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State housing laws require 'clear and objective' standards; DLCD urges code audits
Summary
DLCD's Patrick Wingard said multiple laws passed since 2019 restrict local discretion in housing reviews and require clear-and-objective standards for housing; he recommended auditing Sweet Home's code to avoid blocking affordable options like manufactured homes.
Patrick Wingard told the joint session that a series of housing laws adopted since 2019 have removed certain city discretion on housing applications and now require only clear-and-objective standards for housing.
"Any application that includes housing must meet only clear and objective standards," Wingard said, adding that discretionary terms such as "shall be compatible with" can create barriers to affordable housing options like manufactured homes. He urged the city to audit code language and said DLCD staff can assist in that review.
Wingard described how subjective compatibility findings previously enabled appeals that delayed or defeated housing projects and said the state changes aim to create a predictable approval pathway. He offered to return to help Sweet Home drill down on specific plan elements and to work with staff on code updates that align with new statutes and administrative rules.
No ordinance or code amendment was adopted at the session; the conversation was an informational briefing about legal changes and their local implications.
