Board of Project Stewardship News https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news.html Local construction news from the Board of Project Stewardship for King County, Snohomish County, and Seattle. en-us Shoreline lowers window requirements for new homes and townhouses https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/shoreline-window-rules-new-homes.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/shoreline-window-rules-new-homes.html Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:00:00 -0700 A Shoreline development code update that took effect Oct. 13 cuts the share of a street-facing wall that must be windows or doors, lets parking edge into rear setbacks and gives subdivisions more time while construction permits are active. Mill Creek takes first step toward annexing about 11,700 neighbors to the south https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/mill-creek-south-annexation.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/mill-creek-south-annexation.html Sun, 01 Nov 2026 08:00:00 -0700 The Mill Creek City Council voted Oct. 13 to pursue annexing Mill Creek South, an unincorporated Snohomish County area city staff estimate is home to about 11,700 people. Staff estimate it could take effect Jan. 1, 2028. King County audit finds permit applicants struggling as fees climb https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/king-county-permitting-audit.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/king-county-permitting-audit.html Sat, 31 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 A King County Auditor's Office report presented Oct. 21 found the county's Permitting Division relies on disconnected systems and unreliable data, while application review fees for a new house rose nearly 67% since 2024. Snohomish County moves to cut parking rules for new homes https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/snohomish-county-parking-minimums-hearing.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/snohomish-county-parking-minimums-hearing.html Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Snohomish County's Planning Commission was scheduled Oct. 27 to hear rules that would cut required parking for a new single-family home from two spaces to one and drop it for homes under 1,200 square feet, under 2025 state laws. The County Council makes the final decision. State building code council sets Friday vote on new home building code https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/washington-2024-residential-code-final-vote.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/washington-2024-residential-code-final-vote.html Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Washington's State Building Code Council is scheduled Oct. 30 to take up final adoption of the 2024 residential code, which would take effect May 3, 2027, and require one room of at least 120 square feet in every home. Edmonds rewrites park impact fees so smaller homes pay less https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-park-impact-fees-smaller-homes.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-park-impact-fees-smaller-homes.html Wed, 28 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Edmonds is revising the park impact fee charged on new homes and backyard cottages to meet a 2023 state law requiring proportionally lower fees for smaller housing units. A public hearing is set for Nov. 10. Edmonds' pre-approved backyard cottage catalog still empty three months after launch https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-pre-approved-dadu-catalog-still-empty.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-pre-approved-dadu-catalog-still-empty.html Tue, 27 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 No architect or designer has formally applied to list a plan in Edmonds' pre-approved DADU catalog since the program launched in late July, the city's permitting program manager said. Edmonds begins work on rules letting homeowners split large lots in two https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-lot-split-rules-introduced.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-lot-split-rules-introduced.html Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Edmonds staff introduced state-required lot split rules to the Planning Board on Oct. 15. Owners of lots at least twice the zone minimum could split them in two through a roughly 65-day staff review with no public hearing, but the board made no decision and members questioned how much to relax lot standards. Edmonds staff propose interim rules, including roofing limits, to lift Deer Creek building pause https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-deer-creek-aquifer-interim-rules.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-deer-creek-aquifer-interim-rules.html Sun, 25 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Edmonds staff told a council committee Oct. 20 they want interim rules for the Deer Creek aquifer area adopted in December, including limits on materials such as roofing, so the moratorium on permits that trigger stormwater rules can be lifted. The full council takes it up Nov. 24. Everett lets homeowners split lots as small as 2,000 square feet https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/everett-lot-split-reforms.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/everett-lot-split-reforms.html Sat, 24 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 The Everett City Council on Oct. 14 passed a land division overhaul that cuts the minimum lot size in most neighborhoods from 5,000 to 2,000 square feet and lets owners sell a new lot before utilities or landscaping are built. King County committee advances building code update for unincorporated areas https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/king-county-building-code-update-advances.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/king-county-building-code-update-advances.html Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 A King County Council committee on Oct. 21 recommended moving unincorporated King County to the 2021 state building, energy and fire codes, with new rules for heated sheds, pool barriers and rural fire sprinklers. Seattle permit fees would rise 10.7% next year under mayor's budget https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/seattle-2027-permit-fee-increase.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/seattle-2027-permit-fee-increase.html Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Mayor Katie Wilson's proposed 2027-28 budget would raise Seattle building and land use permit fees 10.7% on top of this year's 18% increase, with steeper hikes for mechanical and furnace inspections. The City Council holds a public hearing Nov. 5 and is expected to adopt the budget Nov. 20. Lynnwood expects its first pre-approved backyard cottage plans this fall https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/lynnwood-pre-approved-dadu-plans.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/lynnwood-pre-approved-dadu-plans.html Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Lynnwood staff told the City Council on Oct. 5 that the first designs in a new gallery of pre-approved detached accessory dwelling units should post by the end of October or in November. The plans cover the building only, so site work still needs its own review. Seattle keeps Centers and Corridors rezoning on hold after a growth-board ruling https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/seattle-centers-corridors-rezoning-on-hold.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/seattle-centers-corridors-rezoning-on-hold.html Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Seattle has paused City Council review of the Centers and Corridors rezoning until a supplemental environmental study of maximum possible development is finished, with a deadline of Sept. 9, 2027. Mountlake Terrace lets homeowners build sheds up to 200 square feet without a permit https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/mountlake-terrace-shed-permit-exemption-flat-fees.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/mountlake-terrace-shed-permit-exemption-flat-fees.html Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 The Mountlake Terrace City Council on Oct. 1 raised the permit-exempt size for detached residential storage structures from 80 to 200 square feet and switched to a flat-rate development fee schedule. Pacific Pro Group wins Bronze for bathroom remodeling in 2026 Seattle Times Best in the PNW https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/pacific-pro-group-bronze-best-in-the-pnw.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/pacific-pro-group-bronze-best-in-the-pnw.html Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Readers in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties voted the Edmonds design-build firm third in the Bathroom Remodeler category of The Seattle Times' fourth Best in the PNW program. King County names advisory panel to speed up permits for homes and businesses https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/king-county-permitting-advisory-panel.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/king-county-permitting-advisory-panel.html Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 King County Executive Girmay Zahilay named a 19-member Permitting Advisory Panel on Oct. 16 to recommend ways to cut red tape and speed approvals, with a report due by May 31, 2027. Edmonds extends landmark tree limits while it finishes a permanent tree code https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-landmark-tree-ordinance-extension.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/edmonds-landmark-tree-ordinance-extension.html Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 The Edmonds City Council voted unanimously Oct. 13 to extend its interim landmark-tree rule for up to six more months and adopted an interim process for short plat vacations. Seattle opens Environmentally Critical Areas code update with October listening sessions https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/seattle-environmentally-critical-areas-update.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/seattle-environmentally-critical-areas-update.html Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 SDCI is making its first major update to Seattle's Environmentally Critical Areas code since 2017 and will hold four online listening sessions Oct. 22-29 before drafting changes. Seattle breaks ground on Mount Baker affordable housing and early learning campus https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/mount-baker-redevelopment-groundbreaking.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/mount-baker-redevelopment-groundbreaking.html Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 Partners broke ground Oct. 15 on a 3.8-acre Mount Baker Redevelopment near Link light rail, with more than 400 planned affordable homes and the Rainier Rising Early Learning Campus. Snohomish County Council votes to let homeowners split residential lots without a council hearing https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/snohomish-county-administrative-lot-splits.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/snohomish-county-administrative-lot-splits.html Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 The Snohomish County Council unanimously approved Ordinance 26-036, moving two-lot residential splits to an administrative review by the county's planning department. Snohomish County Health Department wins $70,000 state grant to speed septic reviews for new homes https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/snohomish-health-septic-permit-grant.html https://boardofprojectstewardship.com/news/snohomish-health-septic-permit-grant.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0700 A state Commerce grant will help the Snohomish County Health Department link its septic review software with county planning, so reviews for new homes can start sooner.