Washington’s Clean Building Performance Standards

What Skilled Nursing & Assisted Living Providers Need to Know

In 2019, Washington became the first state to adopt statewide performance standards for commercial buildings, including skilled nursing and assisted living centers. Implementation has been complex, with additional legislation and rulemaking affecting how the standards apply. Read about the history of the standard here. The Washington State Department of Commerce oversees regulatory compliance.

Two compliance tiers:

Tier 1: Buildings with more than 50,000 sq. ft. of nonresidential, hotel, motel, or dormitory space (parking garages excluded). Mandatory compliance and reporting for buildings over 220,000 sq. ft. begins June 2026.
Tier 2: Buildings with 20,000–50,000 sq. ft. of the same space types, or multifamily residential buildings of 50,000 sq. ft. or more (parking garages excluded). Mandatory compliance begins on July 1, 2027.

Key points for providers:

Notifications about the Clean Building Performance Standard were sent to building owners in July 2025. Even if you haven’t received notice, compliance is expected.
WHCA and LeadingAge, working with Ballard Spahr Lane Powell and Bill Ulrich of Consolidated Billing Services, have submitted rulemaking comments seeking relief for skilled nursing and assisted living providers who may face challenges meeting the standards.
Upcoming Briefing: On October 23, WHCA/LAW will co-sponsor a briefing featuring regulatory experts and field practitioners. The session will cover the requirements and practical insights for implementation.

Resources:

Clean Building Performance Standard (CBPS) details