Critical Areas

Contents

Introduction
Critical Areas Updates
Best Available Science
City Ordinances
County Ordinances
Other Ordinances
Application Forms and Handouts

Introduction

All cities and counties in Washington are required to adopt critical areas regulations by the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.060). The GMA was amended in 1995 to require counties and cities to include the best available science in developing policies and development regulations to protect the functions and values of critical areas (RCW 36.70A.172). All jurisdictions are required to review, evaluate, and, if necessary, revise their critical areas ordinances according to an update schedule adopted in 2002. MRSC's Web page on GMA Plan/Development Regulations Updates provides additional information on the schedule and required updates.

Critical Areas Updates

Bainbridge Island Critical Areas Update, Proposed Ordinance No. 2005-03
Bellevue Critical Areas Update Process - Includes policies, draft code amendments, and Best Available Science papers
Clark County Critical Areas Update
Everett Critical Areas Update
Kent Critical Areas Ordinance Updated
Kitsap County Critical Areas Ordinance
Olympia Critical Areas Ordinance update program information
Redmond Critical Areas Ordinance
Renton Critical Areas Ordinance Regulations and Shoreline Master Program Amendments
Seattle Department of Planning and Development Environmentally Critical Areas Update
Shoreline Critical Areas Ordinance update
Thurston County Critical Areas Update
Whatcom County Critical Areas Ordinance
Yakima County Critical Areas Ordinance and Shoreline Master Program Updates

State Information

Examples of Regulatory Language for Nearshore and Marine Shoreline Protection, (285 KB) prepared for the Puget Sound Action Team by GeoEngineers, January 2005.
New Critical Areas Ordinance Guidebooks for Small Cities, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, February 2007.
Critical Areas Assistance Handbook: Protecting Critical Areas Within the Framework of the Washington Growth Management Act (1.95 MB). Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Growth Management Services, November 2003.
Critical Areas and Best Available Science Ordinance Examples for Small Cities and Towns, Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Growth Management Services.

Best Available Science

Critical Areas and Best Available Science Information Page, Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Growth Management Services. Page includes Critical Areas Assistance Handbook, Appendices, Findings of Fact and Local Examples.
Citations of Recommended Sources of Best Available Science for Designating and Protecting Critical Areas
( 569 KB), Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Growth Management Services, March 2002.
Best Available Science for Wetlands, Department of Ecology
Local Government Documents
- Issaquah Best Available Science Report Draft ( 235 KB), Planning Department 2004
- Bellevue Best Available Science Paper, 2005
- Edmonds 2004 Best Available Science Report, Draft ( 261.8 KB)
- Jefferson County Review of Best Available Science for 2004 Comprehensive Plan
  and Development Regulations Update (172 KB)
- King County Best Available Science
- Kitsap County Critical Areas Ordinance Revision and Best Available Science Review
- Redmond Best Available Science Review and Summary Papers
- Thurston County Critical Areas Update, Best Available Science
- Whatcom County Critical Areas Ordinance, Best Available Science Review and
  Recommendations for Code Update, Draft, ( 2.74MB) Parametrix et al., 2005
- Yakima County Review of Best Available Science, Oct. 2006.

City Ordinance Provisions

Anacortes, WA Ordinance No. 2702, 2005 (564 KB)
Bainbridge Island, WA Municipal Code Ch. 16.20 - Critical Areas
Bellingham, WA Municipal Code Ch. 16.55 - Critical Areas
Bothell, WA Municipal Code sec. 12.52.060 - North Creek Fish and Wildlife Critical Habitat Protection Area (NCFWCHPA)
Bremerton, WA Municipal Code, Ch. 21.22 - Critical Lands Ordinance* (3.3 MB)
Cashmere, WA Ordinance No. 1020* (288 KB)
Cheney, WA Municipal Code, Ch. 21.70 - Conservation of Critical Areas* (96 KB)
Edgewood, WA Municipal Code Title 14 - Critical Areas Regulations* (3.3 MB)
Edmonds, WA Final Critical Areas Ordinance
Index Critical Areas Ordinance No. 361,* 2002 ()
Kent, WA Critical Areas Ordinance, 2005
Mill Creek, WA Ordinance No. 2004-603 - Critical Areas ( 549 KB)
Mount Vernon, WA Ordinance No. 3353 - Critical Areas ( 4 MB)
Mukilteo Draft Critical Areas Ordinance,* 2004 ()
Olympia, WA Municipal Code Ch. 18.32 - Critical Areas
Pullman Ordinance No. 03-18* ()
Port Townsend, WA Municipal Code Ch. 19.05 (289 KB) - Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Redmond,WA Ordinance No. 2259 ( 1.22 MB)
Stanwood, WA Ordinance No. 1164 (867 KB) - Critical Areas
Steilacoom, WA Ordinance No. 1380 (494 KB) - Critical Areas
Sumner Ordinance No. 2071*
Vancouver, WA Ordinance No. M-3692 (662 KB) - Critical Areas
Yakima, WA Municipal Code Ch. 15.27 (76 KB) - Critical Areas

*Local example recommended by Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Growth Management Services

County Ordinance Provisions

Cowlitz County Draft Critical Areas Ordinances (includes ESA), July 2000 ( 151 KB)
King County Code Chapter 21A.24 ( 305.36KB) - Critical Areas and Critical Areas Ordinance No. 15051 ( 679 KB)
Lewis County Proposed Revisions to Critical Areas Ordinance ( 616.2 KB) October 2006
Okanogan County Code Chapter 14.12 - Critical Areas
Pacific County Critical Areas Ordinance (151 KB)
Pierce County Code Title 18E (292 KB) - Development Regulations-Critical Areas
Skagit County Code Chapter 14.24 (223 KB) - Critical Areas Ordinance
Spokane County Code Chapter 11.20 - Critical Areas
Thurston County, WA Draft Critical Areas Regulations, July 2005
Whatcom County Code Chapter 16.16 - Critical Areas
Yakima County Code Title 16A - Critical Areas.