Washington needs more homes, not more barriers. Submit your comments by November 17!

The Washington State Department of Ecology is proposing major changes to Shoreline Management Act regulations that could increase housing costs, limit buildable land, and create new barriers to home construction.

While HB 1181 (2023) directed Ecology to address sea-level rise and increased storm severity, the proposed rules go further, introducing additional development restrictions and permitting requirements.

Key concerns for homebuilders and property owners include:

• Housing and Lot Splitting: New requirements could make middle housing, ADUs, short plats, and lot splitting more difficult and expensive.
• Higher Development Costs: Expanded shoreline buffers, vegetation protections, and mitigation requirements could reduce buildable land and increase costs.
• Permitting Delays: Additional reviews and longer approval timelines could create more uncertainty for builders and homeowners.
• Property Rights: New restrictions could limit the ability to improve, replace, or redevelop existing homes.

Ecology's own preliminary analysis estimates potential additional costs of $58,520 to $234,080 for certain affected single-family projects, based on illustrative scenarios.

MBAKS supports protecting Washington's shorelines, but these efforts should not undermine recent housing reforms or make it harder to build homes families can afford.

TAKE ACTION

Tell Ecology to protect housing opportunities, respect property rights, and avoid unnecessary costs and permitting delays.

Make Your Voice Heard: Submit Your Comments Today

Deadline: November 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The Washington State Office of Financial Management has released its April 1 official population estimates of all cities and towns of the state, showing continued strong population growth. According to the annual estimates, the state’s population grew by 118,840 persons, a 1.6 % increase over the past year. The Puget Sound region’s population as of April 1, 2019 was 4,198,400. You’ll find the breakdown by county in this month’s Builders Bulletin.

The Builder's Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report:

Dan Bawden, 2017 NAHB Remodelers chairman, is a nationally recognized remodeling expert and founder of the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) program. At the December MBAKS RC dinner, Dan offered exclusive tips on how to win bids for remodeling projects. Listen and learn from everyone’s favorite redheaded remodeler.