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Water & Shorelines > Shoreline & coastal management > Shoreline management > State-approved SMP list > Issaquah

City of Issaquah Shoreline Master Program: locally initiated amendment

On May 12, 2025, we approved Issaquah’s locally initiated amendment of their shoreline master program (SMP).

Issaquah’s amended SMP is effective May 26, 2025, 14 days after we provided notice to the City that their SMP was approved.

The locally initiated amendment was adopted by Issaquah City Council on April 21, 2025. It addresses several topics, including:

  • Removing a shoreline buffer reduction incentive and removal of the common line setback exception.
  • Adding a requirement to remove bulkheads as part of new/redevelopment.
  • Increasing the stream buffer/setback from 100 to 150 feet.
  • Creating new dock lighting standards.
  • Alignment of buffer regulations with the updated critical areas regulations

Conditional approval

On February 18, 2025, we provided Issaquah with required and recommended changes to the City’s proposed locally initiated amendment of their SMP. The changes are based on our review of whether or not the proposed amendment complies with state laws and rules, and a public comment period was held Sept. 18, 2023 to Oct. 9, 2023.

We distributed notice of the state comment period via email to state interested parties on Sept. 11, 2023, including separate notice and invitation to consult Government-to-Government to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Suquamish Tribe, and Tulalip Tribes.

One comment letter, from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW), was received during the state comment period. The comment letter focused on SMP goals related to protection of riparian habitat, use allowances, development standards in SEDs, and limiting development in Channel Migration Zones (CMZs). The City did not propose any revisions to the SMP in response to WDFW comments but have incorporated consideration of WDFW’s riparian guidance into their updated CAO, which is incorporated by reference into the SMP as a result of this amendment. After considering the comments received and the City’s responses, we identified required changes, discussed further in Attachment A: Findings and Conclusions (below).

The locally initiated amendment will bring the existing shoreline program into compliance with changes to state law, ensure consistency with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations, and reflect changes in circumstances, new information, and improved data.  Required and recommended changes were sent to the City for their review and response. The City agreed to accept all required and recommended changes.

Documents related to approval

Note: All documents are PDF

Appeals

  • Per RCW 90.58.190(2) and RCW 36.70A.290, an interested party may file an appeal with the Growth Management Hearings Board within 60 days of the publication date of our written notice of final action.
  • We plan to publish the notice of final action in the Seattle Times legal ads on May 26, 2025.

Related links

Contact information

Heather Bush
Regional Shoreline Planner
Heather.Bush@ecy.wa.gov
425-417-6982