By Marc Stiles, Puget Sound Business Journal (subscription required)

The size of new houses on Mercer Island will be limited more than anywhere else in the region starting Nov. 1, when new restrictions that the city council approved on Tuesday take effect.

The council voted 5-1 to update the city's residential design standards and approved a new rule to protect mature trees.

The code update affects all of the 6,950 single-family lots on the island, which is a choice market for builders of new homes. The island's average household income of $183,200 is the Puget Sound region's second-highest behind Medina, according to Puget Sound Business Journal research.

New construction and remodeling projects can still be vested under the old code until the end of October, city spokesman Ross Freeman said.

After that, new homes won't be able to cover more than 40 percent of a lot, down from 45 percent. Maximum heights have been cut from 35 to 30 feet, and at least 30 percent of large trees must be kept when a lot under goes major construction. The rules also limit the amount of "hardscape" surfaces, such as decks and patios, to 9 percent of a lot.

Residents who pushed for the change raised concerns about how quickly the character of their neighborhoods have been changing, with old houses being replaced by larger ones.

While the city has been working on the update for about a year, critics say the city rolled out the new rules hither and yon, discussing different changes at different times. They were not discussed as a comprehensive package, according to the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, which asked council members to slow down the process and consider their recommendations.

"This is a lose-lose. The (homebuilding industry) was not heard and the community's primary concerns were not addressed," David Hoffman, a government affairs staff member for the homebuilders, said after Tuesday's council vote.

People are still going to build big houses that will upset some neighbors, he said.

The region's top remodeling professionals gathered to recognize exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and design across dozens of project categories, from powder rooms to major whole-home transformations.

Each year, the Master Builder Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) Remodeling Excellence Awards (REX) shine a well-deserved spotlight on the companies and craftspeople raising the bar for what's possible in residential remodeling. This year's competition drew an outstanding field of entries, with local firms demonstrating remarkable range — blending technical expertise with inspired design sensibility across every corner of the home.

At Victory Hall, attendees enjoyed a pre-function cocktail hour featuring four fully furnished living rooms where guests could sit and mingle, complete with previous REX trophies on display and photo albums showcasing all the entrants. During dinner and intermission, attendees enjoyed a live musical performance from recording artist Annie J — a first for the REX Awards Gala.

From historically appropriate restorations to cutting-edge universal design solutions, the 2026 winners reflect the breadth and depth of talent working in our region today. Several firms earned multiple recognitions, a testament to their consistency and commitment to quality. And one project rose above the rest to claim the night's highest honor.

Bathrooms

Specialty & Innovation

Additions & ADUs

Kitchens

Outdoor & Conversions

Basement

Major Remodels

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The latest Builder’s Bulletin shows just over two months’ supply of homes for sale in King and Snohomish counties during November. While this is an increase from the less than one months’ supply a year ago, it is still below the four-to-six-month level that many industry analysts consider as an indicator of a healthy market. Median home prices fell month-over-month from $613,509 to $605,000 in King County and rose from $445,000 to $450,000 in Snohomish County.

The Builders' 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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