UGA subdivision process

AN ACT Relating to streamlining the subdivision process inside 1
urban growth areas; and amending RCW 58.17.020 and 58.17.060.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 58.17.020 and 2002 c 262 s 1 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter 6
clearly requires otherwise, the words or phrases defined in this 7
section shall have the indicated meanings. 8
(1) "Subdivision" is the division or redivision of land into five 9
or more lots, tracts, parcels, sites, or divisions for the purpose of 10
sale, lease, or transfer of ownership, except as provided in 11
subsection (6) of this section. 12
(2) "Plat" is a map or representation of a subdivision, showing 13
thereon the division of a tract or parcel of land into lots, blocks, 14
streets and alleys, or other divisions and dedications.15
(3) "Dedication" is the deliberate appropriation of land by an 16
owner for any general and public uses, reserving to himself or 17
herself no other rights than such as are compatible with the full 18
exercise and enjoyment of the public uses to which the property has 19
been devoted. The intention to dedicate shall be evidenced by the 20
owner by the presentment for filing of a final plat or short plat 21
S-0476.2
SENATE BILL 5559
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Lovelett, Nobles, and Trudeau
Read first time 01/28/25. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
p. 1 SB 5559
showing the dedication thereon; and, the acceptance by the public 1
shall be evidenced by the approval of such plat for filing by the 2
appropriate governmental unit. 3
A dedication of an area of less than two acres for use as a 4
public park may include a designation of a name for the park, in 5
honor of a deceased individual of good character. 6
(4) "Preliminary plat" is a neat and approximate drawing of a 7
proposed subdivision showing the general layout of streets and 8
alleys, lots, blocks, and other elements of a subdivision consistent 9
with the requirements of this chapter. The preliminary plat shall be 10
the basis for the approval or disapproval of the general layout of a 11
subdivision. 12
(5) "Final plat" is the final drawing of the subdivision and 13
dedication prepared for filing for record with the county auditor and 14
containing all elements and requirements set forth in this chapter 15
and in local regulations adopted under this chapter.16
(6) "Short subdivision" is the division or redivision of land 17
into four or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites, or divisions for the 18
purpose of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership. However, the 19
legislative authority of any city or town may by local ordinance 20
increase the number of lots, tracts, or parcels to be regulated as 21
short subdivisions to a maximum of nine. The legislative authority of 22
any county planning under RCW 36.70A.040 that has adopted a 23
comprehensive plan and development regulations in compliance with 24
chapter 36.70A RCW may by ordinance increase the number of lots, 25
tracts, or parcels to be regulated as short subdivisions to a maximum 26
of nine in any urban growth area. 27
(7) "Binding site plan" means a drawing to a scale specified by 28
local ordinance which: (a) Identifies and shows the areas and 29
locations of all streets, roads, improvements, utilities, open 30
spaces, and any other matters specified by local regulations; (b) 31
contains inscriptions or attachments setting forth such appropriate 32
limitations and conditions for the use of the land as are established 33
by the local government body having authority to approve the site 34
plan; and (c) contains provisions making any development be in 35
conformity with the site plan. 36
(8) "Short plat" is the map or representation of a short 37
subdivision. 38
(9) "Lot" is a fractional part of divided lands having fixed 39
boundaries, being of sufficient area and dimension to meet minimum 40
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zoning requirements for width and area. The term shall include tracts 1
or parcels. 2
(10) "Block" is a group of lots, tracts, or parcels within well 3
defined and fixed boundaries. 4
(11) "County treasurer" shall be as defined in chapter 36.29 RCW 5
or the office or person assigned such duties under a county charter.6
(12) "County auditor" shall be as defined in chapter 36.22 RCW or 7
the office or person assigned such duties under a county charter.8
(13) "County road engineer" shall be as defined in chapter 36.40 9
RCW or the office or person assigned such duties under a county 10
charter. 11
(14) "Planning commission" means that body as defined in chapter 12
36.70, 35.63, or 35A.63 RCW as designated by the legislative body to 13
perform a planning function or that body assigned such duties and 14
responsibilities under a city or county charter. 15
(15) "County commissioner" shall be as defined in chapter 36.32 16
RCW or the body assigned such duties under a county charter.17
(16) "Parent lot" means a lot that is subdivided into unit lots 18
through the unit lot subdivision process.19
(17) "Unit lot" means a subdivided lot within a development as 20
created from a parent lot and approved through the unit lot 21
subdivision process.22
(18) "Unit lot subdivision" means a subdivision or short 23
subdivision proposed as part of a development project that meets the 24
development standards applicable to the parent lot at the time the 25
application is vested, but which may result in development on one or 26
more individual unit lots becoming nonconforming as to specified land 27
use and development standards based on the analysis of the individual 28
unit lot. By June 30, 2026, all unit lot subdivisions shall require 29
notification to purchasers of their legal status as further described 30
in RCW 58.17.060.31
Sec. 2. RCW 58.17.060 and 2023 c 337 s 11 are each amended to 32
read as follows: 33
(1) The legislative body of a city, town, or county shall adopt 34
regulations and procedures, and appoint administrative personnel for 35
the summary approval of short plats and short subdivisions or 36
alteration or vacation thereof. When an alteration or vacation 37
involves a public dedication, the alteration or vacation shall be 38
processed as provided in RCW 58.17.212 or 58.17.215. Such regulations 39
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shall be adopted by ordinance and shall provide that a short plat and 1
short subdivision may be approved only if written findings that are 2
appropriate, as provided in RCW 58.17.110, are made by the 3
administrative personnel, and may contain wholly different 4
requirements than those governing the approval of preliminary and 5
final plats of subdivisions and may require surveys and 6
monumentations and shall require filing of a short plat, or 7
alteration or vacation thereof, for record in the office of the 8
county auditor: PROVIDED, That such regulations must contain a 9
requirement that land in short subdivisions may not be further 10
divided in any manner within a period of five years without the 11
filing of a final plat, except that when the short plat contains 12
fewer than four parcels, nothing in this section shall prevent the 13
owner who filed the short plat from filing an alteration within the 14
five-year period to create up to a total of four lots within the 15
original short plat boundaries: PROVIDED FURTHER, That such 16
regulations are not required to contain a penalty clause as provided 17
in RCW 36.32.120 and may provide for wholly injunctive relief.18
An ordinance requiring a survey shall require that the survey be 19
completed and filed with the application for approval of the short 20
subdivision. 21
(2) Cities, towns, and counties shall include in their short plat 22
regulations and procedures pursuant to subsection (1) of this section 23
provisions for considering sidewalks and other planning features that 24
assure safe walking conditions for students who walk to and from 25
school. 26
(3) All cities, code cities, and towns((, and counties shall 27
include in their short plat regulations )) located in a county 28
planning under RCW 36.70A.040 shall by June 30, 2026, adopt or enact 29
procedures for unit lot subdivisions ((allowing division of a parent 30
lot into separately owned unit lots )). Portions of the parent lot not 31
subdivided for individual unit lots shall be owned in common by the 32
owners of the individual unit lots, or by a homeowners' association 33
comprised of the owners of the individual unit lots.34
(a) These procedures shall include, at a minimum, the requirement 35
that prominent informational notes be placed on the unit lot 36
subdivision's plat, and recorded in the county or counties in which 37
such land is located, to acknowledge each of the following:38
(i) Approval of the design and layout of the unit lot's housing 39
development project was granted based on detailed review of that 40
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specified project, as a whole, on the parent lot, including specific 1
reference to the applicable permit or file number for that specified 2
project; 3
(ii) Subsequent subdivision actions, additions, or modifications 4
to the unit lot housing development project's structures may not 5
create or increase any nonconformity of the parent lot as a whole, 6
and shall conform to the approved unit lot housing development 7
project or to the land use and development standards in effect at the 8
time of the proposed actions, additions, or modifications;9
(iii) If a structure or portion of a structure within the unit lot 10
housing development project has been damaged or destroyed, any 11
repair, reconstruction, or replacement of any structure shall conform 12
to the approved unit lot housing development project or to the land 13
use and development standards in effect at the time the proposed 14
repair, reconstruction, or replacement project's permit application 15
becomes vested; and16
(iv) Additional development or redevelopment of the individual 17
unit lots may be limited as a result of the application of 18
development standards to the parent lot.19
(b) These procedures shall also:20
(i) Not require any public predecision meeting or hearing, nor 21
any design review other than administrative design review;22
(ii) Apply only clear and objective development regulations;23
(iii) Be logically integrated with the application, review, and 24
approval procedures that apply to the underlying unit lot housing 25
development project to the greatest extent feasible; and26
(iv) Be specifically subject to the maximum time period for local 27
government actions as set forth in RCW 36.70B.080, unless extended 28
pursuant to project-specific mutual agreement as permitted by RCW 29
36.70B.080.30
(c) After June 30, 2026, no city, code city, or town subject to 31
this section may decline to accept, process, or approve an 32
application for a unit lot subdivision, consistent with the 33
procedural requirements of (a) and (b) of this subsection, solely 34
because that city, code city, or town has not completed adoption or 35
enactment of the procedures required under this section.36
(d) Nothing in this section:37
(i) Prohibits a city or county from applying public health, 38
safety, building code, and environmental permitting requirements to a 39
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development project that is subject to or integrated with a unit lot 1
subdivision process; 2
(ii) Requires a city or county to authorize a development project 3
or a unit lot subdivision in a location where development is 4
restricted under other laws, rules, or ordinances, such as in 5
locations where development is limited as a result of physical 6
proximity to on-site sewage system infrastructure, critical areas, or 7
other unsuitable physical characteristics of a property.8
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