Thurston County adopts home energy score disclosure ordinance, delayed one year for implementation

Thurston County commissioners voted March 17 to adopt a residential energy performance rating and disclosure ordinance that will require a standardized home energy score to be completed and disclosed when a house is listed for sale.

The ordinance, added as Chapter 14.36 to the Thurston County Code, does not require homeowners to make upgrades and includes exemptions for low‑income households (defined in the ordinance as households at or below 80% of area median income) and certain federal or tribal properties. County staff said assessments would be conducted by private‑sector professionals, scores would not be recorded by the county, and the county would not receive any payments for scores. Implementation is delayed for one year to allow time for community education, workforce development for certified assessors, and coordination with regional partners.

Supporters at the public hearing said the rule would improve transparency for buyers and encourage energy efficiency. "It gives future home buyers honest information," said Christina Janice, a supporter who called the ordinance a long‑term consumer protection that helps families and aligns with the county's climate commitments. Puget Sound Energy told the board it will again offer free home energy assessments this spring but took a neutral position on the ordinance.

Opponents — including Don Baker, president of the Thurston County Realtors Association, and several local agents and home‑inspection professionals — urged delay for further work with industry practitioners. They warned the requirement could add costs to sellers and asked the county to convene focused work sessions to resolve implementation questions including terminology, transaction timing, and the availability of qualified assessors.

Commissioners debated legal authority, operational readiness and equity protections. One commissioner said the county’s prosecuting attorney had not issued a written opinion explicitly confirming expressed authority to adopt a mandatory countywide disclosure and raised concerns about potential litigation and liability; another commissioner cited the county’s adopted climate mitigation plan and a multi‑jurisdictional interlocal process that led to the regional approach.

The motion to adopt the ordinance passed with four votes in favor and one abstention. County staff said the one‑year delay will be used for the voluntary phase‑in, community outreach, and building assessor capacity; if funding becomes available the county may subsidize scores for eligible low‑income households.