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Cities, counties and builders press the task force to tackle capacity, costs and permitting barriers
Summary
Local government and developer representatives told the task force that permit timelines, local regulations, infrastructure fees and project financial feasibility — not only permitting procedure — limit housing production and urged the Department of Housing to help with technical assistance and incentives.
Representatives of cities and developers described the on‑the‑ground barriers they see to converting permits into starts and finished housing. An Association of Washington Cities participant cited a Windermere economist’s estimate that roughly 5,500 permits issued annually do not become starts, saying local governments provide the 'table' but not the subsidy or financing that actually produces housing.
Multiple speakers urged the new agency to provide technical assistance and capacity building, not only enforcement. Curtis (Washington State Association of Counties) and others recommended the agency help localities with strategic planning, staffing and best practices so that the jurisdictions that want to build housing can do so more efficiently; several speakers also raised fees, critical‑area regulations and energy code costs as constraints.
