SUBJECTS › ENVIRONMENT
› Critical Areas, Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Updated 4/09
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. MRSC's Web page on GMA Plan/Development Regulations Updates provides additional information on the schedule and required updates.
Critical Areas Updates
- Bellevue Critical Areas Update - Adopted June 2006
- Clark County Critical Areas Update
- Everett Critical Areas Regulations - Links to new critical areas ordinance (adopted 2006) and maps
- Kitsap County Critical Areas Ordinance
- Normandy Park Critical Areas Ordinance Update
- Redmond Critical Areas Ordinance - Updated May 2005
- Renton Critical Areas Ordinance Regulations - Adopted 2004
- Seattle Department of Planning and Development Environmentally Critical Areas Update - Adopted May 2006
- Thurston County Critical Areas Update
- Walla Walla Critical Areas Update
- Whatcom County Critical Areas Ordinance
- Yakima County Critical Areas Ordinance and Shoreline Master Program Updates - Includes background on shoreline master program and critical areas 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.
- Critical Areas Ordinance Guidebook for Small Cities, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, February 2007. Links to guidebook, appendices, and other useful information on critical areas and best available science.
- 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 Commerce, Growth Management Services.
- Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Priority Habitats & Species - List of Priority Habitats & Species, including county-specific list, management recommendations, etc.
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 Commerce, Growth Management Services, March 2002.
- Best Available Science for Wetlands, Department of Ecology
- Local Government Documents
- Bainbridge Island
- Bainbridge Island, Geologically Hazardous Areas, Summary of Impacts of Best Available Science - Geologically Hazards Areas
- Bainbridge Island Nearshore Assessment Best Available Science
- Bainbridge Island Shoreline Critical Areas Best Available Science Consistency Review, by Peter Namtvedt Best, Steve Morse, and Josh Machen
- Black Diamond Sensitive Areas Ordinance Best Available Science Review and Recommendations for Code Update, Parametrix, Sept. 2008
- Bremerton Critical Areas Ordinance Best Available Science References
- Ellensburg Critical Areas Ordinance Best Available Science Report, Golder Associates, Oct. 2007
- Issaquah Best Available Science Report Draft (
235 KB), Planning Department 2004
- Bellevue 2005 BAS Revuew - Streams and Riparian Areas, Herrera Environmental Consultants, March 2005
- Edmonds 2004 Best Available Science Report, Draft ( 261.8 KB) Prepared by EDAW, Nov. 2004
- Jefferson County Review of Best Available Science for 2004 Comprehensive Plan
and Development Regulations Update (172 KB) Sept. 2004
- King County Best Available Science - Links to reports
- Kitsap County Critical Areas Ordinance Revision and Best Available Science Review and Kitsap County Best Available Science Technical Review Committee
- 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., Feb. 2005
- Yakima County Review of Best Available Science for Inclusion in Critical Areas Ordinance Update, Oct. 2006.
- Bainbridge Island
City Ordinance Provisions
- Anacortes Ordinance No. 2702, 2005 (564 KB)
- Bainbridge Island Municipal Code Ch. 16.20 - Critical Areas
- Bainbridge Island Marine Critical Areas
- Bellingham Municipal Code Ch. 16.55 - Critical Areas
- Bothell Municipal Code Ch. 14.04 – Critical Areas Regulations
- Bremerton Municipal Code Ch. 20.14 – Critical Areas*
- Cashmere Ordinance No. 1020* (288 KB) Sept. 2002
- Cheney Municipal Code Ch. 21.70 - Conservation of Critical Areas*
- Edgewood Municipal Code Title 14 - Critical Areas Regulations* (3.3 MB)
- Edmonds Final Critical Areas Ordinance, 2004
- Index Critical Areas Ordinance No. 361,* 2002 (
)
- Kent Municipal Code Ch. 11.06 - Critical Areas
- Mill Creek Ordinance No. 2004-603 - Critical Areas ( 549 KB)
- Mount Vernon Ordinance No. 3353 - Critical Areas ( 4 MB) 2007
- Mukilteo Municipal Code Ch. 17.52 – Critical Areas*
- Olympia Municipal Code Ch. 18.32 - Critical Areas
- Pullman Ordinance No. 03-18* ()
- Port Townsend Municipal Code Ch. 19.05 - Critical Areas
- Redmond Ordinance No. 2259 ( 1.22 MB) May 2005
- Sammamish Critical Areas
- Shoreline Critical Areas Ordinance Ch. 20.80 ()
- Stanwood Ordinance No. 1164 (867 KB) - Critical Areas, 2004
- Steilacoom Ordinance No. 1380 (494 KB) - Critical Areas, 2004
- Sumner Ordinance No. 2071* 2003
- Vancouver Ordinance No. M-3692 (662 KB) - Critical Areas
- Yakima 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 Critical Areas
- King County Critical Areas, Stormwater, and Clearing and Grading Ordinances
- King County Code Chapter 21A.24 - Critical Areas and Critical Areas Ordinance No. 15051 ( 679 KB)
- Lewis County Code Chapter 17.35A - Critical Areas
- Okanogan County Code Chapter 14.12 - Critical Areas
- Pacific County Critical Areas and Resource Lands Ordinance (151 KB) 1999
- 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 Draft Critical Areas Regulations, July 2005
- Whatcom County Code Chapter 16.16 - Critical Areas
- Yakima County Code Title 16A - Critical Areas.
*Local example recommended by Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Growth Management Services.
Other Ordinance Provisions
- King County Model Critical Areas Ordinance for Snoqualmie Watershed Cities, July 2004.
Application Forms and Handouts
- Burien Critical Area Review Application ()
- Edmonds Critical Areas Checklist ( 90 KB)
- Kent Critical Areas Reasonable Use Variance Application ()
- Lynnwood Critical Areas Permit Application ()
- Snohomish County Critical Areas Regulations for Residential Projects, Bulletin 15 ()
- Wahkiakum County Critical Areas and Resource Lands Assessment Application ()
- Woodinville Critical Area Information ().