As Washington’s homebuilders prepare for the 2025 legislative session, they’re asking for tax restraint, increased supply and regulatory fairness.

“Those three issues are the key to solving Washington’s housing crisis,” said Executive Vice President Greg Lane of the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW). “Washington’s struggling housing market cannot bear additional costs and regulatory burdens. We also need to increase the supply of buildable land and clear roadblocks so we can build the homes our state desperately needs at prices families can afford.”

With more than 8,200 member companies, BIAW represents the interests of home builders, remodelers, subcontractors and others who help Washington families achieve the American Dream of homeownership.

Tax restraint, increased supply and regulatory fairness

The 2025 legislative session kicks off Monday, Jan. 13, and with it comes more than a dozen new legislators as well as a predicted $10 to $12 billion budget shortfall over the next four years.

At that same time, Washington’s housing crisis continues to fester with 1.1 million new homes needed to meet demand by 2044—400,000 of which must be affordable to families making less than 50% of the Area Median Income.

“Resisting new or increased taxes, increasing supply of buildable lands and improving regulatory fairness will go a long way toward helping builders and others in the industry contribute to our state’s housing needs,” Lane said.

Resisting new or increased taxes

Washington is bringing in more money than ever, but legislative majorities have already signaled plans for higher taxes. Higher taxes hurt everyone and they don’t make housing more affordable. BIAW is banding together with allies from other industries to push back.

Subdivision modernization

In collaboration with the Master Builders of King and Snohomish Counties and Association of Washington Cities, BIAW seeks to provide jurisdictions the authority to consolidate permit process procedures. Allowing concurrent review of preliminary plat and civil construction plans would enable homes to be permitted and built faster, leading to lower home sales prices on much-needed inventory.  

Controlling impact fees

BIAW aims to require cities and counties to publish impact fee schedules online to increase transparency and predictability of cost inputs in new construction. Adding restrictions on when and how often impact fee schedules can be changed is a high priority for builders delivering housing units people can afford.

Eliminate lot size, lot coverage and maximum floor area ratio requirements

It’s time to increase density and encourage diversity of housing types. Removing barriers to different housing types will allow more opportunities to build units that all Washington families can afford to purchase. Homeownership is the number one way to create generational wealth which creates a more equitable state for everyone.

Simplify the energy code

Washington’s convoluted energy code has added almost $42,000 onto the cost of building new homes since 2009.It’s time to limit the State Building Code Council’s authority to adopt costly regulations without any alternatives to balance cost with efficiency.

Change the makeup of the State Building Code Council

Only two of the Washington State Building Code Council’s 20+ members actually build to the codes they pass. BIAW wants to restore the balance between government and private sector interests so more families can afford to purchase a new, low-maintenance home.

About BIAW

BIAW is the voice of the housing industry. The state’s largest trade association with more than 8,200 member companies, BIAW promotes and protects the vitality of the building industry so more Washington families can enjoy the American Dream of owning a home. Learn more at www.biaw.com.