Title
2026 Code Amendments Briefing
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Discussion on the draft 2026 Code Amendments.
Staff Contact:
Joyce Phillips, Planning Manager, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.570.3722
Presenter(s):
Joyce Phillips, Planning Manager
Background and Analysis:
Staff regularly propose amendments to the Olympia Municipal Code to make updates, corrections, or provide clarifications. Sometimes the proposed amendments are to address new state requirements. During the multiple year process to update the Comprehensive Plan, staff kept a list of areas of the code that should be considered for amendment. Additionally, the state passed revisions in statute that require code amendments. Because of the wording in state legislation, some of these amendments are very specific and are to be adopted within 6 months of completing the Comprehensive Plan update.
Some of the proposed amendments are at the request of the Olympia Fire Department, some are at the request of the City’s Historic Preservation planner, some are at the request of planners on the development review side of our department, and others are proposed to meet new state requirements. Given the multiple years without code amendments, the request to process amendments for other departments, and the necessity to address new state requirements, this list of proposed amendments is fairly lengthy. There are over 30 proposals combined into these 2026 amendments.
Staff have organized these amendments in the order in which they appear in the Olympia Municipal Code (OMC). Each proposal is identified by a number and includes the code citation and topic. Each Title has its own section, and then any proposals in that title are in the order they appear in that chapter, then by section. To help reduce the length of the complete proposal, only the subsection proposed for amendment is included. Some of these subsections are still rather lengthy.
Climate Analysis:
These proposed amendments are relatively minor or additions to the code to address new state requirements. Staff does not believe these amendments will have a significant impact on climate related issues, either positively or negatively. Some of the amendments to implement new requirements do support urban land uses and the retrofitting of existing buildings being converted to residential uses that meet newer, more stringent, energy code requirements. These measures will provide some support for our community’s efforts to reduce emission of greenhouse gases.
Equity Analysis:
These amendments are likely to only have a minimal effect on equity issues. Some of the amendments will provide support for the conversion of existing structures to residential uses. This could provide greater housing supply, which may help slow, or potentially reduce, the cost of housing for renters. If such projects are taken in areas where other incentives for multifamily housing exist, this could make housing projects more likely to occur.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Staff does not yet have input on the proposal but anticipates comments will be submitted in the coming weeks as the draft is circulated for review and comment. Modifications to the proposal will be considered in response to comments received.
Options:
1. Receive the briefing on the proposed 2026 Code Amendments.
2. Receive the briefing on the proposed 2026 Code Amendments at a later date.
3. Do not receive the briefing on the proposed 2026 Code Amendments.
Financial Impact:
Funding for this proposed work is being provided by the department’s base budget.
Attachments:
Draft 2026 Code Amendments