The Growth Management Act (GMA) outlines the requirements for housing elements within comprehensive plans for Washington state municipalities. Recent legislative changes have significantly amended these provisions to address housing equity, affordability, and accessibility more robustly. The new legislation mandates that local jurisdictions not only plan for housing across all economic segments, but also explicitly accommodate housing for special needs populations, such as low-income households, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. This legislative update emphasizes the need for inclusive planning that mitigates and rectifies racially disparate impacts and historical inequities in housing.
See Housing Element: