Streamlining the subdivision process inside urban growth areas.
Senate Bill 5559 aims to streamline the process for dividing land into multiple parcels within urban growth areas in Washington State. The bill allows counties, cities, and towns to increase the maximum number of lots permitted in a "short subdivision" - a simplified land division process - from four to up to nine, provided these divisions are within an urban growth area and the local government passes an ordinance. This change primarily affects landowners and developers by potentially making it easier to subdivide property. Additionally, the bill updates definitions related to subdivisions and adjusts regulations regarding further division of short plats within a five-year period.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 28, 2025
Signed May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed Bill
→
Passed Legislature
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill adds a formal certification of enrollment to the legislative text and modifies the definition of 'unit lot subdivision' to specify that it applies to residential development projects. It also updates the criteria for 'clear and objective design and development standards' to explicitly include the public and public officials in the knowledge requirement. Finally, the bill introduces new notification requirements for nearby property owners and mandates compliance with state law regarding public meetings and design reviews.
Scope change
The bill's scope is narrowed to explicitly apply to residential development projects within the definition of unit lot subdivisions, and it expands procedural requirements to include specific notice obligations for neighbors and state-mandated public meetings.
TECHNICAL
Added a formal certification of enrollment section at the beginning of the document to confirm the bill has passed both legislative chambers.
DEFINITION
Updated the definition of 'unit lot subdivision' to explicitly state it applies to 'residential development projects'.
Revised the definition of 'clear and objective design and development standards' to clarify that these criteria must be knowable to the permit applicant, the public, and public officials.
REQUIREMENT
Added a requirement that cities must provide notice to the community and property owners within 250 feet of a subdivision site, including instructions on how to submit written comments.
Modified the rules for public meetings and design reviews to require compliance with state law (Chapter 90.58 RCW) and to include the new neighbor notification requirement.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025 · House Apr 10, 2025
How they voted
50–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Feb 28, 2025
D
Democratic31
100% Yea
R
Republican20
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
31
Key actions
17
Committee
12
May 13, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
upper
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House amendments.
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
lower
Apr 10, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (97-0-3)
house
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Local Government.
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations.
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
LG - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
LGV - Majority; do pass.
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Liz Lovelett
DDemocratic
Co
T'wina Nobles
DDemocratic
Co
Yasmin Trudeau
DDemocratic
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