Property Tax Exemption for Multifamily Housing in Urban Areas

The law has a broad goal: increase multifamily housing, including affordable housing, in urban centers that need it

The Multifamily Housing Property Tax Exemption (MFTE) provides an 8- or 12-year property tax exemption on new, expanded, or updated multifamily housing.

• The exemption applies only to the residential portions of newly constructed improvements, not the value of the land, retail space, or existing improvements.
• For mixed-use development, permanent housing owner-occupied housing or rental housing that is leased for a period of at least one month must make up at least 50% of the space.
• The housing must have at least four units, which may be rented or sold.

• The 8-year exemption does not require affordable housing, while the 12-year exemption requires that at least 20% of the units are affordable to low- and moderate-income households, as defined in statute (see Section 4 for explanation).
• Cities and one county may adopt MFTE programs.

The preference was enacted in 1995 and was modified to its present form in 2007. It is not scheduled to expire.

Since 2007, 26 cities and one county have approved exemptions for 424 developments

Cities that meet population thresholds set in statute are eligible to offer the exemption. Of the 102 cities that are eligible, 49 have adopted an MFTE program and 26 have approved exemptions. Pierce County also is eligible and has approved exemptions. A map and list of participating local governments are in Appendix A.

These local governments must designate a targeted area where they will offer the exemption. These areas must be within an urban center and lack housing to meet the needs of households who would likely live there. The established targeted areas range in size from 5 acres to 19 square miles. At least 22 cities have designated more than one targeted area.

Use of the preference has increased — in 2009, developments with 2,457 units were approved. There were 5,337 units approved in 2018. A development can remain eligible for the exemption for 8 to 12 years.

Exhibit 1.1: Developers have created at least 34,885 housing units, including affordable units, using the MFTE

Source: JLARC staff analysis of information compiled from the Department of Commerce, county assessors, and cities. The data is not maintained by one agency. See Section 5 for more detail.

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Cities may adopt additional requirements for the exemption and vary the program characteristics

State statute outlines the baseline requirements for developments built with the exemption. A development must add at least four new housing units, be in a targeted area, and comply with all local rules. In addition, to qualify for the 12-year exemption, the developments must meet affordability requirements for 20% of the units.

Statute also requires developments to meet additional requirements that the city or county deems necessary. These requirements typically come from three sources:

1. Municipal code. These include specifications on parking, height, density, environmental impact, amenities, and compatibility with surrounding properties. Some also have more stringent affordable housing requirements than state law.
2. Contracts. Statute requires owners to enter into a contract with the cities. The contract may add further requirements specific to the development.
3. Zoning regulations. These regulations may prohibit some types of development that would otherwise qualify for the preference. For example, while low-rise housing may qualify, it may not be allowed in certain areas based on city zoning.

Exhibit 2.1: Variations in city programs include size of targeted area, focus on affordable housing, which exemption(s) is offered, and building requirements

Program Characteristic	Examples of Variation
Size of targeted area	1 property (Issaquah). 3.9 square miles (Vancouver). 19 square miles (Seattle).
Affordable housing focus	All units must be affordable (Snoqualmie). No more than 30% of units may be affordable (Lacey). Affordable rent limits vary by unit size and neighborhood (Bellevue).
Exemption offered	8-year exemption only (Ferndale). 12-year exemption only (Edmonds). Both 8- and 12-year exemption (Spokane).
Building requirements	LEED certification required (Woodinville). Include public civic or cultural use (Newcastle). Invest at least $25,000 per unit (Yakima).

Source: JLARC staff analysis of information compiled from the Department of Commerce, county assessors, and cities.

Majority of housing units appear intended for small families or individuals

State law does not limit the type or size of units that may qualify. About 75% of the units created between 2007 and 2018 are studios or one bedroom. The median Washington household is 2.6 people.

At least four cities have enacted local policies to encourage larger units:

• Bellevue requires at least 15% of units to have two or more bedrooms.
• Seattle, Bellingham, and Shoreline encourage large units by applying stricter affordability requirements for smaller units:
  • All three require that units with fewer than two bedrooms be affordable at lower income thresholds. This has the effect of lowering the maximum monthly rental price for smaller units.
  • Seattle also requires that a development that does not have at least four larger units2 or more bedrooms out of every hundred must include more affordable units overall.

 

 

 

 

 

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The owners of exempt multifamily housing properties are the direct beneficiaries of this preference. JLARC staff estimate their savings in calendar year 2018 was $80 million. As shown in the table below, this amount is expected to increase each year. Over the past four years, an average of $1.1 billion in new property value became exempt each year. In 2020, approximately $232 million in property value will lose the exemption and become taxable. If the development trend continues, JLARC staff expect new exemptions to outpace expiring exemptions.

Exhibit 5.1: Estimated beneficiary savings are expected to increase annually

Calendar Year	Est. Direct Beneficiary Savings (State)	Est. Direct Beneficiary Savings (Local)	Total Direct Beneficiary Savings
2018	$19 million	$61 million	$80 million
2019	$20 million	$70 million	$90 million
2020	$25 million	$79 million	$105 million
2021	$28 million	$88 million	$116 million
2022	$30 million	$95 million	$125 million
2023	$32 million	$105 million	$137 million

Source: JLARC staff analysis of county assessor data.

The beneficiary savings per housing unit varies by city, depending on policy choices and the size and type of developments.

As shown above, most of the beneficiary savings comes from local property taxes. Statewide, on developments that are fully market rate, beneficiaries save an average of $2,096 per unit, per year for the life of the exemption. For developments that include affordable housing, beneficiaries save an average of $10,651 per affordable housing unit per year. The amount varies widely by city. For example, the savings per affordable unit in Spokane is $2,269 while the savings per unit in Tacoma is $6,091. This is due in part to the different proportions of market rate and affordable units. See Appendix C for detail on each city.

Beneficiary savings could result in a property tax shift or forgone revenue

• A property tax shift means that the amount that would have been collected on the exempt property is paid by other taxpayers.
• Forgone revenue means that the tax is not collected from any taxpayers.

Until 2021, the state portion of the beneficiary savings will be forgone revenue. This is due to temporary legislative changes in school funding that changed state property taxes to a rate-based system for four years. After 2021, state property tax will shift back to a budget-based system and some of the savings will increase taxes paid by other property owners.

The amount of local tax savings that will be shifted to other taxpayers cannot be determined

The degree to which this preference led to a local tax shift or a revenue loss depends on multiple factors including local levy limits and the timing of assessment.

• Local levy limits: State law limits both the levy amount and levy rate that a taxing district may impose. It also limits the amount by which a taxing jurisdiction may increase its levy each year, excluding new construction values. If a jurisdiction is already at its highest possible levy rate, the exemption results in forgone revenue rather than a tax shift.
• Assessment timing: Per RCW 84.14.020, the exemption begins on January 1 after the year in which the city approves it. The Department of Revenue (DOR) notes that RCW 36.21.080 requires county assessors to value all new construction each year. Under the DOR's interpretation of these statutes, assessors should value the completed portions of the property as new construction, as of July 31, and add them to the tax rolls for calculating levy limits for the year. After the exemption is approved, the beneficiary savings would include both forgone revenue and a tax shift.

Because many local taxing jurisdictions extend beyond city limits, some of the impact—both shift and loss—happens outside the cities granting exemptions.

Exhibit 5.2: The tax savings shifted onto other taxpayers depends on the timing of construction and assessment for each development

Source: JLARC staff analysis.

Without reporting improvements, the Legislature will continue to lack critical information for monitoring the program (e.g., exemption value, units created, participating cities)

JLARC staff conducted independent data collection

Due to the data problems identified in this section, JLARC staff did not rely solely on Commerce reports for this report. Additional collection methods include: Phone interviews with county assessors and city staff. Compiling data from assessor and apartment web sites. Requesting MFTE-related data from county assessors, cities, and Commerce.

Reporting does not meet statutory requirements and is unreliable for program evaluation and compliance monitoring

RCW 84.14.100(2) requires that Pierce County and cities report information to the Department of Commerce each year. However, because of inconsistent reporting and unclear forms, Commerce lacks the information required by statute.

• At least five cities have not submitted a report during the period reviewed, and at least 11 failed to report in one or more years. Statute does not grant Commerce the authority to compel cities to submit reports, and it cannot identify all participating jurisdictions.
• Most reports were incomplete. Cities used different calculations in the reports, making the overall data unreliable. As a result, Commerce cannot provide reliable information about the number of exempt properties, the number of affordable units, the total value of exemptions granted, or other metrics listed in statute.

• The reporting form created by Commerce lacks some of the detail required by statute (e.g., monthly rent by unit).

Because of these reporting problems, Commerce cannot report critical information to the Legislature such as confirmation that affordable housing units were rented or sold to qualifying households.

Exhibit 6.1: Commerce lacks information required by statute

Cities must report	Data status	JLARC analysis
Number of tax exemptions granted	Partial	At least 11 of the 26 cities have failed to report at some point.
Total number and type of units produced or to be produced	Partial	At least 11 of the 26 cities have failed to report at some point.
Number and type of units meeting affordable housing requirements	Partial	Form does not provide for unit type.
Income of each renter household for each unit	Partial	Form asks only for income on affordable units and some cities did not report this information.
Value of tax exemption for each development	Unreliable	Some cities report for one year, others for the length of the exemption. Four cities reported they did not know the value of the exemption.
Actual development cost of each unit	Unreliable	Some cities reported by unit and others by development. The methodologies vary and it is unclear what costs are included.
Total monthly rent or total sale amount of each unit	Not available	Form allows for only one rent/sale amount per development.

Source: RCW 84.14.100; JLARC staff analysis.

The state lacks detailed data to monitor the program and ensure compliance

Statute does not require cities to report detailed data that would be needed to monitor the program or assess compliance with affordability requirements. For example:

• Cities must report tenant incomes. However, whether the income reported satisfies affordability requirements depends on household size and unit size, which is not reported.
• Cities are not required to link their data to records in the county assessors' offices. As a result, the data used to evaluate the tax impact of the exemption is difficult to compare with the housing impact. JLARC staff relied on internet searches and property sales histories to connect the records.

In 2010, Commerce produced a report to the Governor's office that identified some of these issues.

Local government oversight of the programs varies

Statute grants cities and Pierce County the authority to implement and manage their programs. Local oversight varies. For example:

• After an internal audit in 2012 revealed a lack of internal controls and cases of noncompliance with state and city policies, Seattle established a compliance and monitoring program that requires substantial documentation and on-site audits. The city’s audit report found that 8 of the 16 properties it reviewed were not renting the required number of affordable units, and 9 of the 9 properties it reviewed had inconsistencies between their annual property certification reports and the documents used to assess renters’ income.
• In contrast, at least one city has never collected the compliance reports that property owners are required to file annually.
• Longview requires on-site verification of compliance annually.

Cities and Pierce County have implemented some provisions of the exemption in ways that may differ from statutory intent or state guidance

Both Commerce and the Department of Revenue (DOR) provide guidance to cities and county assessors upon request. Some statutory provisions have been interpreted differently by cities.

• To qualify for a twelve-year exemption, a project must make at least 20% of its units affordable to "low- and moderate-income households.” According to DOR, the requirement may be satisfied if at least one unit is affordable to low-income households, as long as the rest of the 20% are affordable to moderate-income households. However, at least one city allows the requirement to be satisfied if units are affordable only to moderate-income households.
• According to DOR, assisted living facilities are not eligible for the exemption. At least two properties that provide assisted living are receiving the exemption.
• Exempt rental housing must provide “permanent residential occupancy,” excluding hotels and motels that provide daily or weekly rental accommodations. At least one property claiming the exemption has rented out units on Airbnb, the short-term rental platform. At the time of this report, the city stated it was investigating the matter and that the question of short-term rentals was not clearly addressed by statute.

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Findings

84.14.005

The legislature finds:

(1) That in many of Washington's urban centers there is insufficient availability of desirable and convenient residential units, including affordable housing units, to meet the needs of a growing number of the public who would live in these urban centers if these desirable, convenient, attractive, affordable, and livable places to live were available;

(2) That the development of additional and desirable residential units, including affordable housing units, in these urban centers that will attract and maintain a significant increase in the number of permanent residents in these areas will help to alleviate the detrimental conditions and social liability that tend to exist in the absence of a viable mixed income residential population and will help to achieve the planning goals mandated by the growth management act under RCW 36.70A.020; and

(3) That planning solutions to solve the problems of urban sprawl often lack incentive and implementation techniques needed to encourage residential redevelopment in those urban centers lacking a sufficient variety of residential opportunities, and it is in the public interest and will benefit, provide, and promote the public health, safety, and welfare to stimulate new or enhanced residential opportunities, including affordable housing opportunities, within urban centers through a tax incentive as provided by this chapter.

[ 2007 c 430 § 1; 1995 c 375 § 1.]

Purpose

84.14.007

It is the purpose of this chapter to encourage increased residential opportunities, including affordable housing opportunities, in cities that are required to plan or choose to plan under the growth management act within urban centers where the governing authority of the affected city has found there is insufficient housing opportunities, including affordable housing opportunities. It is further the purpose of this chapter to stimulate the construction of new multifamily housing and the rehabilitation of existing vacant and underutilized buildings for multifamily housing in urban centers having insufficient housing opportunities that will increase and improve residential opportunities, including affordable housing opportunities, within these urban centers. To achieve these purposes, this chapter provides for special valuations in residentially deficient urban centers for eligible improvements associated with multiunit housing, which includes affordable housing. It is an additional purpose of this chapter to allow unincorporated areas of rural counties that are within urban growth areas to stimulate housing opportunities and for certain counties to stimulate housing opportunities near college campuses to promote dense, transit-oriented, walkable college communities.

[ 2014 c 96 § 2; 2012 c 194 § 1; 2007 c 430 § 2; 1995 c 375 § 2.]

Definitions

84.14.010

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Affordable housing" means residential housing that is rented by a person or household whose monthly housing costs, including utilities other than telephone, do not exceed thirty percent of the household's monthly income. For the purposes of housing intended for owner occupancy, "affordable housing" means residential housing that is within the means of low or moderate-income households.

(2) "Campus facilities master plan" means the area that is defined by the University of Washington as necessary for the future growth and development of its campus facilities for campuses authorized under RCW 28B.45.020.

(3) "City" means either (a) a city or town with a population of at least fifteen thousand, (b) the largest city or town, if there is no city or town with a population of at least fifteen thousand, located in a county planning under the growth management act, or (c) a city or town with a population of at least five thousand located in a county subject to the provisions of RCW 36.70A.215.

(4) "County" means a county with an unincorporated population of at least three hundred fifty thousand.

(5) "Governing authority" means the local legislative authority of a city or a county having jurisdiction over the property for which an exemption may be applied for under this chapter.

(6) "Growth management act" means chapter 36.70A RCW.

(7) "High cost area" means a county where the third quarter median house price for the previous year as reported by the Washington center for real estate research at Washington State University is equal to or greater than one hundred thirty percent of the statewide median house price published during the same time period.

(8) "Household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together.

(9) "Low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below eighty percent of the median family income adjusted for family size, for the county where the project is located, as reported by the United States department of housing and urban development. For cities located in high-cost areas, "low-income household" means a household that has an income at or below one hundred percent of the median family income adjusted for family size, for the county where the project is located.

(10) "Moderate-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is more than eighty percent but is at or below one hundred fifteen percent of the median family income adjusted for family size, for the county where the project is located, as reported by the United States department of housing and urban development. For cities located in high-cost areas, "moderate-income household" means a household that has an income that is more than one hundred percent, but at or below one hundred fifty percent, of the median family income adjusted for family size, for the county where the project is located.

(11) "Multiple-unit housing" means a building having four or more dwelling units not designed or used as transient accommodations and not including hotels and motels. Multifamily units may result from new construction or rehabilitated or conversion of vacant, underutilized, or substandard buildings to multifamily housing.

(12) "Owner" means the property owner of record.

(13) "Permanent residential occupancy" means multiunit housing that provides either rental or owner occupancy on a nontransient basis. This includes owner-occupied or rental accommodation that is leased for a period of at least one month. This excludes hotels and motels that predominately offer rental accommodation on a daily or weekly basis.

(14) "Rehabilitation improvements" means modifications to existing structures, that are vacant for twelve months or longer, that are made to achieve a condition of substantial compliance with existing building codes or modification to existing occupied structures which increase the number of multifamily housing units.

(15) "Residential targeted area" means an area within an urban center or urban growth area that has been designated by the governing authority as a residential targeted area in accordance with this chapter. With respect to designations after July 1, 2007, "residential targeted area" may not include a campus facilities master plan.

(16) "Rural county" means a county with a population between fifty thousand and seventy-one thousand and bordering Puget Sound.

(17) "Substantial compliance" means compliance with local building or housing code requirements that are typically required for rehabilitation as opposed to new construction.

(18) "Urban center" means a compact identifiable district where urban residents may obtain a variety of products and services. An urban center must contain:

(a) Several existing or previous, or both, business establishments that may include but are not limited to shops, offices, banks, restaurants, governmental agencies;

(b) Adequate public facilities including streets, sidewalks, lighting, transit, domestic water, and sanitary sewer systems; and

(c) A mixture of uses and activities that may include housing, recreation, and cultural activities in association with either commercial or office, or both, use.

[ 2017 c 52 § 16; 2014 c 96 § 3. Prior: 2012 c 194 § 2; prior: 2007 c 430 § 3; 2007 c 185 § 1; 2002 c 146 § 1; 2000 c 242 § 1; 1997 c 429 § 40; 1995 c 375 § 3.]

Exemption - Duration - Valuation.

84.14.020

(1)(a) The value of new housing construction, conversion, and rehabilitation improvements qualifying under this chapter is exempt from ad valorem property taxation, as follows:

(i) For properties for which applications for certificates of tax exemption eligibility are submitted under chapter 84.14 RCW before July 22, 2007, the value is exempt for ten successive years beginning January 1 of the year immediately following the calendar year of issuance of the certificate; and

(ii) For properties for which applications for certificates of tax exemption eligibility are submitted under chapter 84.14 RCW on or after July 22, 2007, the value is exempt:

(A) For eight successive years beginning January 1st of the year immediately following the calendar year of issuance of the certificate; or

(B) For twelve successive years beginning January 1st of the year immediately following the calendar year of issuance of the certificate, if the property otherwise qualifies for the exemption under chapter 84.14 RCW and meets the conditions in this subsection (1)(a)(ii)(B). For the property to qualify for the twelve-year exemption under this subsection, the applicant must commit to renting or selling at least twenty percent of the multifamily housing units as affordable housing units to low and moderate-income households, and the property must satisfy that commitment and any additional affordability and income eligibility conditions adopted by the local government under this chapter. In the case of projects intended exclusively for owner occupancy, the minimum requirement of this subsection (1)(a)(ii)(B) may be satisfied solely through housing affordable to moderate-income households.

(b) The exemptions provided in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection do not include the value of land or nonhousing-related improvements not qualifying under this chapter.

(2) When a local government adopts guidelines pursuant to RCW 84.14.030(2) and includes conditions that must be satisfied with respect to individual dwelling units, rather than with respect to the multiple-unit housing as a whole or some minimum portion thereof, the exemption may, at the local government's discretion, be limited to the value of the qualifying improvements allocable to those dwelling units that meet the local guidelines.

(3) In the case of rehabilitation of existing buildings, the exemption does not include the value of improvements constructed prior to the submission of the application required under this chapter. The incentive provided by this chapter is in addition to any other incentives, tax credits, grants, or other incentives provided by law.

(4) This chapter does not apply to increases in assessed valuation made by the assessor on nonqualifying portions of building and value of land nor to increases made by lawful order of a county board of equalization, the department of revenue, or a county, to a class of property throughout the county or specific area of the county to achieve the uniformity of assessment or appraisal required by law.

(5) At the conclusion of the exemption period, the new or rehabilitated housing cost shall be considered as new construction for the purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW.

[ 2007 c 430 § 4; 2002 c 146 § 2; 1999 c 132 § 1; 1995 c 375 § 5.]

Application - Requirements

84.14.030

An owner of property making application under this chapter must meet the following requirements:

(1) The new or rehabilitated multiple-unit housing must be located in a residential targeted area as designated by the city or county;

(2) The multiple-unit housing must meet guidelines as adopted by the governing authority that may include height, density, public benefit features, number and size of proposed development, parking, income limits for occupancy, limits on rents or sale prices, and other adopted requirements indicated necessary by the city or county. The required amenities should be relative to the size of the project and tax benefit to be obtained;

(3) The new, converted, or rehabilitated multiple-unit housing must provide for a minimum of fifty percent of the space for permanent residential occupancy. In the case of existing occupied multifamily development, the multifamily housing must also provide for a minimum of four additional multifamily units. Existing multifamily vacant housing that has been vacant for twelve months or more does not have to provide additional multifamily units;

(4) New construction multifamily housing and rehabilitation improvements must be completed within three years from the date of approval of the application;

(5) Property proposed to be rehabilitated must fail to comply with one or more standards of the applicable state or local building or housing codes on or after July 23, 1995. If the property proposed to be rehabilitated is not vacant, an applicant must provide each existing tenant housing of comparable size, quality, and price and a reasonable opportunity to relocate; and

(6) The applicant must enter into a contract with the city or county approved by the governing authority, or an administrative official or commission authorized by the governing authority, under which the applicant has agreed to the implementation of the development on terms and conditions satisfactory to the governing authority.

[ 2012 c 194 § 3; 2007 c 430 § 5; 2005 c 80 § 1; 1997 c 429 § 42; 1995 c 375 § 6.]

Designation of residential targeted area—Criteria—Local designation—Hearing—Standards, guidelines.

84.14.040

(1) The following criteria must be met before an area may be designated as a residential targeted area:

(a) The area must be within an urban center, as determined by the governing authority;

(b) The area must lack, as determined by the governing authority, sufficient available, desirable, and convenient residential housing, including affordable housing, to meet the needs of the public who would be likely to live in the urban center, if the affordable, desirable, attractive, and livable places to live were available;

(c) The providing of additional housing opportunity, including affordable housing, in the area, as determined by the governing authority, will assist in achieving one or more of the stated purposes of this chapter; and

(d) If the residential targeted area is designated by a county, the area must be located in an unincorporated area of the county that is within an urban growth area under RCW 36.70A.110 and the area must be: (i) In a rural county, served by a sewer system and designated by a county prior to January 1, 2013; or (ii) in a county that includes a campus of an institution of higher education, as defined in RCW 28B.92.030, where at least one thousand two hundred students live on campus during the academic year.

(2) For the purpose of designating a residential targeted area or areas, the governing authority may adopt a resolution of intention to so designate an area as generally described in the resolution. The resolution must state the time and place of a hearing to be held by the governing authority to consider the designation of the area and may include such other information pertaining to the designation of the area as the governing authority determines to be appropriate to apprise the public of the action intended.

(3) The governing authority must give notice of a hearing held under this chapter by publication of the notice once each week for two consecutive weeks, not less than seven days, nor more than thirty days before the date of the hearing in a paper having a general circulation in the city or county where the proposed residential targeted area is located. The notice must state the time, date, place, and purpose of the hearing and generally identify the area proposed to be designated as a residential targeted area.

(4) Following the hearing, or a continuance of the hearing, the governing authority may designate all or a portion of the area described in the resolution of intent as a residential targeted area if it finds, in its sole discretion, that the criteria in subsections (1) through (3) of this section have been met.

(5) After designation of a residential targeted area, the governing authority must adopt and implement standards and guidelines to be utilized in considering applications and making the determinations required under RCW 84.14.060. The standards and guidelines must establish basic requirements for both new construction and rehabilitation, which must include:

(a) Application process and procedures;

(b) Requirements that address demolition of existing structures and site utilization; and

(c) Building requirements that may include elements addressing parking, height, density, environmental impact, and compatibility with the existing surrounding property and such other amenities as will attract and keep permanent residents and that will properly enhance the livability of the residential targeted area in which they are to be located.

(6) The governing authority may adopt and implement, either as conditions to eight-year exemptions or as conditions to an extended exemption period under RCW 84.14.020(1)(a)(ii)(B), or both, more stringent income eligibility, rent, or sale price limits, including limits that apply to a higher percentage of units, than the minimum conditions for an extended exemption period under RCW 84.14.020(1)(a)(ii)(B). For any multiunit housing located in an unincorporated area of a county, a property owner seeking tax incentives under this chapter must commit to renting or selling at least twenty percent of the multifamily housing units as affordable housing units to low and moderate-income households. In the case of multiunit housing intended exclusively for owner occupancy, the minimum requirement of this subsection (6) may be satisfied solely through housing affordable to moderate-income households.

[ 2014 c 96 § 4; 2012 c 194 § 4; 2007 c 430 § 6; 1995 c 375 § 7.]

NOTES:Tax preference performance statement—2014 c 96: "This section is the tax preference performance statement for the tax preference contained in RCW 84.14.040 and 84.14.060. This performance statement is only intended to be used for subsequent evaluation of the tax preference. It is not intended to create a private right of action by any party or be used to determine eligibility for preferential tax treatment.

(1) The legislature categorizes this tax preference as one intended to induce certain designated behavior by taxpayers, as indicated in RCW 82.32.808(2)(a).

(2) It is the legislature's specific public policy objective to stimulate the construction of new multifamily housing in urban growth areas located in unincorporated areas of rural counties where housing options, including affordable housing options, are severely limited. It is the legislature's intent to provide the value of new housing construction, conversion, and rehabilitation improvements qualifying under chapter 84.14 RCW an exemption from ad valorem property taxation for eight to twelve years, as provided for in RCW 84.14.020, in order to provide incentives to developers to construct new multifamily housing thereby increasing the number of affordable housing units for low to moderate-income residents in certain rural counties.

(3) If a review finds that at least twenty percent of the new housing is developed and occupied by households making at or below eighty percent of the area median income, at the time of occupancy, adjusted for family size for the county where the project is located or where the housing is intended exclusively for owner occupancy, the household may earn up to one hundred fifteen percent of the area median income, at the time of sale, adjusted for family size for the county where the project is located, then the legislature intends to extend the expiration date of the tax preference.

(4) In order to obtain the data necessary to perform the review in subsection (3) of this section, the joint legislative audit and review committee may refer to data provided by counties in which beneficiaries are utilizing the preference, the office of financial management, the department of commerce, the United States department of housing and urban development, and other data sources as needed by the joint legislative audit and review committee." [ 2014 c 96 § 1.]

Application - Procedures

84.14.050

An owner of property seeking tax incentives under this chapter must complete the following procedures:

(1) In the case of rehabilitation or where demolition or new construction is required, the owner must secure from the governing authority or duly authorized representative, before commencement of rehabilitation improvements or new construction, verification of property noncompliance with applicable building and housing codes;

(2) In the case of new and rehabilitated multifamily housing, the owner must apply to the city or county on forms adopted by the governing authority. The application must contain the following:

(a) Information setting forth the grounds supporting the requested exemption including information indicated on the application form or in the guidelines;

(b) A description of the project and site plan, including the floor plan of units and other information requested;

(c) A statement that the applicant is aware of the potential tax liability involved when the property ceases to be eligible for the incentive provided under this chapter;

(3) The applicant must verify the application by oath or affirmation; and

(4) The application must be accompanied by the application fee, if any, required under RCW 84.14.080. The governing authority may permit the applicant to revise an application before final action by the governing authority.

[ 2012 c 194 § 5; 2007 c 430 § 7; 1999 c 132 § 2; 1997 c 429 § 43; 1995 c 375 § 8.]

Approval - Required findings

84.14.060

(1) The duly authorized administrative official or committee of the city or county may approve the application if it finds that:

(a) A minimum of four new units are being constructed or in the case of occupied rehabilitation or conversion a minimum of four additional multifamily units are being developed;

(b) If applicable, the proposed multiunit housing project meets the affordable housing requirements as described in RCW 84.14.020;

(c) The proposed project is or will be, at the time of completion, in conformance with all local plans and regulations that apply at the time the application is approved;

(d) The owner has complied with all standards and guidelines adopted by the city or county under this chapter; and

(e) The site is located in a residential targeted area of an urban center or urban growth area that has been designated by the governing authority in accordance with procedures and guidelines indicated in RCW 84.14.040.

(2) An application may not be approved after July 1, 2007, if any part of the proposed project site is within a campus facilities master plan, except as provided in RCW 84.14.040(1)(d).

(3) An application may not be approved for a residential targeted area in a rural county on or after January 1, 2020.

[ 2014 c 96 § 5; 2012 c 194 § 6. Prior: 2007 c 430 § 8; 2007 c 185 § 2; 1995 c 375 § 9.]

Processing - Approval - Denial - Appeal

84.14.070

(1) The governing authority or an administrative official or commission authorized by the governing authority must approve or deny an application filed under this chapter within ninety days after receipt of the application.

(2) If the application is approved, the city or county must issue the owner of the property a conditional certificate of acceptance of tax exemption. The certificate must contain a statement by a duly authorized administrative official of the governing authority that the property has complied with the required findings indicated in RCW 84.14.060.

(3) If the application is denied by the authorized administrative official or commission authorized by the governing authority, the deciding administrative official or commission must state in writing the reasons for denial and send the notice to the applicant at the applicant's last known address within ten days of the denial.

(4) Upon denial by a duly authorized administrative official or commission, an applicant may appeal the denial to the governing authority within thirty days after receipt of the denial. The appeal before the governing authority must be based upon the record made before the administrative official with the burden of proof on the applicant to show that there was no substantial evidence to support the administrative official's decision. The decision of the governing body in denying or approving the application is final.

[ 2012 c 194 § 7; 1995 c 375 § 10.]

Fees

84.14.080

The governing authority may establish an application fee. This fee may not exceed an amount determined to be required to cover the cost to be incurred by the governing authority and the assessor in administering this chapter. The application fee must be paid at the time the application for limited exemption is filed. If the application is approved, the governing authority shall pay the application fee to the county assessor for deposit in the county current expense fund, after first deducting that portion of the fee attributable to its own administrative costs in processing the application. If the application is denied, the governing authority may retain that portion of the application fee attributable to its own administrative costs and refund the balance to the applicant.

[ 1995 c 375 § 11.]

Filing requirements for owner upon completion—Determination by city or county—Notice of intention by city or county not to file—Extension of deadline—Appeal.

84.14.090

(1) Upon completion of rehabilitation or new construction for which an application for a limited tax exemption under this chapter has been approved and after issuance of the certificate of occupancy, the owner must file with the city or county the following:

(a) A statement of the amount of rehabilitation or construction expenditures made with respect to each housing unit and the composite expenditures made in the rehabilitation or construction of the entire property;

(b) A description of the work that has been completed and a statement that the rehabilitation improvements or new construction on the owner's property qualify the property for limited exemption under this chapter;

(c) If applicable, a statement that the project meets the affordable housing requirements as described in RCW 84.14.020; and

(d) A statement that the work has been completed within three years of the issuance of the conditional certificate of tax exemption.

(2) Within thirty days after receipt of the statements required under subsection (1) of this section, the authorized representative of the city or county must determine whether the work completed, and the affordability of the units, is consistent with the application and the contract approved by the city or county and is qualified for a limited tax exemption under this chapter. The city or county must also determine which specific improvements completed meet the requirements and required findings.

(3) If the rehabilitation, conversion, or construction is completed within three years of the date the application for a limited tax exemption is filed under this chapter, or within an authorized extension of this time limit, and the authorized representative of the city or county determines that improvements were constructed consistent with the application and other applicable requirements, including if applicable, affordable housing requirements, and the owner's property is qualified for a limited tax exemption under this chapter, the city or county must file the certificate of tax exemption with the county assessor within ten days of the expiration of the thirty-day period provided under subsection (2) of this section.

(4) The authorized representative of the city or county must notify the applicant that a certificate of tax exemption is not going to be filed if the authorized representative determines that:

(a) The rehabilitation or new construction was not completed within three years of the application date, or within any authorized extension of the time limit;

(b) The improvements were not constructed consistent with the application or other applicable requirements;

(c) If applicable, the affordable housing requirements as described in RCW 84.14.020 were not met; or

(d) The owner's property is otherwise not qualified for limited exemption under this chapter.

(5) If the authorized representative of the city or county finds that construction or rehabilitation of multiple-unit housing was not completed within the required time period due to circumstances beyond the control of the owner and that the owner has been acting and could reasonably be expected to act in good faith and with due diligence, the governing authority or the city or county official authorized by the governing authority may extend the deadline for completion of construction or rehabilitation for a period not to exceed twenty-four consecutive months.

(6) The governing authority may provide by ordinance for an appeal of a decision by the deciding officer or authority that an owner is not entitled to a certificate of tax exemption to the governing authority, a hearing examiner, or other city or county officer authorized by the governing authority to hear the appeal in accordance with such reasonable procedures and time periods as provided by ordinance of the governing authority. The owner may appeal a decision by the deciding officer or authority that is not subject to local appeal or a decision by the local appeal authority that the owner is not entitled to a certificate of tax exemption in superior court under RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598, if the appeal is filed within thirty days of notification by the city or county to the owner of the decision being challenged.

[ 2012 c 194 § 8; 2007 c 430 § 9; 1995 c 375 § 12.]

Report - Filing

84.14.100

(1) Thirty days after the anniversary of the date of the certificate of tax exemption and each year for the tax exemption period, the owner of the rehabilitated or newly constructed property must file with a designated authorized representative of the city or county an annual report indicating the following:

(a) A statement of occupancy and vacancy of the rehabilitated or newly constructed property during the twelve months ending with the anniversary date;

(b) A certification by the owner that the property has not changed use and, if applicable, that the property has been in compliance with the affordable housing requirements as described in RCW 84.14.020 since the date of the certificate approved by the city or county;

(c) A description of changes or improvements constructed after issuance of the certificate of tax exemption; and

(d) Any additional information requested by the city or county in regards to the units receiving a tax exemption.

(2) All cities or counties, which issue certificates of tax exemption for multiunit housing that conform to the requirements of this chapter, must report annually by December 31st of each year, beginning in 2007, to the department of commerce. The report must include the following information:

(a) The number of tax exemption certificates granted;

(b) The total number and type of units produced or to be produced;

(c) The number and type of units produced or to be produced meeting affordable housing requirements;

(d) The actual development cost of each unit produced;

(e) The total monthly rent or total sale amount of each unit produced;

(f) The income of each renter household at the time of initial occupancy and the income of each initial purchaser of owner-occupied units at the time of purchase for each of the units receiving a tax exemption and a summary of these figures for the city or county; and

(g) The value of the tax exemption for each project receiving a tax exemption and the total value of tax exemptions granted.

[ 2012 c 194 § 9; 2007 c 430 § 10; 1995 c 375 § 13.]

Cancellation of exemption—Notice by owner of change in use—Additional tax—Penalty—Interest—Lien—Notice of cancellation—Appeal—Correction of tax rolls.

84.14.110

(1) If improvements have been exempted under this chapter, the improvements continue to be exempted for the applicable period under RCW 84.14.020, so long as they are not converted to another use and continue to satisfy all applicable conditions. If the owner intends to convert the multifamily development to another use, or if applicable, if the owner intends to discontinue compliance with the affordable housing requirements as described in RCW 84.14.020 or any other condition to exemption, the owner must notify the assessor within sixty days of the change in use or intended discontinuance. If, after a certificate of tax exemption has been filed with the county assessor, the authorized representative of the governing authority discovers that a portion of the property is changed or will be changed to a use that is other than residential or that housing or amenities no longer meet the requirements, including, if applicable, affordable housing requirements, as previously approved or agreed upon by contract between the city or county and the owner and that the multifamily housing, or a portion of the housing, no longer qualifies for the exemption, the tax exemption must be canceled and the following must occur:

(a) Additional real property tax must be imposed upon the value of the nonqualifying improvements in the amount that would normally be imposed, plus a penalty must be imposed amounting to twenty percent. This additional tax is calculated based upon the difference between the property tax paid and the property tax that would have been paid if it had included the value of the nonqualifying improvements dated back to the date that the improvements were converted to a nonmultifamily use;

(b) The tax must include interest upon the amounts of the additional tax at the same statutory rate charged on delinquent property taxes from the dates on which the additional tax could have been paid without penalty if the improvements had been assessed at a value without regard to this chapter; and

(c) The additional tax owed together with interest and penalty must become a lien on the land and attach at the time the property or portion of the property is removed from multifamily use or the amenities no longer meet applicable requirements, and has priority to and must be fully paid and satisfied before a recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt, obligation, or responsibility to or with which the land may become charged or liable. The lien may be foreclosed upon expiration of the same period after delinquency and in the same manner provided by law for foreclosure of liens for delinquent real property taxes. An additional tax unpaid on its due date is delinquent. From the date of delinquency until paid, interest must be charged at the same rate applied by law to delinquent ad valorem property taxes.

(2) Upon a determination that a tax exemption is to be canceled for a reason stated in this section, the governing authority or authorized representative must notify the record owner of the property as shown by the tax rolls by mail, return receipt requested, of the determination to cancel the exemption. The owner may appeal the determination to the governing authority or authorized representative, within thirty days by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the governing authority, which notice must specify the factual and legal basis on which the determination of cancellation is alleged to be erroneous. The governing authority or a hearing examiner or other official authorized by the governing authority may hear the appeal. At the hearing, all affected parties may be heard and all competent evidence received. After the hearing, the deciding body or officer must either affirm, modify, or repeal the decision of cancellation of exemption based on the evidence received. An aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the deciding body or officer to the superior court under RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598.

(3) Upon determination by the governing authority or authorized representative to terminate an exemption, the county officials having possession of the assessment and tax rolls must correct the rolls in the manner provided for omitted property under RCW 84.40.080. The county assessor must make such a valuation of the property and improvements as is necessary to permit the correction of the rolls. The value of the new housing construction, conversion, and rehabilitation improvements added to the rolls is considered as new construction for the purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW. The owner may appeal the valuation to the county board of equalization under chapter 84.48 RCW and according to the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. If there has been a failure to comply with this chapter, the property must be listed as an omitted assessment for assessment years beginning January 1 of the calendar year in which the noncompliance first occurred, but the listing as an omitted assessment may not be for a period more than three calendar years preceding the year in which the failure to comply was discovered.

[ 2012 c 194 § 10; 2007 c 430 § 11; 2002 c 146 § 3; 2001 c 185 § 1; 1995 c 375 § 14.]