Washington Governor Jay Inslee passed 10 housing bills into law in May of 2023, with much of the legislature designed to help boost the supply of housing amid soaring prices. Many of the bills are designed with housing production in mind, including House Bill 1337, which makes it possible to permit and construct more accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and House Bill 1110, which requires cities to create more types of housing, such as duplexes and triplexes. The Department of Commerce provides cities with technical assistance to implement new middle housing requirements and move projects more quickly through permitting procedures. The flurry of bills passed in Washington is good news for developers, opening the door for more high-density buildings and loosening zoning regulations for all projects. Legislators in the state seem particularly keen to boost “middle housing,” or the type of project that falls between single-family homes and large apartment buildings. However, middle housing may be more desirable in rural or suburban areas, and these policies do not necessarily mean there isn’t an opportunity for large residential projects in metropolitan areas. The Washington Department of Commerce estimates the state needs to build up to 1 million more units of housing over the next 20 years, and the bills already passed indicate the state is eager to tackle this concern aggressively with developer collaboration. Key Facts Status Most Impact Approach Legislation passed Rural and suburban and in effect development Avg. House Price 2023 Population Growth From 2010-2020 $563,000 up 14.6% or 980,741 people 18