Agritourism report, PlanView updates, local emissions estimator, new laws taking effect





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JUNE 15, 2026






Planners’ Monthly Newsletter
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June 2026: Agritourism report, PlanView updates, local emissions estimator, new laws taking effect

 

Kicking off the Housing Accelerator Framework project

Commerce, as directed by the Legislature, is beginning work to develop a Housing Accelerator Framework. Commerce will consult with various agencies and stakeholders to study a range of topics that may pose barriers to swift housing development.

The 12-month study will explore:


* Eliminating barriers to building housing
* Reviewing housing cost drivers
* Accelerating housing development milestones
* Increasing the production of housing units statewide

A preliminary report is due Oct. 1, 2026, with a final due in June 2027. 

*Questions?* Contact project manager Anne Fritzel at [email protected].

 

PlanView: Submitting materials to the state and more

PlanView is an important component of the technical assistance and support provided by Commerce. As our statutory requirements change so must PlanView. As we are preparing to update PlanView we want to hear from our PlanView users.

Specifically, we want to know:


* What do you love about PlanView?
* What do you wish was different about PlanView?
* If there was just one feature you could add what would it be?

Please use this form to share your feedback [ [link removed] ].

Additionally, we invite all PlanView partners to take a moment to update the contacts listed for your organization. State agencies, local governments and tribes should check that the primary contact for your organization is marked correctly and people no longer with your organization are deleted.

If you have more questions or concerns regarding the PlanView system you can reach out to Mary M. Reinbold, AICP at [email protected].

 

Agritourism can bolster struggling farms, report finds

Commerce recently published the Washington State Agritourism Report [ [link removed] ], focused on identifying policy options to support agritourism across Washington.

The report was commissioned by the Legislature and reflects a stakeholder process that explores key challenges facing agritourism in Washington, including regulatory barriers, development pressures and the impact of state, county and local policy alignment on farmland preservation.

Specific areas of focus include strategies for farmers, policymakers and anyone interested in agriculture to provide innovative ideas for combining traditional forms of agriculture with tourism, while preserving agricultural land and creating policy safeguards to mitigate possible negative impacts of agritourism in Washington.

*Read more: *Washington state Agritourism Report [ [link removed] ]

 

Test our new local emissions estimator tool

Commerce is seeking volunteers to test an early version of the Washington Local Emissions Estimator (WaLEE) tool, which will estimate the greenhouse gas emissions-reduction potential of comprehensive plan policies.

Test users will have the opportunity to evaluate and provide feedback to help shape the tool ahead of its public release in early 2027. Help us consider what may be missing, unclear or different from how you would approach planning for climate mitigation in practice. It should take about one hour to evaluate the tool. Please register by June 30.

*Volunteer:* Sign up to test WaLEE [ [link removed] ]

 

Most new laws are now in effect

Most new laws passed during the 2026 legislative session took effect on June 11, bringing important updates to Washington’s planning framework. New laws on residential density, siting of supportive housing, permit review timelines and more will require local ordinances to be adopted within the next few years.

Review our recently published Planners' Legislative Update newsletter or watch our legislative update workshop for a breakdown of the new statutes. 

*Read: *Planners’ Newsletter: Legislative update 2026 [ [link removed] ]

*Watch:* Periodic Update Workshop: Legislative session update [ [link removed] ]

 

Detached ADU checklist available for rural areas

Commerce developed a checklist counties can use to review rural detached ADU regulations outside urban growth areas for consistency with HB 1345 (Chapter 231, Laws of 2026) [ [link removed] ]. This checklist is optional and is intended to help jurisdictions evaluate consistency with state requirements.

*Read: *Detached ADU checklist outside UGAs [ [link removed] ]

 

New STEP law preempts local regulation

HB 2266 (Chapter 232, Laws of 2026) [ [link removed] ] took effect on June 11 and preempts local regulations for emergency shelter, transitional housing, emergency housing and permanent supportive housing (STEP).

The law requires fully-planning cities, counties and towns to allow STEP in specific zones and prohibits restrictions on STEP that are more restrictive than those applied to other types of lodging. It also clarifies what additional conditions or information jurisdictions may require of STEP projects. 

Refer to Commerce’s presentation on HB 2266 (Chapter 232, Laws of 2026) [ [link removed] ] for an overview of the new law. Commerce will update its STEP guidance [ [link removed] ] to be consistent with the new law by the end of summer 2026.

Find more information on STEP at our Updating GMA Housing Elements [ [link removed] ]webpage.






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UPCOMING EVENTS

CHIP: Application workshop set for July 16

Commerce will begin accepting applications for Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) [ [link removed] ] grants next month, and an application workshop is scheduled for 2 p.m. July 16.

The application workshop will be hosted virtually and will cover information and instructions applicants will need to successfully apply for CHIP. Jurisdictions interested in applying for CHIP are encouraged to attend, though attendance is not required to apply.

*Register:* CHIP application workshop at 2 p.m. July 16 [ [link removed] ]

 

You’re invited: July 16 listening session on Commerce’s next climate guidance update

Commerce’s climate element planning guidance [ [link removed] ] and model goals and policies were published in Dec. 2025 and, starting next year, the agency will launch an annual process for considering ideas for its mandatory five-year update.

Join us for a July 16 listening session to hear more about Commerce’s statutory requirements for updates and evaluation. When updating the guidance by the end of 2030, Commerce must evaluate and estimate the impact of climate mitigation policies on reducing local greenhouse gas emissions and achieving local housing goals and targets. The listening session, as well as a fall 2026 public comment period, will help us shape our annual process.

*Register: *July 16 listening session on climate guidance updates [ [link removed] ]

 

June 17: Tribal Planners’ Forum

Commerce presents the Regional Planners’ Forums [ [link removed] ] in partnership with the Planning Association of Washington and Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association. These forums offer a free opportunity for planners, officials and community members to talk informally about local issues, share ideas and receive updates from state and federal agencies.

Tribal Planners’ Forum


* 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 17
* Topic: Tribal reciprocal planning frameworks
* Register for the Tribal Planners’ Forum [ [link removed] ]

 

June 30: Join us for a partially planning workshop

Commerce invites planners to join us for the next installment of the Periodic Update Workshop Series, hosted in partnership with the Municipal Research and Services Center. This workshop will focus on the periodic update process for partially planning jurisdictions..


* When: 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 30
* Register for the partially planning workshop (Zoom) [ [link removed] ]
* Download the partially planning workshop flyer (PDF) [ [link removed] ]

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STAFF UPDATE

Sun-Gyo Lee joins Commerce to support infill housing

Sun-Gyo Lee

Please join us in welcoming Sun-Gyo Lee to the Growth Management Services team.

As a senior housing planner, Sun-Gyo will help local governments across Washington implement infill housing requirements by providing technical assistance and turning state housing laws into practical guidance.

Before joining Commerce, Sun-Gyo worked as a planning consultant in Oregon and Washington, where his work focused on comprehensive plan updates, housing needs analysis, land use and transportation plans. He holds a bachelor's degree in business from Yonsei University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Outside of work, Sun-Gyo stays busy with his partner, one-year-old baby and two doodles. He enjoys making maps, working on data visualization projects, taking photos and exploring new places.



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FROM OUR PARTNERS

HUD: $3 million available for automated permitting systems

HUD logo

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a new funding opportunity offering up to $3 million for jurisdictions that will deploy automated building code permitting systems and partner with HUD to evaluate their applicability and effectiveness within real-world operating conditions.

*Applications are due July 13, 2026. *Visit the funding opportunities [ [link removed] ] page on HUD User to access important links, FAQs, and upcoming webinars.

 



MRSC: Planning legislation simplifies affordable housing development

MRSC Logo

A new article from the Municipal Research and Services Center highlights eight bills from the 2026 legislative session focusing on streamlined permitting timelines, commercial-to-residential zoning, and protections for affordable housing.

*Read:* Planning Legislation Simplifies Affordable Housing Development, Land Banking, Permitting, and More [ [link removed] ]



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Questions? 

For questions or feedback about this newsletter, please contact Will Isern at [email protected].


















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