 Critical Areas Ordinance Update
As required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), King County is reviewing and updating the policies and regulations used to protect public health and safety by limiting development in hazard areas, including steep slopes and flood zones, and to protect environmentally critical areas, including wetlands and streams. Regulations in King County Code that protect critical areas are often referred to as the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and are required by the GMA to include the latest best available science (BAS).
On December 5, 2024, the King County Executive transmitted to the King County Council the proposed updates to BAS and the CAO as Proposed Ordinance 2024-0408. The County began this review in 2022 and developed draft updates in consultation with Indian tribes, state and federal agencies, and community partners. An initial BAS report and proposed policy and code updates were published in March 2024. The Executive completed additional review and refinement of the CAO update and BAS report in 2024, and the County intends to adopt updates to critical areas regulations in 2025. Under the reasonable progress exception in RCW 36.70.130(7)(b), the County Council must adopt CAO updates no later than December 2025.
Changes to the CAO proposed by the Executive to meet state requirements, as well as supporting materials, can be found at kingcounty.gov/CompPlan. Key proposed changes include:
- Stronger protections riparian areas in both rural and urban unincorporated King County (areas outside of cities), informed by BAS review.
- Enhancing protections for Category I (high conservation value) wetlands, estuarine wetlands, and coastal lagoons.
- Increasing the area required for mitigation when unavoidable impacts are proposed for wetlands, aquatic areas, and riparian areas and clarifying application to wetland mitigation banks.
- Updating provisions for regulatory flexibility for agriculture such as farm field access drives, grazing, and farm-related structures.
- New alluvial fan standards that limit new, at-risk development in alluvial fan hazard areas, clarify requirements for emergency actions, and support flood risk reduction sponsored by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
- Allowing "climate-smart plants" to be used in mitigation and restoration projects, supporting climate resilience.
- Technical and clarifying changes to make the code easier to understand and apply.
How can I provide input?
These proposed changes are currently under consideration by the King County Council and might be changed further. The Council will review the proposed changes in 2025. Input on the proposed changes can be submitted to CouncilCompPlan@kingcounty.gov
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