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 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2269 Chapter 12, Laws of 2026 69TH LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION MIDDLE HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS—ON-SITE SEWAGE SYSTEMS EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2026 Passed by the House February 10, 2026 Yeas 96 Nays 0 LAURIE JINKINS Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate February 26, 2026 Yeas 48 Nays 0 DENNY HECK President of the Senate CERTIFICATE I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2269 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. BERNARD DEAN Chief Clerk Chief Clerk Approved March 9, 2026 9:41 AM FILED March 10, 2026 BOB FERGUSON Governor of the State of Washington Secretary of State State of Washington SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2269 Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By House Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Bernbaum, Engell, Peterson, Reed, Leavitt, and Gregerson) READ FIRST TIME 01/27/26. AN ACT Relating to middle housing in unincorporated areas; and amending RCW 36.70A.536. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: Sec. 1. RCW 36.70A.536 and 2025 c 386 s 1 are each amended to read as follows: (1) Any 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 following: (((1) ))(a)(i) 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); (((b) ))(ii) If a county takes action authorized by this subsection (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) ))(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 are required for detached single-family residences, including, but not limited to, setback, lot coverage, stormwater, clearing, and tree canopy and retention requirements; (((ii) ))(B) Apply to middle housing 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; ((and (iii) ))(C) Require that middle housing in limited areas of more intensive rural development in a rural county be served by a publicly owned sanitary sewer system or a large on-site sewage system; and (D) Require that middle housing in limited areas of more intensive rural development in a nonrural county be served by ((existing sewer service ))a publicly owned sanitary sewer system . (((2)(a) ))(b)(i) Middle housing types on each parcel that permits single-family residences in designated urban growth areas. (((b) ))(ii) If a county takes action authorized by this subsection (1)(b) , it may not authorize more than four residential units per lot within the designated urban growth area and its development regulations must: (((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 are required for detached single-family residences, including, but not limited to, setback, lot coverage, stormwater, clearing, and tree canopy and retention requirements; (((ii) ))(B) Apply to middle housing 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; and (((iii) ))(C) Require that middle housing in designated urban growth areas be served by water and sewer services. (2) For purposes of this section: (a) "Rural county" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.160.020; and (b) "Large on-site sewage system" has the same meaning as in RCW 70A.115.010. Passed by the House February 10, 2026. Passed by the Senate February 26, 2026. Approved by the Governor March 9, 2026. Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 10, 2026.
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