Shelters wherever homes are allowed
Housing · Statewide, landing locallyWhat happened: A state law in effect since June 11 (HB 2266) requires cities to allow transitional and permanent supportive housing wherever homes or hotels are allowed, and indoor shelters wherever hotels are allowed. Projects get staff-level review, with no public hearing. Local codes must match by June 2028.
Why it matters: A 2021 law already kept cities from banning these uses outright. The new one takes away the tools left: cities can't add spacing, occupancy or design rules stricter than those for other homes or hotels in the same zone, and siting no longer goes through a hearing. Cities can still require a 24-hour contact and community meetings. Where Bellingham's first projects under the new rules land will be the test.