(1) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the department of commerce must establish a consolidated permit review grant program. The department may award grants to any local government that provides, by ordinance, resolution, or other action, a commitment to the following building permit review consolidation requirements:

(a) Issuing final decisions on residential permit applications within 45 business days or 90 calendar days.

(i) To achieve permit review within the stated time periods, a local government must provide consolidated review for building permit applications. This may include an initial technical peer review of the application for conformity with the requirements of RCW 36.70B.070 by all departments, divisions, and sections of the local government with jurisdiction over the project.

(ii) A local government may contract with a third-party business to conduct the consolidated permit review or as additional inspection staff. Any funds expended for such a contract may be eligible for reimbursement under chapter 338, Laws of 2023.

(iii) Local governments are authorized to use grant funds to contract outside assistance to audit their development regulations to identify and correct barriers to housing development.

(b) Establishing an application fee structure that would allow the jurisdiction to continue providing consolidated permit review within 45 business days or 90 calendar days.

(i) A local government may consult with local building associations to develop a reasonable fee system.

(ii) A local government must determine, no later than July 1, 2024, the specific fee structure needed to provide permit review within the time periods specified in this subsection (1)(b).

(2) A jurisdiction that is awarded a grant under this section must provide a quarterly report to the department of commerce. The report must include the average and maximum time for permit review during the jurisdiction's participation in the grant program.

(3) If a jurisdiction is unable to successfully meet the terms and conditions of the grant, the jurisdiction must enter a 90-day probationary period. If the jurisdiction is not able to meet the requirements of this section by the end of the probationary period, the jurisdiction is no longer eligible to receive grants under this section.

(4) For the purposes of this section, "residential permit" means a permit issued by a city or county that satisfies the conditions of *RCW 19.27.015(5) and is within the scope of the international residential code, as adopted in accordance with chapter 19.27 RCW.

*Reviser's note: RCW 19.27.015 was amended by 2024 c 170 s 9, changing subsection (5) to subsection (10).