Planners’ Monthly Newsletter
 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 Anne.Fritzel@commerce.wa.gov.
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.
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 Mary.Reinbold@Commerce.wa.gov.
Agritourism can bolster struggling farms, report finds
Commerce recently published the Washington State Agritourism Report, 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
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
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
Watch: Periodic Update Workshop: Legislative session update
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). This checklist is optional and is intended to help jurisdictions evaluate consistency with state requirements.
Read: Detached ADU checklist outside UGAs
New STEP law preempts local regulation
HB 2266 (Chapter 232, Laws of 2026) 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) for an overview of the new law. Commerce will update its STEP guidance to be consistent with the new law by the end of summer 2026.
Find more information on STEP at our Updating GMA Housing Elements webpage.
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