WA SB5719

Counties fully planning under the Growth Management Act and cities with populations over 2,000 must adopt hearing examiner systems for quasi-judicial land use decisions including plat approvals, variances, conditional uses, and development permits

Hearing examiner decisions constitute final decisions appealable under chapter 36.70C RCW, with written findings due within 10 business days of hearing conclusion

Jurisdictions may recover costs through application fees proportionate to actual costs, and may enter interlocal agreements to share hearing examiners with other jurisdictions under chapter 39.34 RCW

Planning directors may temporarily assume hearing examiner duties during vacancies if documented efforts show no qualified examiner was reasonably available

Counties and cities with 2027 comprehensive plan updates must incorporate these requirements at that time; all other jurisdictions must implement within two years of the effective date