Washington State has enacted legislation that fundamentally changes how parking requirements are determined for new developments, moving away from standardized mandates and toward a more flexible approach that places decision-making authority with property owners and developers. The Parking Reform and Modernization Act (SB 5184) was passed earlier this year after gaining bipartisan support, effectively eliminating what advocates describe as outdated regulations that often act as barriers to constructing housing, businesses, and essential services.
The reform effort gained momentum by reframing the conversation around parking from where it might be appropriate to when it is actually necessary. Advocates posed questions like whether a take-out restaurant should need the same number of parking spaces as a sit-down restaurant, or whether parking requirements should prevent a daycare center from opening. This narrative shift attracted homeowners, small business owners, and housing advocates who recognized how mandatory parking minimums can inflate development costs and limit affordable housing construction. Further details about the legislation are available in the Strong Towns article, Washington Just Rewrote the Rules on Parking — Here's Why It Worked, and on the Washington State Legislature SB 5184 - 2025-26 webpage.
This approach has significant implications for communities nationwide facing similar challenges. For cities struggling with housing shortages, high development costs, or underutilized land, Washington's model demonstrates how policy changes can remove obstacles to growth without eliminating parking altogether. The reform specifically limits what governments can require rather than restricting parking availability, allowing market needs and property characteristics to guide decisions.
In Haltom City, Texas, similar parking mandates have been identified as impediments to revitalization, particularly in south and central inner-city areas experiencing decline. The Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) has advocated for parking reform for nearly five years, noting that private investors and developers interested in vacant commercial properties are often deterred by costly parking requirements. HUBA has proposed creating overlay districts along major corridors where older buildings sit empty, similar to approaches taken in Houston and other cities that have seen subsequent renovation and growth. Another suggestion involves following Austin's example of eliminating mandatory off-street parking minimums.
According to HUBA Communications Director Joe Palmer, targeted strategies including parking reform could help reverse decline and spur redevelopment of vacant buildings. The organization points to resources available through the Parking Reform Network, which offers sample legislation, activism guides, and a Parking Mandates Map tracking reform efforts across the country. As stated in the Strong Towns analysis, Washington's approach offers both policy and political strategy examples for communities ready to address development barriers through parking mandate repeal.
