State energy code costs

AN ACT Relating to controlling costs imposed by the state energy 1
code; amending RCW 19.27.060; adding a new section to chapter 19.27A 2
RCW; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The median price of a new home in 5
Washington is $700,683, the sixth highest in the nation. At this 6
price, 82 percent of Washington households are unable to afford a new 7
home. In June 2025, Washington ranked as the second worst state in 8
the country to buy a starter home. By 2030, Washington is on track to 9
become the fifth most expensive state for housing, with median home 10
prices topping $900,000.11
The legislature recognizes that energy efficiency goals have 12
resulted in much higher costs to construct buildings, and has had a 13
negative impact on the cost of all buildings, including housing. The 14
legislature intends the state building code council to be serious 15
about providing more affordable smaller homes. The state building 16
code council is being directed to control cost escalation when 17
updating the state energy code. 18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 19.27A 19
RCW to read as follows: 20
H-2652.3
HOUSE BILL 2486
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Engell, Manjarrez, and Barkis
Read first time 01/14/26. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
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(1) A code official may approve designs for construction or 1
repairs which do not fully conform with all of the requirements of 2
the state energy code where, in the opinion of the code official, 3
full compliance is physically impossible or economically impractical 4
and the proposed alternative meets safety requirements. Economically 5
impractical includes, but is not limited to, circumstances in which 6
the cost of the requirement far exceeds the ability to recover the 7
additional expense for the improvement through reductions in 8
operational costs or savings from reduced energy usage within 10 9
years. 10
(2)(a) During the 2026 and 2029 code cycles, the state building 11
code council may not impose requirements that would add more to the 12
total cost to build a 1,700 foot or smaller residential building or 13
unit than the cost to build in accordance with the state energy code 14
in effect January 1, 2026. 15
(b) A code official may approve use of a less costly option 16
provided in a prior state energy code if building to the existing 17
state energy code exceeds the cost limitations imposed in this 18
subsection. 19
(3) In circumstances where a project is intended to provide 20
affordable housing residences, a code official may approve project 21
designs that conform to less costly provisions from prior versions of 22
the state energy code. 23
(4) For purposes of this section, "code official" means the 24
officer or designated authority charged with the administration and 25
enforcement of the codes adopted under chapters 19.27 and 19.27A RCW.26
Sec. 3. RCW 19.27.060 and 2018 c 302 s 2 are each amended to 27
read as follows: 28
(1) The governing bodies of counties and cities may amend the 29
codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 as amended and adopted by the state 30
building code council as they apply within their respective 31
jurisdictions, but the amendments shall not result in a code that is 32
less than the minimum performance standards and objectives contained 33
in the state building code except as provided in subsection (2) of 34
this section. 35
(a) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no 36
amendment to a code enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 as amended and 37
adopted by the state building code council that affects single-family 38
or multifamily residential buildings shall be effective unless the 39
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amendment is approved by the building code council under RCW 1
19.27.074(1)(b). 2
(b) Any county or city amendment to a code enumerated in RCW 3
19.27.031 which is approved under RCW 19.27.074(1)(b) shall continue 4
to be effective after any action is taken under RCW 19.27.074(1)(a) 5
without necessity of reapproval under RCW 19.27.074(1)(b) unless the 6
amendment is declared null and void by the council at the time any 7
action is taken under RCW 19.27.074(1)(a) because such action in any 8
way altered the impact of the amendment. 9
(2) The legislative body of a county or city, in exercising the 10
authority provided under subsection (1) of this section to amend the 11
code enumerated in RCW 19.27.031(1)(((b))) (a)(ii), may adopt 12
amendments that eliminate any minimum gross floor area requirement 13
for single-family detached dwellings or that provide a minimum gross 14
floor area requirement below the minimum performance standards and 15
objectives contained in the state building code. 16
(3) Except as permitted or provided otherwise under this section, 17
the state building code shall be applicable to all buildings and 18
structures including those owned by the state or by any governmental 19
subdivision or unit of local government. 20
(4) The governing body of each county or city may limit the 21
application of any portion of the state building code to exclude 22
specified classes or types of buildings or structures according to 23
use other than single-family or multifamily residential buildings. 24
However, in no event shall fruits or vegetables of the tree or vine 25
stored in buildings or warehouses constitute combustible stock for 26
the purposes of application of the uniform fire code. A governing 27
body of a county or city may inspect facilities used for temporary 28
storage and processing of agricultural commodities.29
(5) No provision of the uniform fire code concerning roadways 30
shall be part of the state building code: PROVIDED, That this 31
subsection shall not limit the authority of a county or city to adopt 32
street, road, or access standards. 33
(6) The provisions of the state building code may be preempted by 34
any city or county to the extent that the code provisions relating to 35
the installation or use of sprinklers in jail cells conflict with the 36
secure and humane operation of jails. 37
(7)(a) Effective one year after July 23, 1989, the governing 38
bodies of counties and cities may adopt an ordinance or resolution to 39
exempt from permit requirements certain construction or alteration of 40
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either group R, division 3, or group M, division 1 occupancies, or 1
both, as defined in the uniform building code, 1988 edition, for 2
which the total cost of fair market value of the construction or 3
alteration does not exceed fifteen hundred dollars. The permit 4
exemption shall not otherwise exempt the construction or alteration 5
from the substantive standards of the codes enumerated in RCW 6
19.27.031, as amended and maintained by the state building code 7
council under RCW 19.27.070. 8
(b) Prior to July 23, 1989, the state building code council shall 9
adopt by rule, guidelines exempting from permit requirements certain 10
construction and alteration activities under (a) of this subsection.11
(8) Actions by a code official in compliance with section 2 of 12
this act are not subject to the provisions of this section.13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If any provision of this act or its 14
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the 15
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other 16
persons or circumstances is not affected.17
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