Advocacy
King County Energy Mandate Removed
King County Energy Mandate Removed Back to News Center October 22, 2025 For many years, environmental advocates have lobbied to require residential energy audits and energy upgrades mandated at the point of sale. A proposal in King County would have prevented sellers from closing a transaction until they conducted an energy audit, made the score…
Read MoreSeattle Proposes B&O Tax Increase
Seattle Proposes B&O Tax Increase Back to News Center October 22, 2025 This fall, Seattle voters will be asked to decide on an increase to the city’s Business & Occupation (B&O) tax. The proposal comes from Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and could have significant implications for REALTORS®, real estate firms,…
Read MoreDesign Review Reform in Enumclaw
Design Review Reform in Enumclaw Back to News Center October 22, 2025 Enumclaw is the latest city in King County to take steps toward streamlining its permitting process by reforming its design review procedures. In January 2025, Jeff Potter of Integrity Land LLC submitted a privately initiated code amendment request focused on townhouse development standards.…
Read MoreIssues & Impacts Q2 2025
Issues & Impacts Q2 2025 Back to News Center July 14, 2025 Issues & Impacts is a quarterly publication produced by Seattle King County REALTORS® to inform members about current issues and successes within the Government Affairs Department. IN THIS ISSUE: REALTOR® Advocacy for Housing Supply Planning Commission Assist in Black Diamond Seattle Addresses Tree…
Read MoreREALTOR® Advocacy for Housing Supply
REALTOR® Advocacy for Housing Supply Back to News Center July 14, 2025 In 2023, the Legislature passed numerous new laws imposing new housing-related mandates on cities. In the four-county Central Puget Sound Region (King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties) cities were required to modify their comprehensive plans, and to modify their development regulations which implement…
Read MorePlanning Commission Assist in Black Diamond
Planning Commission Assist in Black Diamond Back to News Center July 14, 2025 Seattle King County REALTORS® has been supportive of, and working with, the city of Black Diamond even before the Legislature passed the plethora of new local government housing mandates in 2023. The City’s progress over the last several years has been impeded…
Read MoreSeattle Addresses Tree Canopy Concerns
Seattle Addresses Tree Canopy Concerns Back to News Center July 14, 2025 Seattle King County REALTORS® continues to work throughout the region to encourage cities to adopt flexible and bold comprehensive plan policies and related development regulations to encourage ADUs and middle housing in their cities. We are encouraging policy makers to view increased housing…
Read MoreBurien Comp Plan Changes Pushed Through
Burien Comp Plan Changes Pushed Through Back to News Center July 14, 2025 Seattle King County REALTORS® worked with Burien’s Planning Commission and staff, and later with the City Council, on amendments to Burien’s Critical Areas Ordinance, including changes to meet state mandates by: Encouraging housing developments in residential areas across the city. Expanding the…
Read MoreSupport for New Ordinances in Federal Way
Support for New Ordinances in Federal Way Back to News Center July 14, 2025 Seattle King County REALTORS® advocacy in Federal Way during Q2 of 2025 focused on support for two proposed ordinances for Middle Housing (MH) and Unit Lot Subdivision (ULS). In addition SKCR connected city councilmembers with home builders and representatives of the…
Read MoreKent’s 2-Phase Housing Re-Code
Kent’s 2-Phase Housing Re-Code Back to News Center July 14, 2025 The city of Kent has undertaken its own distinctive and timely two-phase “HOUSING RE-CODE” approach in order to complete the major periodic update to its comprehensive plan, incorporate the 2023 housing-related mandates into its planning, and update its development code and regulations in time…
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