2025 Design Review Program Changes - What and Why

What’s Happening Now?

House Bill 1293 changed Design Review requirements beginning June 30, 2025.

On August 4, 2026, Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 121243. The interim legislation temporarily makes Design Review voluntary for development projects while SDCI develops permanent updates to the Design Review program and guidelines required by House Bill 1293.

The interim ordinance also extends for six months a Design Review exemption for projects that meet Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) requirements through on-site affordable housing units. The previous exemption expired in August 2025 under Ordinance 126854. The interim ordinance also allows the director to approve departures for qualifying development projects through a Type I administrative decision. During the two-year exemption pilot, the number of proposed on-site affordable housing units more than doubled compared with previous years of the MHA program. Based on those results, the City expects to propose making the exemption permanent later this year.

During the interim period, City staff will review public and stakeholder feedback and develop code amendments, Director's Rules, and guidance documents. These updates will help clarify requirements and streamline Design Review procedures. Permanent legislation is expected to:

• make the Design Review process faster by requiring fewer steps and one public meeting
• apply Design Review only to larger buildings in denser areas of Seattle
• make the Design Guidelines shorter and easier to understand
• regulate only building exteriors
• maintain allowed density, height, bulk, and scale under zoning requirements
• allow flexibility in design standards in exchange for public benefits
• replace eight area-specific Design Review Boards with one citywide Design Review Board

Learn more about the Design Review Program.

Project Benefits

The changes to Design Review should:

• make the Design Review permit process faster
• make the Design Review process easier for everyone to understand and more consistent
• encourage the integration of affordable housing into market-rate development

The End Result

The project will result in permanent legislation and updated Design Guidelines that comply with Washington State House Bill 1293.