Battery storage rules: Washington
In Washington your city or county decides where battery storage may go, through its zoning, conditional-use permits, environmental (SEPA) review and fire code. A developer of a standalone battery may instead choose certification by the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC); a certificate then takes the place of local permits. EFSEC is reviewing one such project now. The 2021 International Fire Code, with Washington amendments, has applied statewide since March 15, 2024; the State Building Code Council has proposed the 2024 edition, which would point energy storage rules to NFPA 855, for May 3, 2027. Some cities and counties have adopted temporary moratoriums on new battery storage applications.
No statewide pause; some cities and counties have adopted temporary pauses
There is no statewide moratorium. Some cities and counties have adopted temporary moratoriums on new battery storage applications under state planning law (six months, or up to a year with a work plan, renewable in six-month steps after a public hearing). Ask yours what is in effect now. RCW 36.70A.390, 35A.63.220; e.g. Kitsap County Ord. 645-2026, Snoqualmie Ord. 1322
Fire and building codes in force
- 2021 International Fire Code with Washington amendments (WAC 51-54A), statewide since March 15, 2024
- Proposed, not adopted: the 2024 edition, which would point energy storage rules to NFPA 855, with a planned effective date of May 3, 2027 (WSR 26-10-069)
How a project is permitted
By default, local: the city or county's zoning, conditional-use permit, SEPA review and fire code. A developer of a standalone battery may choose state certification by EFSEC instead (RCW 80.50.060(1)(b)(v)); a certificate takes the place of local permits (RCW 80.50.120(3)). Ask your city or county whether battery storage is an allowed use in your zone, and whether a moratorium is in effect and when it ends.
Legislation
- E2SHB 1216 (2023): clean energy siting (enacted): Clean energy siting reforms, including nonproject environmental review that covers storage co-located with clean energy. Laws of 2023, E2SHB 1216
- SB 5283 (2025): local bans in critical areas (failed): Would have barred EFSEC from preempting local laws that forbid siting certain storage facilities in critical areas; it stayed in committee. Washington Legislature bill status
Storage in this place
- EIA Form 860M (September 2026): 3 operating battery storage plants in Washington (4 MW) and 7 planned (1,655 MW) (EIA covers plants of 1 MW or more).
- The Department of Ecology is preparing a programmatic environmental impact statement for stand-alone, utility-scale battery storage; Ecology plans to finish the draft by June 30, 2027.
Places within
- Kitsap County, WA — new battery storage applications paused to December 7, 2026
- Snoqualmie, WA — twelve-month moratorium on new battery storage (May 2026)
- Maple Valley, WA — battery storage moratorium, extended July 2026
- North Bend, WA — twelve-month moratorium on battery storage applications (May 2026)
Sources
- WAC 51-54A-1207 — Washington amendments to the IFC energy storage section Washington State Legislature
- RCW 80.50.060 — EFSEC jurisdiction (including the storage opt-in) Washington State Legislature
- EFSEC — Goldeneye battery energy storage system (Skagit County) Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
- Ecology — Programmatic EIS for battery energy storage Washington Department of Ecology
- Commerce — Energy storage safety: local governments and state agencies Washington Department of Commerce
Check a specific system
For a proposal or a system you're evaluating, answer a few questions in BESScheck: you get the rules that apply here, a checklist of what to ask, and the sources behind each line.