HB 2269 – Middle Housing in Rural Areas – On-Site Sewage Systems – Passed; effective 6/11/26.
Big changes are coming to housing options in Washington’s rural areas.: starting June 11, 2026, HB 2269 (amending RCW 36.70A.536) makes it easier to build middle housing in Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRDs). LAMIRDs are specific areas in Washington state, defined under the Growth Management Act (GMA), that allow for more intense development (commercial, residential, or mixed-use) in rural zones.
What’s changing?
Previously, middle housing in these rural counties had to be served by an existing municipal sewer system. HB 2269 provides more flexibility for rural counties: now, middle housing, like duplexes or townhomes, can be served by either a public sewer or a large on-site sewage system. In non-rural counties like Pierce, King, or Clark, middle housing still requires a publicly owned sanitary sewer system.
Is your county “rural”?
Per SB 6149, a county is “rural” if it meets one of these:
- Population density of under 100 people per square mile (Skamania County, Klickitat County);
- Population density of 100 people per square mile or more, but no city of over 45,000 people (Cowlitz County); or
- Total county area is smaller than 225 square miles (Island County, San Juan County).
Bottom Line
By allowing large on-site sewage systems, HB 2269 removes a major infrastructure barrier for duplexes, townhomes, and other middle housing in rural Washington. For more information on how these legislative changes may affect your rural middle housing development, please contact Jordan Ramis at 503-598-5557.
