We Need Your Help to Reform Permitting in Washington State (HB 2418)!

HB 2418 is a bill focused on improving the permitting process for housing across the state.

Over the last several years, we have made real progress on planning for affordable housing and zoning for a broader range of denser housing types. But permitting remains one of a major places where affordable housing developments are slowed down, even after housing is legal and funded. In practice, getting a project approved often requires coordination across multiple departments and agencies, each with their own review processes, timelines, and interpretations.

HB 2418 is about treating permitting as a system rather than a collection of disconnected steps. It clarifies how existing permit timelines apply across agencies, creates clearer lines of responsibility for coordination, and encourages more consistent review practices.

HB 2418:

• Applies existing permit timeline requirements to all fee-charging entities involved in review, including utilities and special districts.
• Requires a single permit coordinator for each project to manage interagency communication.
• Encourages practices like consolidated review and clearer correction cycles.

The intent is to make the process more predictable and easier to navigate, so that housing projects can move from approval to construction without unnecessary delay. The overall outcome is faster delivery of housing and better use of public and private investment.

We need your help to get HB 2418 passed in 2026! Ask your legislators to support permitting reform in Washington State today.