MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Land Use Administration

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.

Tips for Timely and Predictable Local Government Permitting

October 9, 2024 by Leonard Bauer
Category: Land Use Administration

Timely, predictable, and transparent permit processes are key to achieving local economic, housing, and environmental protection goals, and help build trust in government. Such processes can be improved in a number of ways, from jargon-free documents to ongoing staff training.

Save the Bees: How Local Governments Can Protect Pollinator Habitat

August 27, 2024 by Katie Buckley
Category: Guest Author , Environmental Laws and Regulations , Land Use Administration , New Legislation and Regulations

Pollinators are a critical component of a healthy ecosystem, impacting food security, the abundance of local flora, and agricultural earnings. Local governments can play a role in protecting critical habitat for pollinators with innovative strategies and smart land use policies.

Two people look on while a third presents an architectural design

Impending Deadline of January 1 to Address SB 5290’s New Development Timelines

August 7, 2024 by Steve Butler
Category: Land Use Administration , New Legislation and Regulations

Beginning in 2025, GMA-planning counties and cities must follow new state-based timelines for issuing a final decision on applications for land use review. However, localities can — up to end of this year — adjust their timelines for review (and bypass the state ones).

A group sitting around a table reviews construction plans

2023 Legislative Updates to Modernize and Streamline Local Project Review

September 5, 2023 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Land Use Administration , New Legislation and Regulations

In 2023, SB 5290 introduced legislative tweaks to local project review to improve process predictability, including the establishment of grant and technical assistance programs to help local governments build the resources needed for timely permit processing.

January 28, 2021 by Steve Butler
Category: Development Regulations and Zoning , Streets and Sidewalks , Land Use Administration , Economic Development

This blog suggests some action items planners can undertake during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage commerce, promote recreational opportunities, and streamline the planning process.

Trial by Zoom: Using Online Platforms in Administrative Proceedings, Trials, and Oral Arguments

December 28, 2020 by Clara Park
Category: Guest Author , Courts and Criminal Justice System , COVID-19 , Land Use Administration

This blog post discusses the current state of virtual proceedings and offers pointers for anyone navigating the shift from in-person to virtual proceedings.

2020 Legislative Outcomes for Planning and Land Use-Related Issues

June 25, 2020 by Steve Butler
Category: Land Use Administration , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog post summarizes major planning/land use-related bills that were passed during the 2020 Washington State legislative session.

Quickly Switching Over to an Online Permitting/Plan Review System

June 18, 2020 by Steve Butler
Category: COVID-19 , Land Use Administration

This blog post highlights local planning/building departments that quickly converted from a traditional permitting/plan review process to an online system.

Yim I and Yim II Clarify Washington Regulatory Takings and Substantive Due Process Law

January 2, 2020 by Roger Wynne
Category: Guest Author , Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Land Use Administration

This blog post addresses Yim I and Yim II, two recent Washington Supreme Court rulings that clarify the state's regulatory takings and substantive due process jurisprudence.

Providing Exceptional Customer Service at Your Permit Counter

November 30, 2018 by Steve Butler
Category: Land Use Administration

This blog post looks at how a city, town, or county can take steps to ensure its front desk staff provide excellent customer service at the permit counter.

The Culverts Case: An Overview and Potential Implications for Local Governments

June 20, 2018 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Land Use Administration

This blog takes a look at the Culverts Case and potential implications for local governments in Washington State.

December 2017 Land Use Case Law Update

January 4, 2018 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Land Use Administration

Legal Consultant Jill Dvorkin reviews the top land use cases from the latter half of 2017. These cases were heard by the State Supreme Court and may impact Washington State local governments in the future.

June 2017 Land Use Case Law Update Recap

June 29, 2017 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Land Use Administration

On June 15, Phil Olbrechts and Jill Dvorkin presented the first of two annual Land Use Case Law Update webinars for 2017. In this blog post, Jill Dvorkin provides a brief recap of the cases covered in the webinar, as well as a summary of another case decided since the webinar.

Grassy meadow with trees, lake, and mountain in background

Land Use Case Law Update Recap

December 21, 2016 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Land Use Administration

In our recent Land Use Case Law Update webinar, Phil Olbrechts and Jill Dvorkin discussed key land use cases decided, for the most part, within the past six months. In this blog post, I will briefly recap the cases we covered during the webinar.

Should Legislative Bodies Conduct Quasi-Judicial Hearings?

August 31, 2016 by Joseph W. Tovar
Category: Guest Author , Land Use Administration

In our latest Planning Advisor column, Joe Tovar argues that city, town, and county councils should remove themselves from quasi-judicial roles and delegate that authority to hearing examiners instead.