Local Governmental Amendments 

The Council is required by RCW 19.27.074 to approve or deny all county or city local amendments that impact single family or multifamily residential buildings before they can be enforced. The jurisdiction is required to submit residential amendments in writing after the amendment/ordinance has been adopted by the city/county legislative body.

“Multifamily residential building” is defined as common wall residential buildings that consist of four or fewer units, that do not exceed two 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.

Local amendments may not reduce the minimum performance standards and objectives of the state building code. Amendments that affect only administrative or departmental procedure do not need Council approval.

Recent amendments to the policy for review of local amendments require the local government to adopt findings of fact in its ordinance showing what unique conditions exist within the jurisdiction. These should be based on the five criteria outlined in the Council’s Policies and Procedures: 

1.  Climatic conditions that are unique to the jurisdiction.
2.  Geologic or seismic conditions that are unique to the jurisdiction.
3.  Environmental impacts such as noise, dust, etc., that are unique to the jurisdiction.
4.  Life, health, or safety conditions that are unique to the local jurisdiction.
5.  Other special conditions that are unique to the jurisdiction.

Form for submitting a local amendment for review

See table of Local Amendments previously approved by the Council.