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Hearing Notice: 2024-0408

View information about proposed ordinances.

 

METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Critical Areas Ordinance

Proposed Ordinance 2024-0408

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a public hearing before the Metropolitan King County Council on December 2, 2025, at 1:30 PM to consider adoption of Proposed Ordinance 2024-0408, which is the Critical Areas Ordinance and serves as the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update.  The public hearing will be held at the King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Avenue Room 1001, Seattle; remote public testimony on Zoom will also be accepted.

 

Written public testimony will be accepted from 9 a.m. on October 31, 2025, through 12:00 PM on December 2, 2025, by sending such public testimony to CouncilCompPlan@kingcounty.gov. Please include the legislation number PO 2024-0408 and related agenda item in the subject line. Information on the public hearing and how to submit public testimony can be found at this website:  https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/council/governance-leadership/county-council/useful-links/comprehensive-plan/2025

 

It is expected that the Council will take action on the Proposed Ordinance at the December 2, 2025, meeting.

 

SUMMARY

King County is required to designate critical areas and adopt development regulations to protect critical areas as part of the comprehensive plan review and evaluation required by the Growth Management Act. Review and updates to critical area policies and regulations include provisions to protect public health and safety by limiting development in hazard areas, such as steep slopes and channel migration zones, and to protect environmentally critical areas, including wetlands and aquatic areas.

 

King County Comprehensive Plan policies and development regulations in King County Code that protect critical areas are often referred to as the Critical Areas Ordinance. The Critical Area Ordinance is developed based on best available science (BAS). Under the substantial progress exception in RCW 36.70A.130(7)(a), the county is required to take action no later than December 31, 2025, to complete the associated updates to critical areas regulations.

 

A detailed description of changes is available on the Council's website, under "Public Notices:" https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/council/governance-leadership/county-council/useful-links/comprehensive-plan/2025.

 

FINAL CONSIDERATION

The Council will review the Proposed Ordinances as recommended by the Council’s Local Services and Land Use Committee. Councilmembers may offer amendments to the pieces of legislation for consideration by the Council. As a result, persons interested in any of the issues raised by this proposed ordinance should testify and make their views known at the public hearing on December 2, 2025.  Amendments that may be considered for adoption by the Council include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Updates related to the Best Available Science (BAS) Report
  • Vegetation requirements for wetlands and riparian areas
  • Climate-adaptive plants and use in critical area revegetation
  • Critical area alterations exceptions
  • Critical areas allowed alterations
  • Critical area designations
  • Grading exemptions table
  • Commercial agricultural activities in critical areas
  • Farm management plans
  • Channel migration mapping and reporting
  • Critical area mitigation and monitoring
  • Off-site mitigation and mitigation banking
  • Critical aquifer recharge areas and septic systems
  • Wetland buffers and mitigation ratios
  • King County Flood Management Plan
  • Ordinance effective date

 

For More Information

The complete text of the legislation as transmitted by the Executive, the text of the recommended Local Services and Land Use Committee version, and available conceptual line amendments are at the following website: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/council/governance-leadership/county-council/useful-links/comprehensive-plan/2025. Comments can also be submitted at any time by emailing CouncilCompPlan@kingcounty.gov. These comments will be shared with the Councilmembers prior to or at the December 2, 2025, public hearing.

 

A copy of Proposed Ordinance 2024-0408 is available on the internet at https://kingcounty.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7045329&GUID=B3207DE4-C67D-4EFE-8CEE-D7C01C455B0D&Options=Advanced&Search=

 

You may also view this notice at the Clerk’s webpage at https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/clerk/ordinances_advertised.aspx.

 

Copies of Proposed Ordinance 2024-0408 will be mailed upon request to the Clerk of the Council, email clerk.council@kingcounty.gov or telephone 206-477-1020.

 

DATED at Seattle, Washington, this 31st day of October, 2025.

 

METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

Melani Hay

Clerk of the Council

 

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