WashingtonState council sets standards for smaller apartment elevators
The law directs the state building code council to set elevator standards for some small apartment buildings and review safety rules with an advisory group.
What it does
The state building code council must set standards allowing smaller passenger elevators in apartment buildings with up to six stories and 24 units. The elevators must still meet federal accessibility requirements.
The state building code council must bring together safety, building, labor, accessibility, and housing representatives to review elevator safety rules for small apartment buildings.
Argument forSmaller elevators could give builders more design options for small apartment buildings while still meeting federal accessibility rules.
Argument againstSmaller elevators could make it harder for residents to move bulky items, even when the elevators meet federal accessibility rules.
More detail
The state building code council must adopt standards allowing smaller passenger elevators. The standards apply to apartment buildings with no more than six stories and 24 units in total. The elevators must be sized to meet federal accessibility requirements. The standards are for the 2027 technical codes.
The state building code council must convene a technical advisory group to review elevator safety requirements. The group must include representatives of the Washington State Fire Chiefs Association, building code officials, elevator inspectors and manufacturers, elevator workers, a Washington nonprofit with elevator expertise, disability rights groups, senior advocates, small multifamily developers, and architects. The group must examine protections for elevator shaft openings and two-way visual emergency communication devices, and assess whether current requirements balance cost and safety for small apartment buildings.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 145, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 10President signed.Passed House
- Mar 9Passed final passage; yeas, 41; nays, 6; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#6). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Senate concurred in House amendments.
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 93; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#30). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 4Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Feb 27Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 23HOUS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the House Committee on Housing at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 17First reading, referred to Housing.Minor
- Feb 13Third reading, passed; yeas, 41; nays, 7; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#11). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 13Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 13Returned to second reading for amendment.
- Feb 13Rules suspended.
- Jan 21Placed on third reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Apr 27By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- Mar 17Public hearing in the House Committee on Housing at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 24First reading, referred to Housing.Minor
- Feb 19Third reading, passed; yeas, 42; nays, 6; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#16). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 191st substitute bill substituted (HSG 25).Major
- Jan 29Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Jan 28Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Jan 24HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 17Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to Housing.Minor
- Jan 7Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
HousingPublic Safety