
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