RCW 36.70A.815
204 words·~1 min read·
/wa/title-36/chapter-36-70a/36-70a-815·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
(1)A city or county planning under RCW 36.70A.040 may not require façade modulation or upper-level setbacks as a condition of permitting the following types of residential projects:
(a)Affordable housing;
(b)New construction meeting passive house requirements;
(c)The retrofit of existing buildings meeting passive house requirements;
(d)The conversion of existing buildings to housing or mixed-use development that includes housing;
(e)Modular construction; or
(f)Mass timber construction.
(2)For the purposes of this section:
(a)"Façade modulation" means a change in building plane, either a recess or a projection, that changes the shape of the exterior massing of the building.
(b)"Mass timber construction" means a building with structural components primarily made of mass timber products as defined in RCW 19.27.570 .
(c)"Modular construction" means a multistory residential or commercial building constructed of standardized components produced off-site, which are transported and assembled at a final location.
(d)"Passive house requirements" means the criteria for certification as a passive house by Phius or the international passive house institute.
(e)"Upper-level setback" means a required distance between the lot line and the building façade applied only to portions of the building above a specified height.
[ 2025 c 139 s 6 .]