MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Housing

Inclusionary Zoning: One Tool for Creating Affordable Housing

March 19, 2026 by Steve Butler
Category: Development Regulations and Zoning , Housing

Since local governments are not in the business of building housing, how can they address the affordable housing problem? One regulatory tool is inclusionary zoning, which encourages developers to add affordable units in new residential development projects in specified areas.

Private Covenants and Local Zoning: Dual or Dueling Land Use Regulations?

March 11, 2026 by Leonard Bauer
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Housing , Land Use Administration , Subdivisions and Planned Developments

Private land use restrictions can pose challenges for local governments when they conflict with local zoning, hinder affordable housing efforts, or reflect discriminatory practices. However, private covenants should not deter local governments from permitting development.

Floor Area Ratio: What It Is and How Local Governments Can Use It

December 3, 2025 by Noal Leonetti , Abby Newbold
Category: Guest Author , Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Housing , Transportation and Land Use

Regulations addressing floor area ratio (FAR) can help cities build density and give developers more options. Passed in 2025, HB 1491 requires certain cities use FAR when setting density standards near high-capacity transit stations for rail and/or bus.

Comprehensive Plans’ Housing Elements Under Increased Scrutiny

October 29, 2025 by Steve Butler
Category: Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Housing

Will the housing element of your comprehensive plan see increased public scrutiny? Legislative changes to the GMA have added new requirements to the housing element, bringing increased public pressure on cities, towns, and counties to faithfully meet these changes.

Why Cities and Towns Should Consider Developing Rental Housing Registries

September 2, 2025 by Alicia Bones
Category: Housing

Cities and towns looking to regularly monitor local housing stock should consider developing a rental registry. Such a tool can aid an agency in planning and resource allocation, while also ensuring safe and well-maintained housing options are available for the community.

2025 Legislation Affecting Local Government Planning

August 5, 2025 by Leonard Bauer
Category: Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Administration , Parking , Development Regulations and Zoning , Housing , Transportation and Land Use , New Legislation and Regulations

Several bills from 2025 will impact local government planning, addressing topics as diverse as periodic update deadlines, local parking requirements, and historic landmark property designation.

July 23, 2025 by Steve Butler
Category: Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Development Regulations and Zoning , Housing , New Legislation and Regulations

The 2025 state legislative session included bills that encourage the development of more housing as well as the preservation of existing affordable housing, generally by building on legislation from prior sessions.

2025 Legislation that Advances Sustainability in Washington Communities

July 7, 2025 by Lisa Pool
Category: Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Cycling and Walking , Administration , Climate and Sustainability , Parking , Environmental Laws and Regulations , Streets and Sidewalks , Housing , Utilities , New Legislation and Regulations

This year's state legislative session passed bills addressing sustainability and climate action, updating the state's Clean Buildings Performance Standard, enacting extended producer responsibility, and encouraging the development of shared streets.

Adopting SEPA Exemptions May Help Implement Your Comprehensive Plan

June 18, 2025 by Leonard Bauer
Category: Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Environmental Laws and Regulations , Housing , New Legislation and Regulations

Local governments looking to promote development that implements their comprehensive plans should consider adopting categorical or optional exemptions from the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) for certain types of projects.

2025 Legislation Addressing Residential Unit Lot Subdivisions and Lot Splitting

June 16, 2025 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Housing , Subdivisions and Planned Developments , New Legislation and Regulations

Two recent bills impact the local residential land division process—one provides additional guidance regarding local unit lot subdivision regulation and the other will allow administrative residential lot splitting under certain circumstances.

Updating Local Regulations to Encourage More Accessory Dwelling Units

April 15, 2025 by Steve Butler
Category: Housing

Increasing the number of accessory dwelling units can build more housing stock in a community. What changes can agencies make to local zoning codes that might encourage this type of development among homeowners and developers?

Indoor of a green building under construction

Office-to-Housing Conversion Adds Vibrancy to Downtowns

April 2, 2025 by Leonard Bauer
Category: Development Regulations and Zoning , Housing , Downtown Revitalization Series

With downtowns still struggling to regain pre-COVID occupancy rates, some are wondering whether office-to-residential conversions can provide housing and bring people back. Can local governments remove some of the obstacles and adopt incentives that spur this type of development?

Using Unit Lot Subdivisions to Increase the Local Housing Supply

February 24, 2025 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Housing , Subdivisions and Planned Developments

A 2023 state law requires unit lot subdivisions be incorporated into local short plat regulations.Cities and counties can increase the local housing by allowing landowners to divide a single parent parcel into unit lots that then can be sold to individual owners.

Want More Affordable Housing? Reducing Infrastructure Costs Could Help

December 31, 2024 by Leonard Bauer
Category: Housing , Impact Fees , Utilities

With affordable housing as a top priority for communities across the state, local governments can reduce costs related to development fees and reconsider infrastructure requirements to encourage the development of housing projects affordable to all income levels.

An older, multi-unit affordable housing building in Seattle

Protecting Your Community’s “Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing”

September 18, 2024 by Steve Butler
Category: Housing

Within every community exists naturally occurring affordable housing, which can help community members who might otherwise be priced out of a hot local housing market. Local governments can help to preserve this housing through specialized policies and programs.

Six Housing and Planning Bills that Help Washington Communities Confront the Housing Crisis

August 21, 2024 by Lisa Pool
Category: Parking , Housing , New Legislation and Regulations

Contains summaries of six bills related to co-living, parking standards, building conversions, middle housing, residential building and energy codes, and manufactured housing passed during the most recent short Washington State legislative session.

Modern, multi-unit residences on city street

The Importance of Housing to Downtown Revitalization

June 5, 2024 by Steve Butler
Category: Housing , Downtown Revitalization Series

As part of a broader strategy to revitalize its downtown, a local government can play a significant role in promoting more housing options, making downtown an inviting place to work, play, and live.

An older man holds a sign in protest of plans for a new stadium

Dealing with Housing Displacement in Your Comprehensive Plan

May 29, 2024 by Carson Bridges , Steve Butler
Category: Guest Author , Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Housing

Housing displacement brought about by gentrification can severely disrupt existing neighborhoods. Thanks to legislation in 2021, any GMA-planning local government updating a comprehensive plan must also address and include anti-displacement strategies to protect residents.

Wooden houses and heart on a blue background

What Factors Increase the Likelihood Unhoused People Will Seek Out Shelters? Part Two

March 4, 2024 by Alicia Bones
Category: Housing , Homelessness

In the second part of this blog series, we look at how local governments across Washington State are implementing best practices to reduce barriers that prevent unhoused people from accessing shelters, from funding diverse shelter types to developing regional service plans.

A woman holds a young child while both sit on a shelter bed

What Factors Increase the Likelihood Unhoused People Will Seek Out Shelters? Part One

February 28, 2024 by Alicia Bones
Category: Housing , Homelessness

How can shelter operators make their shelters more welcoming? What are some of the best practices shelters can follow to ensure that they don't enact barriers which prevent unhoused individuals from seeking help?

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