Senate passes Goehner bill to expand local housing options

OLYMPIA — Sen. Keith Goehner's work to give counties more options for promoting affordable housing received a big boost last Wednesday when the Senate gave overwhelming bipartisan support to Senate Bill 5471.

The legislation would allow counties to authorize at least one "middle housing" unit on every parcel zoned for single-family homes within urban growth areas.

"Since the Growth Management Act (GMA) was enacted decades ago, the state has typically gone too far in limiting local government's ability to authorize the construction of more homes," said Goehner, R-Dryden. "We should be empowering the private sector to create housing solutions, because builders are ready to build—and this bill would give them the flexibility to do so."

His legislation would expand local housing options by allowing duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and other types of "middle housing" in urban growth areas, whether incorporated or not, where housing shortages are most pressing.

Goehner said his county-focused measure aligns with a 2023 law requiring cities to increase housing diversity in traditionally single-family neighborhoods.

"The GMA was originally designed to manage growth, but over time, it has imposed too many restrictions that have stifled housing development in high-demand areas," Goehner added. "This bill would ease those barriers while maintaining protections for rural communities."

The bill, Goehner's first to pass since he became a senator this year, received a unanimous vote.

"When introducing legislation, we don't know which of our bills will end up being the first to reach the Senate floor. It's nice that the first bill of mine to get through the Senate could end up helping a family realize the American dream of home ownership," Goehner said.

SB 5471 now moves to the House for further consideration.