Senate committee hears bill to allow administrative lot splits to increase middle-housing supply

A substitute House bill to create an administrative lot‑split process for lots subject to middle‑housing rules drew support at the Senate Housing Committee on March 14.

Staff briefed senators on the bill, describing a process that ties lot‑split eligibility to cities’ middle‑housing minimum density requirements under the Growth Management Act and which would allow an applicant to seek administrative approval of a lot split concurrently with a building permit. "A new buildable lot and residential building permit must be approved and is not subject to administrative appeal under certain conditions," the staff summary said.

Representative Andrew Barkus, the bill’s prime sponsor, told the committee the proposal reflects three years of work and stakeholder…