SB 6026 – Concerning residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones. – Passed; effective 6/11/26.
Washington is moving to make housing easier to build in commercial zones. SB 6026, effective June 11, 2026, removes common barriers that often stall residential projects in business districts.
What’s Changing?
SB 6026 adds a new section to RCW 36.70A that prevents qualifying cities and counties from:
- Banning residential uses in commercial or mixed-use zones;
- Mandating ground-floor retail or mixed-use as a condition for a permit; or,
- Restricting project departures based on residential design guidelines in these zones.
Who is Affected?
SB 6026’s new rules apply to cities with a population of 30,000 or more and non-rural counties like Pierce, Thurston, King, and Clark.
Key Exceptions
The new SB 6026 rules do not apply to:
- Industrial zones or land near oil/gas refiners ( within 3200 feet);
- Projects requiring demolition of historic landmarks;
- Land outside Urban Growth Areas or specific shoreline/military buffer zones; or,
- Existing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) areas.
Bottom Line
SB 6026 allows developers to prioritize housing over retail in areas where residential units are needed most and where land is available. For more information on how these legislative changes may affect your housing development, please contact Jordan Ramis at 503-598-5557.
