New Law Clears the Way for Home Builders and Remodelers to Access More Durable, Affordable and Sustainable Materials – Including Vinyl Siding
On May 12 and 13, 2025, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson signed almost 70 bills into state law, including SB 5571, a bill that:
- Prohibits “a city, code city, or county from requiring or excluding exterior cladding materials that comply with the state building code.”
This new law marks a real watershed moment for Washington’s history as it clears the way for more affordable homes, more economic growth and more sustainable communities.
Washington becomes the eighth state to pass legislation protecting the rights of home building contractors to source modern materials like vinyl siding without any prohibitions from local governments. It also becomes the first state to do so in the Western part of the country, marking a significant win for PEPA’s advocacy efforts.
“Our first seven states were located in the South and Midwest, where vinyl siding enjoys a big market share,” said Alex Fernandez, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Advocacy at PEPA. “To see legislative reform in the Western region where we are not as strong is a significant milestone for our mission.”
Alex emphasized that all the credit goes to the state of Washington, whose residents recognized the benefits of vinyl siding and polymeric exteriors. They also pushed this bill past the finish line seamlessly with almost unanimous support.
“Usually, it’s been the Republicans in the other states that drove the legislation,” Alex noted. “But in Washington, the Democrats played a leading role because they, like the Republicans, recognized that this is not a partisan issue. Our advocacy has always been about fair market trade, and the advantages of our PEPA members’ products are a win-win for everyone.”
PEPA’s advocacy efforts in Washington started in 2024 with a presentation to the state’s homebuilders trade group – the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW). This led to more meaningful conversations on the growing issue of home affordability.
“With all the momentum generated in such a short period, we made Washington one of our primary objectives at PEPA,” Alex said. “And we did it without boots on the ground. Our lobbyist Bryce Yadon did great work, and Sen. Jessica Bateman, D-Olympia, led the effort, which became a slam dunk where we were leading from the start.”
Alex also emphasized that PEPA members are thrilled by the legislative triumph in Washington because they are focused not only on current markets where polymeric exteriors are doing well but also on growing markets where housing affordability is still an issue.
Washington joins North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana and Iowa in achieving legislation that protects homebuilders who want to use vinyl siding and polymeric exteriors. For help with legislative reform in your state, contact Alex at afernandez@polymericexteriors.org.