WA HB2266

Counties and cities planning under the Growth Management Act must allow transitional housing and permanent supportive housing in any zone where residential units or hotels are permitted, and indoor emergency shelters/housing in any zone where hotels are allowed within urban growth areas

Local governments cannot impose development standards, conditions, or requirements on these housing types that are more restrictive than those for other lodging and residential development in the same zone, though objective standards like setbacks, lot coverage, and stormwater requirements may still apply

Only administrative design review (not public hearings) may be required for these housing types, and the same permit and environmental review processes that apply to other residential development must be used

For indoor emergency shelters and housing, cities may require sponsors to certify they notified residents within 500 feet, held no more than one community meeting, designated an emergency contact, and provided operational policies for health, fire, safety, and occupancy

Counties and cities must adopt conforming regulations within two years of the effective date or their next comprehensive plan update, whichever comes first; existing facilities in operation at the effective date cannot be deemed unlawful under the new provisions