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Committee hears bill to define 'kit homes' and require code rulemaking by 2027

House Local Government Committee · February 18, 2026

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Summary

Committee staff and sponsor Sen. Jeff Wilson described ESSB 5552, which would require the State Building Code Council to complete rulemaking by 03/31/2027 on standards for 'kit homes'—residential, prefabricated houses 800 sq ft or smaller assembled on site—while clarifying that the bill does not override local zoning or inspections.

The House Local Government Committee heard testimony on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5552, which directs the State Building Code Council to undertake rulemaking on building-code provisions specific to "kit homes."

Kellen Wright, committee staff, told the panel the bill would require the State Building Code Council to conduct rulemaking applicable to kit homes by March 31, 2027, and defined kit homes as residential structures 800 square feet or smaller comprised of prefabricated walls, floors and roofs intended to be assembled on site. Wright noted the committee previously passed an amendment excluding prefabricated emergency shelters; that language is not included in this version. (Kellen Wright)

Sen. Jeff Wilson, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure is "very simplistic" and compared kit homes to historic mail-order houses, saying they offer an additional option to address the state’s housing shortage. He told the committee that the code council committed to supplying conditions and rules by the stated date and commended the bill to the committee. (Jeff Wilson)

During public testimony, Anthony Mixer spoke in support, saying the bill would clarify regulatory gray areas and help move smaller, lawful housing types from concept to reality without removing local zoning authority or inspection requirements. The committee recessed and later reopened the hearing to receive public comment; no final action was recorded that day.