King County Shoreline Master Program: locally initiated amendment
We are seeking public comment on King County’s (County) proposed update to its shoreline master program (SMP). The County comprehensively updated its SMP through Ordinance 16985 in 2010, and they last completed an SMP periodic review amendment in February 2020.
King County now proposes a locally initiated update to its SMP. These updates were adopted by County Council through Ordinances 18810, 19648, and 19820. Broadly, the proposed amendment:
- reflects minor updates and clarification to language and references in the SMP documents.
- modifies the County's comprehensive planning update cycle from a four-year cycle to an eight-year cycle.
- limits shoreline environment redesignations and other map changes that also modify policies of the urban growth boundary to the midpoint or eight-year update.
- incorporates the 2024 King County flood management plan into the regulatory framework of the County SMP.
We will compare the County's proposed program to the requirements of the Shoreline Management Act and the shoreline master program guidelines. Based on the comparison we will decide whether to:
- Approve the program as is.
- Approve with recommended changes.
- Send the proposed program back to the County with required changes to meet statutory and rule requirements. Recommended changes may also be included with the required changes.
Public comment period
Opens: 5 a.m. March 17, 2025
Closes: 5 p.m. April 18, 2025
All interested parties are invited to provide comment during this public comment period. There are several ways to provide comments. You only need to submit your comments once.
Submit written comment and questions to:
Brooke K. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
PO Box 330316
Shoreline, WA 98133-5910
Brooke.Sullivan@ecy.wa.gov
425-570-2028
Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. April 18, 2025.
Documents for public review and comment
Note: all documents are PDF.
- Locally adopted SMP
- Local resolutions adopting the SMP
- Background documents
Paper copies are available for review by appointment at the following location:
Washington Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
15700 Dayton Avenue North
Shoreline, WA 98133--5910
Katarina Wells
Katarina.Wells@ecy.wa.gov
206-406-9931
Next steps: response to public comment and decision
A summary of comments will be posted here a few weeks after the comment period closes. We will also post King County’s response to comments and a notice of our decision when they become available. Please check back.