Laws, rules, & rulemaking

The list of closed rulemaking below are organized by topic. These links will take you to rule-specific information including documents, timelines, and contact information. Closed rulemaking web pages are typically kept for reference for two years after the adoption date.

• Air & Climate
• Water & Shorelines
• Waste & Toxics
• Spills & Cleanup
• Grants & Loans
• Administrative
• SEPA

Air & Climate

• Adopted 3/3/23 – Chapter 173-455 WAC – Air Quality Fee Rule
• Adopted 12/19/22 – Chapter 173-423 WAC – Clean Vehicles Program and Chapter 173-400 WAC – General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources
• Adopted 11/28/22 – Chapter 173-424 WAC – Clean Fuels Program Rule and Chapter 173-455 WAC – Air Quality Fee Rule
• Adopted 9/29/22 – Chapter 173-446 WAC – Climate Commitment Act Program
• Adopted 6/1/22 – Chapter 173-446A WAC – Criteria for Emissions-Intensive, Trade-Exposed Industries
• Adopted 2/9/22 – Chapter 173-441 WAC – Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases
• Adopted 11/29/21 – Chapter 173-423 WAC – Low Emission Vehicles and WAC 173-400-025 – Adoption of federal rules in General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources
• Withdrawn 8/19/2021 – Chapter 173-491 WAC – Emission Standards and Controls for Sources Emitting Gasoline Gas Vapors, and Chapters 173-400 and 173-455 WAC
• Adopted repeal 6/2/2021 – Chapters 173-422 and 173-422A WAC – Motor Vehicle Emission Inspection
• Adopted 1/6/2021 – Chapter 173-444 WAC – Clean Energy Transformation Rule
• Adopted 12/10/20 – Chapter 173-443 WAC – Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• Adopted 9/15/16 – Chapter 173-442 WAC, Clean Air Rule and Chapter 173-441 WAC, Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases

​​Water & Shorelines

• Adopted 3/22/22 – Chapter 173-201A WAC – Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (salmon spawning habitat)
• Adopted 9/17/21 – Chapter 173-201A WAC – Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (Chelan Use Attainability Analysis)
• Adopted 7/28/21 – Chapter 173-167 WAC – Emergency Drought Funding
• Adopted 6/22/21 – Chapter 173-224 WAC – Water Quality Permit Fees
• Adopted 5/27/20 – Chapter 173-501 WAC –  Instream Resources Protection Program - Nooksack Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 1
• Adopted 12/30/19 – Chapter 173-201A WAC – Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (revisions)
• Adopted 4/9/18 – Chapter 173-228 WAC – Vessel Sewage No Discharge Zones
• Adopted 8/1/2016 – Chapter 173-201A WAC – Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of The State of Washington

​Waste & Toxics

• Adopted 9/30/20 – Chapter 173-303 WAC – Dangerous Waste Regulations

Spills & Cleanup

• Adopted 2/2/21 – Chapter 173-185 WAC – Oil Movement by Rail and Pipeline Notification

Grants & Loans

• None

Administrative​

• Adopted repeal 6/25/21 – Chapter 173-04 WAC – Practice and Procedures​

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

• Adopted 12/20/22 – Chapter 197-11 WAC – SEPA Rules

The list of rules below are categorized by topical areas. These links will take you to the existing rule language on the Washington State Legislature's Code Reviser's web page.

• Air & Climate
• Water & Shorelines
• Waste & Toxics
• Spills & Cleanup
• Grants & Loans
• Administrative
• Noise
• State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Air & Climate

• Chapter 173-400 WAC – General Regulation for Air Pollution Sources
• Chapter 173-401 WAC – Operating Permit Regulation
• Chapter 173-405 WAC – Kraft Pulping Mills
• Chapter 173-406 WAC – Acid Rain Regulation
• Chapter 173-407 WAC – Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Requirements and Emissions Performance Standard for Power Plants  
• Chapter 173-410 WAC – Sulfite Pulping Mills
• Chapter 173-415 WAC – Primary Aluminum Plants
• Chapter 173-420 WAC – Conformity of Transportation Activities to Air Quality Implementation Plans
• Chapter 173-421 WAC – Motor Vehicle Emission Control Systems
• Chapter 173-423 WAC – Clean Vehicles Program
• Chapter 173-424 WAC – Clean Fuels Program Rule
• Chapter 173-425 WAC – Outdoor Burning
• Chapter 173-430 WAC – Agricultural Burning
• Chapter 173-433 WAC – Solid Fuel Burning Devices
• Chapter 173-434 WAC – Solid Waste Incinerator Facilities
• Chapter 173-435 WAC – Emergency Episode Plan
• Chapter 173-441 WAC – Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases
• Chapter 173-442 WAC – Clean Air Rule
• Chapter 173-443 WAC – Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• Chapter 173-444 WAC – Clean Energy Transformation Rule
• Chapter 173-455 WAC – Air Quality Fee Rule
• Chapter 173-460 WAC – Controls for New Sources of Toxic Air Pollutants
• Chapter 173-446 WAC – Climate Commitment Act Program
• Chapter 173-446A WAC – Criteria for Emissions-Intensive, Trade-Exposed Industries
• Chapter 173-476 WAC – Ambient Air Quality Standards
• Chapter 173-480 WAC – Ambient Air Quality Standards and Emission Limits for Radionuclides
• Chapter 173-481 WAC – Ambient Air Quality and Environmental Standards for Fluorides
• Chapter 173–485 WAC – Petroleum Refinery Greenhouse Gas Emission Requirements
• Chapter 173-490 WAC – Emission Standards and Controls for Sources Emitting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
• Chapter 173-491 WAC – Emission Standards and Controls for Sources Emitting Gasoline Vapors
• Chapter 173-492 WAC – Motor Fuel Specifications for Oxygenated Gasoline
• Chapter 173-495 WAC – Weather Modification

​Water & Shorelines

• Chapter 173-15 WAC – Permits for Oil or Natural Gas Exploration Activities Conducted from State Marine Waters
• Chapter 173-18 WAC – Shoreline Management Act – Streams and Rivers Constituting Shorelines of the State
• Chapter 173-20 WAC – Shoreline Management Act – Lakes Constituting Shorelines of the State
• Chapter 173-22 WAC – Adoption of Designations of Shorelands and Wetlands Associated with Shorelines of the State
• Chapter 173-26 WAC – State Master Program Approval\Amendment Procedures and Master Program Guidelines
• Chapter 173-27 WAC – Shoreline Management Permit and Enforcement Procedures
• Chapter 173-100 WAC – Ground Water Management Areas and Programs
• Chapter 173-124 WAC – Quincy Groundwater Management Subarea and Zones
• Chapter 173-128A WAC – Odessa Groundwater Management Subarea
• Chapter 173-130A WAC – Odessa Groundwater Subarea Management Policy
• Chapter 173-132 WAC – Duck Lake Groundwater Management Subarea
• Chapter 173-134A WAC – Quincy Groundwater Subarea Management Policy
• Chapter 173-136 WAC – The Establishment of a System of Authorizing the Withdrawal of Artificially Stored Groundwaters Embodied in an Approved Declaration under RCW 90.44.130 Which are Commingled with Public Groundwaters in Groundwater Areas, Subareas, and Zones Established under 90.44.130.
• Chapter 173-145 WAC – Administration of the Flood Control Assistance Account Program
• Chapter 173-150 WAC – Protection of Withdrawal Facilities Associated with Groundwater Rights
• Chapter 173-152 WAC – Water Rights
• Chapter 173-153 WAC – Water Conservancy Boards
• Chapter 173-154 WAC – Protection of Upper Aquifer Zones
• Chapter 173-157 WAC – Underground Artificial Storage and Recovery
• Chapter 173-158 WAC – Flood Plain Management
• Chapter 173-160 WAC – Minimum Standards for Construction and Maintenance of Wells
• Chapter 173-162 WAC – Regulation and Licensing of Well Contractors and Operators
• Chapter 173-165 WAC – Certified Water Right Examiners
• Chapter 173-166 WAC – Emergency Drought Relief
• Chapter 173-170 WAC – Agricultural Water Supply Facilities
• Chapter 173-173 WAC – Requirements for Measuring and Reporting Water Use
• Chapter 173-175 WAC – Dam Safety
• Chapter 173-200 WAC – Water Quality Standards for Groundwaters of the State of Washington
• Chapter 173-201A WAC – Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (Recreational Use Criteria) 
• Chapter 173-204 WAC – Sediment Management Standards
• Chapter 173-205 WAC – Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing and Limits
• Chapter 173-208 WAC – Grant of Authority Sewerage Systems
• Chapter 173-216 WAC – State Waste Discharge Permit Program
• Chapter 173-218 WAC – Underground Injection Control Program
• Chapter 173-219 WAC – Reclaimed Water
• Chapter 173-220 WAC – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program
• Chapter 173-221 WAC – Discharge Standards and Effluent Limitations for Domestic Wastewater Facilities
• Chapter 173-221A WAC – Wastewater Discharge Standards and Effluent Limitations
• Chapter 173-224 WAC – Water Quality Permit Fees 
• Chapter 173-225 WAC – Federal Water Pollution Control Act – Establishment of Implementation Procedures of Application for Certification
• Chapter 173-226 WAC – Waste Discharge General Permit Program
• Chapter 173-228 WAC – Vessel Sewage No Discharge Zones
• Chapter 173-230 WAC – Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Chapter 173-240 WAC – Submission of Plans and Reports for Construction of Wastewater Facilities
• Chapter 173-245 WAC – Submission of Plans and Reports for Construction and Operation of Combined Sewer Overflow Reduction Facilities
• Chapter 173-270 WAC – Puget Sound Highway Runoff Program
• Chapter 173-500 WAC – Water Resources Management Program Established Pursuant to the Water Resources Act of 1971
• Chapter 173-501 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program Nooksack River Basin – WRIA 1
• Chapter 173-503 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Lower and Upper Skagit WRIAs 3 and 4
• Chapter 173-505 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Stillaguamish River Basin – WRIA 5
• Chapter 173-507 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Snohomish River Basin – WRIA 7
• Chapter 173-508 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Cedar-Sammamish Basin – WRIA 8
• Chapter 173-509 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Green-Duwamish River Basin- WRIA 9
• Chapter 173-510 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Puyallup River Basin – WRIA 10
• Chapter 173-511 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Nisqually River Basin – WRIA 11
• Chapter 173-512 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Chambers-Clover Creek Basin – WRIA 12
• Chapter 173-513 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program Deschutes River Basin – WRIA 13
• Chapter 173-514 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Kennedy-Goldsbourgh Basin – WRIA 14
• Chapter 173-515 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Kitsap – WRIA 15
• Chapter 173-517 WAC – Water Resources Management Program for the Quilcene-Snow Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA 17)
• Chapter 173-518 WAC – Water Resources Management Program for the Dungeness Portion of the Elwha-Dungeness Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA) 18
• Chapter 173-522 WAC – Water Resources Program in the Chehalis River Basin, WRIA-22 and 23
• Chapter 173-527 WAC – Water Resources Management Program for the Lewis Basin – WRIA 27
• Chapter 173-528 WAC – Water Resources Program for the Salmon-Washougal Basin, – WRIA 28
• Chapter 173-531A WAC – Water Resources Program for John Day-McNary Pools Reach of the Columbia River – WRIA 31 and Parts of 32, 33, 36, 37
• Chapter 173-532 WAC – Water Resources Program for the Walla Walla River Basin, WRIA-32
• Chapter 173-539A WAC – Upper Kittitas Groundwater Rule
• Chapter 173-545 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Wenatchee River Basin – WRIA 45
• Chapter 173-546 WAC - Water Resources Management Program – Entiat River Basin – WRIA 46
• Chapter 173-548 WAC – Water Resources Program in the Methow River Basin – WRIA 48
• Chapter 173-549 WAC – Water Resources Program in the Okanogan River Basin – WRIA 49
• Chapter 173-555 WAC – Water Resources Program in the Little Spokane River Basin – WRIA 55
• Chapter 173-557 WAC – Spokane River and Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer
• Chapter 173-559 WAC – Water Resources Program for the Colville River Basin, WRIA-59
• Chapter 173-563 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program for the Main Stem Columbia River in Washington State
• Chapter 173-564 WAC – Water Resources Management Program for the Main Stem of the Snake River in Washington State
• Chapter 173-590 WAC – Procedures Relating to the Reservation of Water for Future Public Water Supply
• Chapter 173-591 WAC – Reservation of Future Public Water Supply for Thurston County
• Chapter 173-700 WAC – Wetland Mitigation Banks
• Chapter 372-36 WAC – Columbia Basin Irrigation Area – Sewage and Waste
• Chapter 372-52 WAC – Water Districts Requests for Approvals and Certifications of Necessity to Operate Sewer Districts
• Chapter 372-68 WAC – Water Pollution Control and Abatement Plans for Sewage Drainage Basins
• Chapter 508-12 WAC – Administration of Surface and Groundwater Codes
• Chapter 508-14 WAC – Columbia Basin Project – Groundwaters

Waste & Toxics

• Chapter 173-44 WAC – Fees – Radioactive Waste Management Facilities
• Chapter 173-300 WAC – Certification of Operators of Solid Waste Incinerator and Landfill Facilities
• Chapter 173-303 WAC – Dangerous Waste Regulations
• Chapter 173-304 WAC – Minimum Functional Standards for Solid Waste Handling
• Chapter 173-305 WAC – Hazardous Waste Fee Regulation
• Chapter 173-306 WAC – Special Incinerator Ash Management Standards
• Chapter 173-307 WAC – Pollution Prevention Plans
• Chapter 173-308 WAC – Biosolids Management
• Chapter 173-310 WAC – Litter Receptacles
• Chapter 173-328 WAC – Mixed Waste Management Fees
• Chapter 173-331 WAC – Vehicle Battery Recycling
• Chapter 173-333 WAC – Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins
• Chapter 173-334 WAC – Children’s Safe Products – Reporting Rule
• Chapter 173-345 WAC – Recyclable Materials – Transporter and Facility Requirements
• Chapter 173-350 WAC – Solid Waste Handling Standards
• Chapter 173-351 WAC – Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
• Chapter 173-900 WAC – Electronic Products Recycling Program
• Chapter 173-901 WAC – Better Brakes 
• Chapter 173-910 WAC – Mercury-containing Lights Product Stewardship Program

Spills & Cleanup

• Chapter 173-180 WAC – Facility Oil Handling Standards
• Chapter 173-182 WAC – Oil Spill Contingency Plan
• Chapter 173-183 WAC – Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment
• Chapter 173-184 WAC – Vessel Oil Transfer Advance Notice and Containment Requirements
• Chapter 173-185 WAC  – Oil Movement by Rail and Pipeline Notification
• Chapter 173-186 WAC – Oil Spill Contingency Plan – Railroad
• Chapter 173-204 WAC – Sediment Management Standards
• Chapter 173-340 WAC – Model Toxics Control Act – Cleanup
• Chapter 173-342 WAC – Additional Taxable Hazardous Substance List
• Chapter 173-360 WAC – Underground Storage Tank Regulations
• Chapter 317-05 WAC – Definitions [Office of Marine Safety]
• Chapter 317-31 WAC – Cargo and Passenger Vessels – Substantial Risk
• Chapter 317-40 WAC – Bunkering Operations
• Chapter 317-50 WAC – Financial Responsibility for Small Tank Barges and Oil Spill Response Barges

Grants & Loans

• Chapter 173-80 WAC – Limitations on use of Referendum 39 Grant Funds for Water Pollution Abatement
• Chapter 173-95A WAC – Uses and Limitations of the Centennial Clean Water Program 
• Chapter 173-98 WAC – Uses and Limitations of the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund 
• Chapter 173-255 WAC – Limitations on Use of Referendum 26 Grant Funds for Water Pollution Abatement
• Chapter 173-312 WAC – Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance
• Chapter 173-321 WAC – Public Participation Grants
• Chapter 173-323 WAC –  Grants and Loans
• Chapter 173-322A WAC – Remedial Action Grants and Loans
• Chapter 173-450 WAC – Establishing Requirements for the Receipt of Financial Aid

Administrative

• Chapter 173-03 WAC – Public Records
• Chapter 173-06 WAC – Delegation of Powers
• Chapter 173-40 WAC – Pollution Disclosure
• Chapter 173-50 WAC – Accreditation of Environmental Laboratories

Noise

• Chapter 173-58 WAC -  Sound Level Measurement Procedures
• Chapter 173-60 WAC - Maximum Environmental Noise Levels
• Chapter 173-62 WAC - Motor Vehicle Noise Performance Standards

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

• Chapter 173-802 WAC – SEPA Procedures
• Chapter 197-11 WAC – SEPA Rules

​The Office of the Code Reviser publishes and maintains the list of Washington's laws — the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). To see a complete list of laws, please visit their website.

• If you want to search all laws (RCWs) and rules, known formally as the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), you can use the search tool on their site.