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HB1576 • 2026
Concerning the designation of historic landmarks by cities.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Historic landmarks/cities
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
0 • Local Government
Plain English: 1576-S AMS LGV S2465.1 SHB 1576 - S COMM AMD By Committee on Local Government ADOPTED 04/09/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.
114 • Walen
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 1576-S AMH WALE WRIK 400 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Provides that the historic landmark designations that, unless an exception applies, require the consent of the property owner in order to be effective are those established through a local preservation ordinance.
724 • Klicker
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 1576-S AMH KLIC WRIK 396 1 - Official Print 1576-S AMH KLIC WRIK 396 SHB 1576 - H AMD 724 By Representative Klicker WITHDRAWN 03/10/2025 On page 1, line 19, after "(2)" insert "(a)" On page 1, at the beginning of line 20, strike "(a)" and insert "(i)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 1, strike "(b)" and insert "(ii)" On page 2, after line 7, insert the following: "(b) No city may prohibit or restrict the modification or demolition of a building designated as a historic landmark if the building is not structurally sound." On page 2, line 8, after "subsection" strike "(2)" and insert "(2) (a)" On page 2, line 33, after "(2)" insert "(a)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 35, strike "(a)" and insert "(i)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 37, strike "(b)" and insert "(ii)" On page 3, after line 4, insert the following: 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 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 1576-S AMH KLIC WRIK 396 2 - Official Print EFFECT: Prohibits cities and code cities from restricting or disallowing the modification or demolition of a building designated as a historic landmark if the building is not structurally sound.
1st substitute bill substituted.
Historic landmarks/cities
AN ACT Relating to the designation of historic landmarks by 1 cities; reenacting and amending RCW 43.21C.495; adding a new section 2 to chapter 35.21 RCW; and 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) Except as provided for in subsection (3) of this section, 7 cities must adopt or amend by ordinance, and incorporate into their 8 development regulations, zoning regulations, preservation ordinances, 9 and other official controls the requirements of subsection (2) of 10 this section for properties that are zoned for residential or mixed 11 use no later than one year after the effective date of this act.12 (b) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the 13 requirements of subsection (2) of this section apply and take effect 14 in any city that has not adopted or amended ordinances, regulations, 15 or other official controls as required under this section by the 16 timeline in (a) of this subsection and supersede, preempt, and 17 invalidate any conflicting local regulations. 18 (2) No city may designate a property as a historic landmark if:19 (a) The property that would be designated as a historic landmark 20 is less than 40 years old; or 21 H-0200.1 HOUSE BILL 1576 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Representatives Walen and Barkis Read first time 01/24/25. Referred to Committee on Local Government. p. 1 HB 1576 (b) If the designation would restrict the use, alteration, or 1 demolition of the property, or the written consent of the owner of 2 the property has not been obtained. Such a designation made without 3 the written consent of the property owner is void unless and until 4 such consent is obtained. 5 (3) The limitations in subsection (2) of this section do not 6 apply if the property that would be designated as a historic landmark 7 is within a historic district established through a local 8 preservation ordinance. 9 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 10 RCW to read as follows: 11 (1)(a) Except as provided for in subsection (3) of this section, 12 code cities must adopt or amend by ordinance, and incorporate into 13 their development regulations, zoning regulations, preservation 14 ordinances, and other official controls, the requirements of 15 subsection (2) of this section for properties that are zoned for 16 residential or mixed use no later than one year after the effective 17 date of this act. 18 (b) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the 19 requirements of subsection (2) of this section apply and take effect 20 in any code city that has not adopted or amended ordinances, 21 regulations, or other official controls as required under this 22 section by the timeline in (a) of this subsection and supersede, 23 preempt, and invalidate any conflicting local regulations.24 (2) No code city may designate a property as a historic landmark 25 if: 26 (a) The property that would be designated as a historic landmark 27 is less than 40 years old; or 28 (b) If the designation would restrict the use, alteration, or 29 demolition of the property, or the written consent of the owner of 30 the property has not been obtained. Such a designation made without 31 the written consent of the property owner is void unless and until 32 such consent is obtained. 33 (3) The limitations in subsection (2) of this section do not 34 apply if the property that would be designated as a historic landmark 35 is within a historic district established through a local 36 preservation ordinance. 37 p. 2 HB 1576 Sec. 3. RCW 43.21C.495 and 2023 c 334 s 6 and 2023 c 3 s 8 are 1 each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 2 (1) Adoption of ordinances, development regulations and 3 amendments to such regulations, and other nonproject actions taken by 4 a city to implement: The actions specified in section 2, chapter 246, 5 Laws of 2022 unless the adoption of such ordinances, development 6 regulations and amendments to such regulations, or other nonproject 7 actions has a probable significant adverse impact on fish habitat; 8 and the increased residential building capacity actions identified in 9 RCW 36.70A.600(1), with the exception of the action specified in RCW 10 36.70A.600(1)(f), are not subject to administrative or judicial 11 appeals under this chapter. 12 (2) Amendments to development regulations and other nonproject 13 actions taken by a city to implement the requirements under RCW 14 36.70A.635 pursuant to RCW 36.70A.636(3)(b) are not subject to 15 administrative or judicial appeals under this chapter.16 (3) Adoption of ordinances, development regulations and 17 amendments to such regulations, and other nonproject actions taken by 18 a city or county consistent with the requirements of RCW 36.70A.680 19 and 36.70A.681, or such actions taken by a city pursuant to section 1 20 or 2 of this act, are not subject to administrative or judicial 21 appeals under this chapter. 22 --- END --- p. 3 HB 1576