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Water & Shorelines > Shoreline & coasts > Shoreline management > State-approved SMP list > King County

King County Shoreline Master Program: locally initiated amendment

Public comment requested - Aug. 24 - Sept. 25, 2026, at 5 p.m.

We are seeking public comment on King County's proposed update to its shoreline master program (SMP).

King County is proposing to amend their Shoreline Master Program, consistent with two recently adopted Ordinances (19881 and 20024) related to Council approved updates to the King County Comprehensive Plan and associated critical areas ordinances. Most of the SMP sections, including substantial updates to critical areas protections are affected by this amendment request, including:

Ordinance 19881 - sections 44, 48, 270, 272-280 adds one new section of code (K.C.C. 21A.25.272) and amends the following sections, and Chapter 6 of the 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan:

  • K.C.C. 20.12.200 Shoreline master program
  • K.C.C. 20.18.056 Shoreline environment redesignation
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.386 Wildlife habitat networks
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.382 Wildlife habitat conservation areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.050 Shoreline jurisdiction delineated
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.100 Shoreline use
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.110 Aquaculture
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.140 Public access
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.160 Shoreline modification
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.170 Shoreline stabilization
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.180 Dock, pier, moorage pile or buoy, float or launching facility
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.220  Shoreline dimensions and density

Ordinance 20024 - sections 49, 50, 52.A., B.2., C.2., D., and E., 60-63, 66-68, 70-73, 81-90, 92-93, 95-100 adds three new sections of code (K.C.C. 21A.24.183 [Revegetation in critical areas and critical areas buffers], K.C.C. 21A.24.292 [Alluvial Fan Hazard Areas], and K.C.C. 21A.24.295 [Tsunami Hazard Areas])  and amends the following code:

  • K.C.C. 21A.24.045 Allowed alterations
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.051  Agricultural activities development standards
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.070  Alteration exception
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.125  Avoiding impacts to critical areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.130  Mitigation and monitoring
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.133 Off-site mitigation
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.200  Building setbacks
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.275  Channel migration zones
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.280  Landslide hazard areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.290 Seismic hazard areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.310  Steep slopes hazard areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.316  Critical aquifer recharge areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.318  Wetlands
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.325  Wetlands
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.335 Wetlands
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.340 Wetlands
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.355 Aquatic areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.358 Aquatic areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.365 Aquatic areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.380 Aquatic areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.382 Wildlife habitat conservation areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.386 Wildlife habitat networks
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.388 Wildlife habitat conservation areas and networks
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.100  Shoreline use
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.110 Aquaculture
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.150 Recreational development
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.160 Shoreline modification
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.190 Excavation, dredging, dredged material disposal and filling
  • K.C.C. 21A.25.210 Expansion of a dwelling unit or residential accessory structure

Ordinance 20024 section 105 (B-I) also repeals several sections of code in the SMP, including:

  • K.C.C. 21A.06.628 Impoundment
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.055 Rural stewardship plans
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.072 Alteration exception - alternative
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.137 Approval of mitigation through mitigation reserves program
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.140  Financial guarantees
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.314  Critical aquifer recharge areas
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.342  Wetlands
  • K.C.C. 21A.24.550  Consolidated site review for single-family residential development 

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: Aug. 24, 2026
Closes: Sept. 25, 2026, at 5 p.m.

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 comments and questions to:

Brooke Sullivan, PhD
Washington Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
15700 Dayton Avenue North
Shoreline, WA 98177
Brooke.Sullivan@ecy.wa.gov
425-570-2028

Comments must be received no later than Sept. 25, 2026, at 5 p.m.

Documents for public comment

Paper copies are available for review, by appointment, at the following locations:

Katarina Wells
Washington Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
15700 Dayton Avenue North
Shoreline, WA 98177
Katarina.Wells@ecy.wa.gov
206-406-9931

Jenny Ngo
King County Courthouse
516 Third Avenue, room 1200
Seattle, WA 98104-3272
Jenny.Ngo@kingcounty.gov
206-263-2115

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.

Related links

Contact information

Brooke K. Sullivan, PdD
Regional Planner
Brooke.Sullivan@ecy.wa.gov
425-570-2028