Pierce County is setting a new precedent in the balancing act of promoting housing development while also preserving cultural heritage. The County has passed a new ordinance, No. O2025-522s, which aims to streamline the permitting process for residential housing projects. This ordinance notably lifts several burdens from developers by raising the threshold at which a project would require review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), as reported by Pierce County’s official announcement.
As outlined by the county, the changes are set to offer a more streamlined path for housing developments, allowing projects to often move forward without the need to navigate through lengthy environmental review or appeal processes. Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello spoke to the ordinance’s aims, asserting that this move will bring earlier certainty in the process, providing developers with upfront information about cultural resource considerations. He emphasized that the approach is engineered to prevent late surprises during permitting, save applicants time and money, and continue honoring our tribal partnerships and protecting the cultural resources that make Pierce County unique.
This ordinance isn’t just about easing the path for developers, however. It also includes provisions that establish protective measures for cultural and historic sites. Through archaeological monitoring, inadvertent discovery plans (IDPs), and consultation with Tribal governments and historic preservation professionals, the ordinance aims to ensure these important cultural resources are not lost in the push for housing development. Mello described this initiative as “about balance,” aiming to help communities thrive with more housing options while safeguarding the cultural heritage that grounds them.
According to estimates using past permitting data, only 1 in 5 projects under this new ordinance will require a desktop review. This improvement in predictability is expected to bring more certainty and efficiency to the permit process and, by extension, the development of much-needed housing in the county. Greater predictability in the permitting process means that developers can now more easily make informed decisions early in the design phase, potentially avoiding costly and time-consuming reevaluation at later stages.
