On July 7, 2023, Washington State enacted Senate Bill 5290 (SB 5290) to improve permitting efficiency, increase transparency, and hold local jurisdictions accountable for development review timelines. The goal of this statewide permitting reform is to streamline how cities and counties handle construction permits, subdivision approvals, and multifamily housing projects.

Under SB 5290, every city or county must either adopt the state’s standardized permit timelines or create their own binding timelines that meet or exceed state expectations.

Jurisdictions with populations over 20,000 are also required to submit annual permitting performance data to the Washington State Department of Commerce, which is a step toward more data-driven decision-making and consistent accountability across the state.

The First Statewide SB 5290 Performance Report

The first Annual Permitting Performance Report, released in September 2025, covers data from the 2024 calendar year. This inaugural report provides valuable insight into how SB 5290 implementation has progressed across Washington’s jurisdictions.

A critical clarification from the report notes that SB 5290 applies to:

• Preliminary and final subdivisions
• Binding site plans
• Multifamily housing permits
• Construction permits

However, building permits are explicitly excluded from SB 5290 requirements.

How Pierce County Cities Are Performing Under SB 5290

The 2024 data includes results from four Pierce County cities: Bonney Lake, Puyallup, Tacoma, and University Place. Their early performance metrics provide the first measurable look at how Pierce County jurisdictions are adapting to the new permitting rules.

Bonney Lake: Ahead on Construction Permits, Behind on Subdivisions

In 2024, Bonney Lake submitted data for just 11 permits with reported decision dates, meaning the sample size is small. The city adopted most permit deadlines at 120 days, with shorter state-aligned timelines for binding site plans (65 days) and preliminary subdivisions (90 days).

• Construction permits averaged 101.45 days ahead of the 120-day deadline
• Final subdivisions were 51 days behind the 30-day state and local deadlines

Although the data is limited, Bonney Lake’s ability to outperform deadlines for construction permits signals strong early adoption of SB 5290 compliance practices.

Puyallup: Facing Delays in Multifamily and Subdivision Permits

Puyallup reported 18 permits in 2024, with most deadlines set at or below state standards. However, early results suggest some challenges in meeting target timelines:

• Construction permits averaged 38 days behind the 65-day deadline
• Multifamily housing permits (no notice or hearing) were 19 days behind
• Multifamily housing (with notice and hearing) performed 90 days ahead of the 170-day deadline
• Final subdivisions were 97 days behind

While Puyallup’s development permitting shows mixed performance, it’s worth noting that smaller jurisdictions often face data limitations and resource constraints that can skew early compliance trends.

Tacoma: Balanced Performance Across Permit Types

As Pierce County’s largest city, Tacoma had the most robust dataset, reporting 43 permits with decisions in 2024. The city’s development permit timelines closely align with state standards, demonstrating a strong effort to modernize local processes.

• Construction permits averaged 45.6 days behind the 65-day deadline
• Multifamily (no notice or hearing) averaged 47.83 days ahead
• Preliminary subdivisions averaged 3.83 days ahead of the 90-day deadline
• Final subdivisions were 53.8 days behind

Overall, Tacoma’s results reflect steady progress toward SB 5290 goals, though subdivision permits remain a consistent area of delay across all reporting cities.

University Place: Positive Early Results in Key Categories

University Place reported 17 permits for 2024, focusing primarily on construction and multifamily housing (no notice or hearing) categories. Results show a strong start:

• Construction permits were completed 53 days ahead of the 65-day deadline
• Multifamily housing permits averaged 4 days ahead

These figures indicate that University Place is adapting efficiently to state permitting standards, aided by manageable project volumes and streamlined internal review processes.

Key Takeaways from Pierce County’s First Year Under SB 5290

The early data paints a mixed but encouraging picture of Pierce County’s SB 5290 compliance. While each city’s performance varies, several important trends have emerged:

1. Subdivision permits remain the most delayed category — All three cities that reported final subdivision data experienced significant backlogs.
2. Jurisdictions with online permitting systems performed better — Cities with digital permit tracking portals saw faster turnaround times.
3. Staffing and resource shortages remain a challenge — Smaller municipalities face workforce limitations that affect their ability to meet statutory timelines.
4. Local autonomy is key — SB 5290 gives jurisdictions flexibility, but results show that alignment with state timelines helps improve overall efficiency.

The Washington Department of Commerce attributes early delays to slow adoption of process improvements, limited digital infrastructure, and staffing gaps. Future reports will likely provide deeper context to help cities refine workflows, enhance permit turnaround times, and strengthen development review accountability.

What’s Next for Pierce County and Washington Developers

As SB 5290 implementation continues, developers, builders, and city planners will benefit from clearer expectations and more transparent data. The next reporting cycle will show whether Pierce County jurisdictions have successfully shortened review timelines and adapted to the new statewide permitting standards.

At the same time, the data will help local governments identify bottlenecks, invest in online permitting tools, and ensure consistent permit processing timelines across the region.

For developers navigating these evolving processes, staying informed about SB 5290 reporting requirements and Pierce County permitting updates will be essential for project planning and compliance. Master Builders Association of Pierce County will also stay informed about SB 5290 reporting requirements and Pierce County permitting, and will provide updates as they come to us.

Information Source:
Washington State Department of Commerce – Annual Permitting Performance Report, 2024 (PDF)