HB1175 • 2026

Small businesses/residential

Allowing small business establishments in residential zones.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Klicker, Representative Leavitt, Representative Taylor, Representative Parshley, Representative Richards, Representative Ryu, Representative Thai, Representative Barkis, Representative Fitzgibbon, Representative Dye, Representative Macri, Representative Doglio, Representative Wylie, Representative Kloba, Representative Nance, Representative Bernbaum
Last action: 2026-01-15
Official status: H subst for
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Small businesses/residential

What This Bill Does

Small businesses/residential

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

1175-S2 AMH WALE REHN 005

1461 • Walen

ADOPTED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1175-S2 AMH WALE REHN 005 1 - Official Print By Representative Walen EFFECT: Exempts, in counties with more than 275,000 people, cities of a certain size that are within a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in the county from the requirement that cities must permit neighborhood stores and cafes in residential zones.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1175-S2 AMH WALE REHN 005 1 - Official Print By Representative Walen EFFECT: Exempts, in counties with more than 275,000 people, cities of a certain size that are within a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in the county from the requirement that cities must permit neighborhood stores and cafes in residential zones.
1175-S2 AMH WALE REHN 005 2SHB 1175 - H AMD 1461 ADOPTED 01/15/2026 On page 2, line 21, after "(7)" insert "The requirements of this section do not apply to cities with a population less than 5,000 that are within a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in a county with a population of more than 275,000, as determined by office of financial management population estimates.
(8)" On page 3, line 25, after "(7)" insert "The requirements of this section do not apply to code cities with a population less than 5,000 that are within a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in a county with a population of more than 275,000, as determined by office of financial management population estimates.
(8)" --- END

1175-S2 AMH WALE ALLI 475

97 • Walen

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1175-S2 AMH WALE ALLI 475 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Exempts, in counties with more than 275,000 people, cities of a certain size that are within a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in the county from the requirement that cities must permit neighborhood stores and cafes in residential zones.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1175-S2 AMH WALE ALLI 475 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Exempts, in counties with more than 275,000 people, cities of a certain size that are within a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in the county from the requirement that cities must permit neighborhood stores and cafes in residential zones.
1175-S2 AMH WALE ALLI 475 2SHB 1175 - H AMD 97 By Representative Walen NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 2, line 21, after "(7)" insert "The requirements of this section do not apply to cities with a population less than 5,000 that are within a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in a county with a population of more than 275,000, as determined by office of financial management population estimates.
(8)" On page 3, line 25, after "(7)" insert "The requirements of this section do not apply to code cities with a population less than 5,000 that are within a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in a county with a population of more than 275,000, as determined by office of financial management population estimates.
(8)" --- END

Bill History

2026-01-15 House
2nd substitute bill substituted.

Official Summary Text

Small businesses/residential

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

AN ACT Relating to allowing small business establishments in 1
residential zones; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; and 2
adding a new section to chapter 35A.21 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 35.21 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) A city or town must allow neighborhood stores and 7
neighborhood cafés to be permitted in any zone allowing residential 8
uses provided that a café must offer food if alcoholic drinks are 9
offered. 10
(2) Cities and towns may regulate parking provided that the 11
regulations are not infeasible. 12
(3) Hours of operation may be limited by the city or town 13
provided that neighborhood cafés are permitted to operate for at 14
least 12 consecutive hours. 15
(4) Cities may establish additional regulations as necessary, 16
including maximum square footage requirements. 17
(5) For the purposes of this section, "neighborhood café" means 18
an establishment that serves a limited menu of food items and has at 19
least 500 square feet of gross floor area. 20
H-0374.2
HOUSE BILL 1175
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Klicker, Leavitt, Taylor, Parshley, Richards, Ryu,
Thai, Barkis, Fitzgibbon, Dye, Macri, Doglio, Wylie, Kloba, Nance,
and Bernbaum
Prefiled 01/07/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Local Government.
p. 1 HB 1175
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 1
RCW to read as follows: 2
(1) A code city or town must allow neighborhood stores and 3
neighborhood cafés to be permitted in any zone allowing residential 4
uses provided that a café must offer food if alcoholic drinks are 5
offered. 6
(2) Cities and towns may regulate parking provided that the 7
regulations are not infeasible. 8
(3) Hours of operation may be limited by the city or town 9
provided that neighborhood cafés are permitted to operate for at 10
least 12 consecutive hours. 11
(4) Code cities may establish additional regulations as 12
necessary, including maximum square footage requirements.13
(5) For the purposes of this section: 14
(a) "Neighborhood café" means an establishment that serves a 15
limited menu of food items and has at least 500 square feet of gross 16
floor area; and 17
(b) "Neighborhood store" means a convenience grocery store or 18
mini-market that provides a variety of convenience items that may 19
include, but are not limited to, food, beverages, and household 20
items. A neighborhood store must be at least 500 square feet of gross 21
floor area. 22
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1175