This bill (SSB 6309, 69th Leg., 2026) amends multiple existing statutes and adds new sections to chapter 81.112 RCW. It expands local governments’ authority to enter development agreements under RCW 36.70B.170, defines what may be included as "development standards" (uses, densities, sizes, fees and reimbursements, mitigation, design standards, affordable housing, parks, phasing, review procedures, vesting periods, and other requirements), allows cities to enter such agreements for property outside city boundaries in limited circumstances, confirms execution of a development agreement is an exercise of police power and contract authority, and requires reservation of authority to impose new or different regulations when a serious threat to public health and safety exists. The amendment also permits a development agreement with a regional transit authority to set standards that vary from otherwise applicable development regulations (excluding Americans with Disabilities Act compliance) to accommodate transit facilities. The bill creates new procedural authorities and changes permit processing rules. It adds sections to chapter 81.112 RCW allowing regional transit authorities to apply for land use and construction permits before acquiring property and to apply for construction and technical permits before a local land use decision is made, provided the authority gives proof of notice to the property owner at the time of application. Local governments may issue land use, construction, or technical permits to a regional transit authority for development on property the authority does not own, with the authority remaining responsible for obtaining property rights or permission. RCW 19.27.095 is amended to require permit offices to accept building permit applications from a regional transit authority regardless of property ownership, to require minimum application information for projects over $5,000 (legal description or tax parcel number, owner contact, prime contractor information and contractor registration, and lender or payment-bond contact or a statement that such financing information is pending), to include specified information on issued permits and inspection cards, and to allow permits to be processed and issued even if financing/bond information is not yet available so long as the applicant states that and supplies it as soon as reasonably obtainable. RCW 36.70B.070 is amended to require local governments planning under RCW 36.70A.040 to give a written completeness determination within 28 days of receiving a project permit application (with procedural completeness deemed on day 29 if no determination is given), to accept applications from regional transit authorities regardless of property ownership when otherwise complete, to allow certain preliminary determinations to be included, and to set 14-day deadlines for follow-up notifications and for providing notice of application. The bill also amends RCW 58.17.040 to add or clarify several exemptions from chapter 58.17 RCW (including exemptions related to personal wireless facilities, certain electric utility facilities, rural fire district station sites, tiny houses, and acquisition of portions of existing lots by regional transit authorities acquiring land to build facilities), requires binding site plans to be recorded and contain specified language, and addresses procedures for site-plan approval. Section 6 of the act expires January 1, 2028, and Section 7 takes effect January 1, 2028. The extracted material is incomplete: the amendment text for RCW 58.17.040 is truncated in places (including two overlapping versions of one subsection), the bill header’s stated effective and expiration dates are not all provided here, and full definitions for "regional transit authority" and "rail fixed guideway system" are referenced but not included in these extracts. No changes to criminal penalties are shown in the provided facts.

If enacted, regional transit authorities will be able to apply for and receive land use and building permits before they own a site or before local land use decisions are final, as long as they notify the property owner and later secure the property rights. That will let transit projects move into design and construction stages earlier, giving transit agencies more schedule certainty and flexibility (including limited ability to exceed local height and setback rules for fixed guideway facilities). Local governments will face quicker deadlines to accept or return incomplete permit applications (a written completeness decision within 28 days or the application is deemed complete on day 29), will have to accept applications from transit agencies regardless of ownership, and will see new permit record and disclosure requirements for projects over $5,000, which may increase administrative workload and potential legal or coordination risks when approvals are issued before property rights are finalized. Cities can also enter binding development agreements that vest development standards for a set period and, in some cases, apply those agreements to property outside city limits tied to annexation or service agreements; agreements with transit authorities may allow standards to vary (except for ADA requirements) to accommodate transit needs. This will generally increase certainty for developers and transit agencies but can shift infrastructure or service funding obligations and constrain local regulatory control during the vesting period. Some implementation details are unclear from the provided text—notably parts of the subdivision law amendments and the actwide effective/expiration dates—so the timing and scope of certain exemptions and recording requirements may change once the full text is available.