The legislation would permit duplexes and, in some cases, fourplexes in residential areas in most Washington towns.
The Washington State Senate passed a bill permitting duplexes to be built in most Washington cities as part of the legislature’s effort to increase the housing supply and slow the rise of housing costs, reports Joseph O’Sullivan in Crosscut. According to O’Sullivan, “State officials estimate another 1 million housing units will be required in the next two decades to keep up with growth.”
The bill requires localities with populations between 25,000 and 75,000 to allow duplexes in residential neighborhoods. The bill also permits fourplex construction in cities with over 75,000 people.
House Bill 1110, which was amended before the Senate vote, will go back to the House for a final vote. The bill is one of many pieces of zoning reform legislation proposed in Washington and other states that aim to boost housing production and remove barriers created by restrictive local zoning codes.
FULL STORY: WA Senate passes "missing middle" bill to increase housing density
Wealthy Washington Neighborhoods Could Remain Untouched by Zoning Reforms
Neighborhoods with preexisting internal contracts are exempted from new legislation requiring all Washington cities to permit duplexes and other ‘missing middle housing.’
British Columbia Asserts Provincial Control Over Density
The Canadian province plans to override local opposition to loosening zoning regulations that restrict the housing supply.
Decatur Moves Closer to Legalizing Duplexes, ‘Missing Middle Housing’
A proposal to permit multifamily housing units in areas previously zoned for single-family homes passed its first hurdle, but requires a second vote to go into effect.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
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