wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > SB 5719 > Original Bill

SB 5719 - Local gov. hearing examiners

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Section 1

  1. As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter relating to powers or duties of the planning commission to hear and issue recommendations on applications for plat approval and applications for amendments to the zoning ordinance, the county legislative authority shall adopt a hearing examiner system under which a hearing examiner or hearing examiners hear and issue decisions on proposals for plat approval and for quasi-judicial development permit applications subject to the zoning ordinance

.

  1. The decision of the hearing examiner constitutes the final decision, subject to appeal under chapter 36.70C RCW.

  2. The legislative body shall adopt procedures to be followed by a hearing examiner ensuring all decisions are consistent with the future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and comply with clear and objective development regulations.

  3. Any county which vests in a hearing examiner the authority to hear and decide conditional uses and variances shall not be required to have a zoning adjuster or board of adjustment.

  4. Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the record, to support the decision. Such findings and conclusions shall also set forth the manner in which the decision is consistent with the future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and complies with clear and objective development regulations. Each final decision of a hearing examiner, unless a longer period is mutually agreed to in writing by the applicant and the hearing examiner, shall be rendered within ten working days following conclusion of all testimony and hearings.

Section 2

  1. As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter relating to powers or duties of the planning commission to hear and report on any proposal to amend a zoning ordinance, the legislative body of a city or county shall adopt a hearing examiner system under which a hearing examiner or hearing examiners hear and decide applications for

plat approval and for quasi-judicial development permit applications subject to the zoning ordinance.

  1. The decision of the hearing examiner constitutes the final decision, subject to appeal under chapter 36.70C RCW.

  2. The legislative body shall adopt procedures to be followed by a hearing examiner ensuring all decisions are consistent with the future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and comply with clear and objective development regulations.

  3. The legislative body shall prescribe procedures to be followed by the hearing examiner.

  4. Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the record, to support the decision. Such findings and conclusions shall also set forth the manner in which the decision would be consistent with the future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and complies with clear and objective development regulations. Each final decision of a hearing examiner, unless a longer period is mutually agreed to in writing by the applicant and the hearing examiner, shall be rendered within ten working days following conclusion of all testimony and hearings.

Section 3

  1. As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter relating to powers or duties of the planning commission to hear and report on any proposal to amend a zoning ordinance, the legislative body of a city shall adopt a hearing examiner system under which a hearing examiner or hearing examiners hear and decide applications for plat approval and for quasi-judicial development permit applications subject to the zoning ordinance

.

  1. The decision of the hearing examiner constitutes the final decision, subject to appeal under chapter 36.70C RCW.

  2. The legislative body shall adopt procedures to be followed by a hearing examiner ensuring all decisions are consistent with the future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and comply with clear and objective development regulations.

  3. The legislative body shall prescribe procedures to be followed by a hearing examiner. If the legislative authority vests in a hearing examiner the authority to hear and decide variances, then the provisions of RCW 35A.63.110 shall not apply to the city.

  4. Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the record, to support the decision. Such findings and conclusions shall also set forth the manner in which the decision would be consistent with the future land use map of the city's comprehensive plan and the city's clear and objective development regulations. Each final decision of a hearing examiner, unless a longer period is mutually agreed to in writing by the applicant and the hearing examiner, shall be rendered within ten working days following conclusion of all testimony and hearings.

Section 4

  1. As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter requiring a planning commission to hear and issue recommendations for plat approval, the county or city legislative body shall adopt a hearing examiner system

for all quasi-judicial land use decisions including, but not limited to, preliminary plats, planned unit developments, variances, and conditional use approvals.

  1. The decision of the hearing examiner constitutes the final decision on all quasi-judicial permit applications including, but not limited to, preliminary plat, planned unit development, variance, and conditional use applications, subject to appeal under chapter 36.70C RCW.

  2. The legislative body shall adopt procedures to be followed by a hearing examiner ensuring all decisions are consistent with the future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and comply with clear and objective development regulations.

  3. The legislative authority shall prescribe procedures to be followed by a hearing examiner.

  4. Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the record, to support the decision. Each final decision of a hearing examiner, unless a longer period is mutually agreed to by the applicant and the hearing examiner, shall be rendered within ten working days following conclusion of all testimony and hearings.

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