S-3473

AN ACT Relating to amendments to the state building code; amending RCW 19.27.015 and 19.27.074; reenacting and amending RCW 19.27.060; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) An abundant supply of affordable housing is crucial for ensuring the well-being of all citizens of Washington state;

(2) Increasing the supply of affordable housing is critical to the citizens of Washington state for creating jobs and supporting economic development;

(3) For low and moderate-income families, farmworkers, young families, and first-time home buyers, the supply of affordable housing is in chronic short supply and, in many cases, lack of affordable housing increases the incidence of homelessness in these groups of people; and

(4) Building codes are an integral component of affordable housing, and that a reasonable building code regulatory system can improve the affordability of housing.

The legislature agrees with the United States advisory committee on regulatory barriers to affordable housing that increasing the supply of affordable housing can be accomplished through a program of regulatory reform of the building code enforcement system in order to place more reliance on the national model code system and state-wide codes to encourage consistent enforcement of the building code from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Sec. 2. RCW 19.27.015 and 1985 c 360 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this chapter:

(1) "City" means a city or town; ((~~and~~))

(2) "Multifamily residential building" means common wall residential buildings ((~~that consist of four or fewer units,~~)) that ((~~do not exceed two~~)) are less than three stories in height((~~, that are less than five thousand square feet in area, and that have a one-hour fire-resistive occupancy separation between units~~)) and contain less than fifteen dwelling units; and

(3) "Stand-alone ordinance" means an ordinance, resolution, or regulation adopted by local government, under any of the powers generally granted by the state Constitution, which effectively amends the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 as adopted and amended by the state building code council as they apply to single-family or multifamily residences.

Sec. 3. RCW 19.27.060 and 1989 c 266 s 2 and 1989 c 246 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The governing bodies of counties and cities may amend the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 as amended and adopted by the state building code council as they apply within their respective jurisdictions, but the amendments shall not result in a code that is less than the minimum performance standards and objectives contained in the state building code.

(a)(i) No amendment to a code enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 as amended and adopted by the state building code council that affects single family or multifamily residential buildings or stand-alone ordinance shall be effective unless the amendment is approved by the building code council under RCW 19.27.074(1)(b).

(ii) After the effective date of this act, any proposed stand-alone ordinance of a county or city shall be submitted to the building code council for approval. If the ordinance is not approved by the building code council, the stand-alone ordinance shall not be effective.

(b) Any county or city amendment to a code enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 which is approved under RCW 19.27.074(1)(b) shall continue to be effective after any action is taken under RCW 19.27.074(1)(a) without necessity of reapproval under RCW 19.27.074(1)(b) unless the amendment is declared null and void by the council at the time any action is taken under RCW 19.27.074(1)(a) because such action in any way altered the impact of the amendment.

(2) Except as permitted or provided otherwise under this section, the state building code shall be applicable to all buildings and structures including those owned by the state or by any governmental subdivision or unit of local government.

(3) The governing body of each county or city may limit the application of any portion of the state building code to exclude specified classes or types of buildings or structures according to use other than single family or multifamily residential buildings: PROVIDED, That in no event shall fruits or vegetables of the tree or vine stored in buildings or warehouses constitute combustible stock for the purposes of application of the uniform fire code.

(4) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any building four or more stories high with a B occupancy as defined by the uniform building code, 1982 edition, and with a city fire insurance rating of 1, 2, or 3 as defined by a recognized fire rating bureau or organization.

(5) No provision of the uniform fire code concerning roadways shall be part of the state building code: PROVIDED, That this subsection shall not limit the authority of a county or city to adopt street, road, or access standards.

(6) The provisions of the state building code may be preempted by any city or county to the extent that the code provisions relating to the installation or use of sprinklers in jail cells conflict with the secure and humane operation of jails.

(7) (a) Effective one year after July 23, 1989, the governing bodies of counties and cities may adopt an ordinance or resolution to exempt from permit requirements certain construction or alteration of either group R, division 3, or group M, division 1 occupancies, or both, as defined in the uniform building code, 1988 edition, for which the total cost of fair market value of the construction or alteration does not exceed fifteen hundred dollars. The permit exemption shall not otherwise exempt the construction or alteration from the substantive standards of the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031, as amended and maintained by the state building code council under RCW 19.27.070.

(b) Prior to July 23, 1989, the state building code council shall adopt by rule, guidelines exempting from permit requirements certain construction and alteration activities under (a) of this subsection.

Sec. 4. RCW 19.27.074 and 1989 c 266 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The state building code council shall:

(a) Adopt and maintain the codes to which reference is made in RCW 19.27.031 in a status which is consistent with the state's interest as set forth in RCW 19.27.020. In maintaining these codes, the council shall regularly review updated versions of the codes referred to in RCW 19.27.031 and other pertinent information and shall amend the codes as deemed appropriate by the council;

(b) Approve or deny all county or city amendments ((~~to any code referred to in RCW 19.27.031 to the degree the amendments~~)) and stand-alone ordinances that apply to single family or multifamily residential buildings as provided in RCW 19.27.060;

(d) Propose a budget for the operation of the state building code council to be submitted to the office of financial management pursuant to RCW 43.88.090.

(2) The state building code council may:

(a) Appoint technical advisory committees which may include members of the council;

(b) Employ permanent and temporary staff and contract for services; and

All meetings of the state building code council shall be open to the public under the open public meetings act, chapter 42.30 RCW. All actions of the state building code council which adopt or amend any code of state-wide applicability shall be pursuant to the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

All council decisions relating to the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 shall require approval by at least a majority of the members of the council.

All decisions to adopt or amend codes of state-wide application shall be made prior to December 1 of any year and shall not take effect before the end of the regular legislative session in the next year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The building code council shall immediately begin procedures to adopt and, within a reasonable time, adopt by rule clear criteria for the review of local amendments to the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 and stand-alone ordinances of a county or city that add construction requirements to single-family or multifamily residential buildings beyond those contained in the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031. The criteria shall include standards to achieve uniformity of residential codes, consideration of economic impact on the building industry and the consumer, and special consideration of amendments unique to specific jurisdictions. In developing criteria for the review of local amendments to the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 as amended and adopted by the state building code council and stand-alone ordinances of a county or city that add construction requirements to single-family or multifamily residential buildings beyond those contained in the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031, the building code council shall consult with representatives from affected parties including, but not limited to home builders, architects, governmental bodies, cities, towns, counties, building officials, and fire officials.