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SB 5571

Regulating exterior cladding materials.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jess Bateman and 1 co-sponsor

Limits local bans on exterior cladding that meet the State Building Code, broadening material choices while preserving certain exceptions.

Effective date 7/27/2025.
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Bill Summary · SB 5571

SB 5571 — Regulating exterior cladding materials

Status: Chapter 270, 2025 Laws. Governor signed 5/13/2025. Effective date: 7/27/2025.

Purpose

To limit local governments’ ability to require or exclude exterior cladding materials when those materials comply with the Washington State Building Code, with specified exceptions. The bill aims to reduce local design constraints that increase building costs and to ensure materials approved under the State Building Code remain allowable across jurisdictions.

Key provisions

  • Adds new sections to:
    • RCW 35.21 (cities),
    • RCW 35A.21 (code cities),
    • RCW 36.01 (counties).
  • Prohibition: Except as listed below, a city, code city, or county may not require or exclude exterior cladding materials that are in compliance with the State Building Code.
  • Definition: “Exterior cladding” means a nonload‑bearing material attached to the exterior of a building.
  • Carve-outs/exceptions (examples incorporated by amendments and in the enacted bill):
    • Homeowners' associations (chapter 64.38 RCW) and plat communities (chapter 64.90 RCW).
    • Structures in local historic districts, historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or structures designated as local, state, or national historic landmarks.
    • Areas subject to provisions of the International Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) Code adopted by a city, code city, town, or county.
    • Cities, code cities, and (in some formulations) structures in counties adjacent to a jurisdiction that have “old‑world Bavarian” architectural themed building requirements established in law.
    • A jurisdiction that adopts building-code provisions requiring fire‑resistant siding as wildfire protection is explicitly not in violation of the prohibition.

Who is affected

  • Local governments (cities, code cities, counties): their authority to restrict or mandate certain cladding materials is limited when materials meet the State Building Code.
  • Developers, builders, and homeowners: broader access to cladding materials permitted by the State Building Code — potentially lower costs and fewer local design reviews.
  • HOAs, plat communities, historic properties, WUI areas, and specified themed jurisdictions retain local control per the exceptions.

Fiscal & procedural notes

  • No appropriation is attached; a fiscal note was prepared.
  • The bill was passed by both chambers (Senate 33–15; House 64–33) and enacted as Chapter 270, 2025 Laws. Effective 7/27/2025.

Stakeholder considerations (from legislative record)

  • Supporters: argue it reduces unnecessary local design costs and preserves access to affordable, code‑approved materials.
  • Opponents: caution about local conditions, long‑term durability, maintenance, community character, and wildfire risk — reasons jurisdictions sometimes exceed model code minimums.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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