By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

Building permit data from the Census Bureau show 8,430 single-family permits and 16,764 multifamily permits issued in the Seattle metro area through November of last year. This represents an 8 percent decline in single-family permits and a 5 percent increase for multifamily permits compared to the same period in 2017. The release of building permit and other housing data was delayed as a result of the federal government shutdown.

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.

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2026 Legislative Session Recap: Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

The Washington State Legislature adjourned sine die on March 12, ending the 60-day 2026 session. Lawmakers passed several housing reforms aimed at improving permitting, expanding housing flexibility, and supporting homeownership, while the session’s final days were dominated by budget negotiations and a controversial new “millionaires’ tax.”

MBAKS Advocacy During Session

MBAKS members played an active role throughout the session, helping ensure the voice of the homebuilding industry was heard in Olympia. During MBAKS Hill Day, members held 43 meetings with legislators, discussing housing supply challenges and priority housing legislation. Builders also participated in BIAW Hill Day, where members conducted 13 additional legislative meetings. MBAKS members Mark Villwock with DR Horton and Mike Appleby with Chicago Title also provided key testimony on housing legislation during committee hearings, sharing firsthand industry perspectives on how policy decisions impact housing production and affordability.

Key Housing Bills Passed

Condominium Reform (HB 2304)
Allows condominium projects up to four stories and twelve units to use an insurance-backed express warranty, helping reduce litigation risk and encourage smaller condominium development.

Permit Review Streamlining (HB 2418)
Clarifies permit application completeness standards and requires jurisdictions to designate a permit contact, improving predictability in the review process.

Commercial-to-Residential Flexibility (SB 6026)
Allows housing in many commercial and mixed-use zones in cities over 30,000. Cities may require ground-floor commercial uses on no more than 40% of commercial or mixed-use acreage, allowing redevelopment of underutilized commercial property for housing.

Rural Accessory Dwelling Units (HB 1345)
Authorizes counties to allow detached ADUs in rural areas under local regulations.

Middle Housing in Urban Growth Areas (HB 2269)
Extends middle housing types such as duplexes and townhomes to unincorporated urban growth areas.

Building Code Modernization (HB 2228 & SB 5156)
Updates building code provisions by allowing scissor stair designs in certain mid-rise buildings and modernizing elevator requirements.

Budget and Tax Policy

Lawmakers also approved a supplemental operating budget for the 2025–27 biennium totaling more than $80 billion. The budget addresses a projected shortfall through a mix of spending changes, new revenue, and transfers from the state’s rainy-day fund.

The session also saw passage of a new “millionaires’ tax” (SB 6346), imposing a 9.9% tax on income above $1 million starting in 2028. The policy is expected to face legal challenges under Washington’s constitutional restrictions on income taxes.

Looking Ahead

With the session complete, attention now shifts to implementation as state agencies and local governments begin putting these new housing policies into practice.

Read more about the legislative session and a full bill tracker on MBAKS Connect.

The winners of the 2017 NAHB Association Excellence Awards were recently unveiled and the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties is proud to announce we have been honored with two awards. 

The country’s largest and oldest local homebuilders association won Best HBA Partnership/Coalition in the HBA Operations category, as well as Best Publication (print or electronic) in the Communications category, the latter for Master Builder magazine. 

The Building Industry Association of Washington, our state-level partner association, also won an AEA for Best Regional Government Affairs Effort for their "Fix Hirst" campaign.

The annual AEA Awards recognize HBAs across the country for their outstanding accomplishments at the state and local levels, as well as HBA executive officers in the field of association management. 

Congratulations to all who helped MBAKS win these distinguished awards! View the full list of 2017 AEA winners.

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