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SUBJECTS › ENVIRONMENT › Shoreline Management Act
Updated 07/10

Shoreline Management Act

Contents

Introduction

The Shoreline Management Act was, like SEPA, enacted in 1971, and its purpose is to manage and protect the shorelines of the state by regulating development in the shoreline area. A major goal of the Act is "to prevent the inherent harm in an uncoordinated and piecemeal development of the state's shorelines." Its jurisdiction includes the Pacific Ocean shoreline and the shorelines of Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, rivers, and streams and lakes above a certain size. It also regulates "wetlands" associated with these shorelines. The Shoreline Management Act is found in chapter 90.58 RCW. For an overview of this legislation, see the Department of Ecology's Shoreline Management home page.

The primary responsibility for administering this regulatory program is assigned to local governments. Local governments have done so through the mechanism of shoreline master programs, adopted under rules established by the Department of Ecology (DOE), that establish goals and policies that are implemented through use regulations.  No substantial development is permitted on the state's shoreline unless a permit is obtained from the local jurisdiction.  DOE has adopted new shoreline master program guidelines, chapter 173-26 WAC, which were effective January 17, 2004.  For background regarding the adoption of these new guidelines, see DOE's "Shoreline Master Program Guidelines Home."   Cities and counties are required to update their shoreline master programs to be consistent with the new guidelines according to a schedule adopted under 2003 legislation (SSB 6012).  See also DOE's "Shoreline Master Program Update Schedule" page.

Reference Sources

Shoreline Master Program Updates

Documents - Adopted Shoreline Master Programs

The following have been updated to be consistent with the 2004 Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Guidelines:

For status of all master program updates, see Department of Ecology, Status of Local Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs): Comprehensive Updates (includes links to many documents).