Council extends homebuilding permits for another year

September 27, 2010

Summary

Ordinance seeks to stimulate housing market

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously adopted legislation extending building permits. The extension is part of the Council’s ongoing effort to revitalize the local building economy in the wake of the recent housing meltdown.

“In these tough times, King County needs to be an active partner in helping out our local businesses,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague, sponsor of the motion. “Because of the stalled housing market, many developers are faced with a closing window of time. If these projects revert back to step one, the cost is passed on to the consumer and it only contribute to our region’s market slump.”

Due to the current economic conditions construction financing has remained difficult obtain for many developers. As a result, a number of housing and building project which have been approved by King County have been delayed. In 2009, the County Council approved legislation extending the validity of preliminary approvals for plats and short plats and granting options for a third extension for building permits where substantial work has not begun.

Under the new extension the time period for requesting an extension will be pushed back a year to December 31, 2012. A granted extension allows a builder to avoid repeating the costly permitting process which can take up to eight months.


The adopted ordinance advances the Council’s priorities of Local Jobs and Economic Development.