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King County Comprehensive Plan
About the plan
The central Puget Sound region is growing. Every day in 2019, the region gained 166 people. The Puget Sound Regional Council projects that the region will continue to grow and add another 1.8 million people and 1.2 million jobs by 2050.
The Comprehensive Plan is a key policy document that guides how growth and development will occur over the next 20 years. It guides County decisions and services such as:
- where homes, offices, or stores can be built;
- how roads, buildings and trees contribute to the look and feel of neighborhoods;
- investments in transit, sewers, and parks;
- protection of working farms and forests; and
- access to clean water, clean air, and a healthy environment.
Read a short FAQ about the Comprehensive Plan here.
The 2024 update
King County has started a once-a-decade update to its Comprehensive Plan, which guides where people live, work, and play in unincorporated King County. While this is known as the "2024 Update" the process for developing the plan takes place over two years. Please see the planned timeline below. To ensure that King County will be a welcoming community where every person can thrive, the 2024 update focuses on policies related to racial equity, affordable housing, and climate change. More details about the scope of the update can be found here. There will be many opportunities during the planning process for all county residents and the general public to provide input on the update, until it is adopted by Council in December of 2024.
Critical Areas Ordinance Update
As required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), King County is reviewing and updating the policies and regulations used to protect public health and safety by limiting development in hazard areas, including steep slopes and flood zones, and to protect environmentally critical areas, including wetlands and streams. Regulations in King County Code that protect critical areas are often referred to as the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and are required by the GMA to reflect the latest best available science (BAS).
The County began this review in 2022 and developed draft updates in consultation with Indian tribes, state and federal agencies, and community partners. Key project milestones include:
- Public notice of the potential areas of change was provided in May 2022, June 2022, January 2023, and June 2023 as part of the 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan update (2024 update).
- A progress report that identified considered changes was published in December 2023.
- The draft environmental impact statement for the 2024 update , which included evaluation of potential changes to critical areas regulations, was published in December 2023.
- An initial BAS report and proposed policy and code updates were published in March 2024 (see links to draft proposals below).
- The final environmental impact statement for the 2024 update, which will include evaluation of potential changes to critical areas regulations, will be published in November 2024.
- Public comment opportunities throughout the 2024 update process.
Additional review and refinement of the draft proposals is ongoing, and the County intends to complete the BAS review and updates to critical areas regulations in 2025. Under the reasonable progress exception in RCW 36.70.130(7)(b), the County has until December 2025 to complete this work. There will be additional opportunities for public input in 2025.
March 2024 Draft Critical Areas Update
Critical Areas King County Code Updates - Supplemental Changes to Proposed Ordinance 2023-0440 (1.9 MB)
Supporting documents
Transmittal Letter (123 KB)
Best Available Science Review and Updates to Critical Areas Protection, February 2024 (3.8 KB)
Summary of Proposed Critical Areas Update (136 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions (138 KB)
Supplemental I-207 Analysis – Critical Areas Update (290 KB)
Executive Recommended 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan
Throughout 2022-2023, the Executive asked for input and shared drafts of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, a 20-year plan that guides where people live, work, and play in unincorporated communities (places outside of city limits). In December 2023, the Executive Recommended Plan was submitted to the King County Council. Read the proposals below to learn more about the specific actions King County is considering to address social equity, affordable housing, and climate change in our region.
To provide input to the Council on the proposals, send an email to CouncilCompPlan@kingcounty.gov. Additional opportunities for public input will occur throughout 2024 with the Council. Learn more here.
Executive Recommended 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan
Proposed Ordinance (King County Code amendments) (2.3 MB)
2024 King County Comprehensive Plan (Attachment A) (20.7 MB)
Appendix A – Capital Facilities and Utilities (Attachment B) (27.2 MB)
Appendix B – Housing Needs Assessment (Attachment C) (17.6 MB)
Appendix C – Transportation (Attachment D) (3.7 MB)
Appendix C1 – Transportation Needs Report (Attachment E) (29.2 MB)
Appendix C2 – Regional Trail Needs Report (Attachment F) (3.3 MB)
Appendix D1 – Growth Targets and the Urban Growth Area (Attachment G) (405 KB)
Vashon-Maury Island Community Service Area Subarea Plan Amendments (Attachment H) (156 KB)
Land Use and Zoning Map Amendments (Attachment I) (68.6 MB)
Snoqualmie Valley/Northeast King County Community Service Area Subarea Plan
Supporting documents
Transmittal Letter (123 KB)
Fiscal Note (103 KB)
Public Notice of Intent to Amend (126 KB)
Summary of Comprehensive Plan policy amendments (I-207 Analysis) (5.5 MB)
Summary of Proposed Ordinance (King County Code amendments) (647 KB)
Equity Analysis (11.2 MB)
Public Participation Summary (733 KB)
Area Zoning and Land Use Studies:
Black Diamond Fire Station (1.7 MB)
Carnation Urban Growth Area Exchange (4.1 MB)
Kent Pet Cemetery (1.5 MB)
Maple Valley Industrial (1.9 MB)
Snoqualmie Interchange (1.5 MB)
Sustainable Communities and Housing Projects Demonstration Project (215 KB)
Reports:
Middle Housing Code Study (283 MB)
Vashon-Maury Island P-Suffix Conditions Report (6 MB)
Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay Final Evaluation (543 KB)
Update on Best Available Science and Critical Areas Ordinance Review (168 KB)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (25.5 MB)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Review
King County has issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 2024 Update. Read the draft here.
Between December 7, 2023 and January 31, 2024, the County provided a public comment period. Over a dozen comments were submitted and these are compiled in a DEIS Public Comments Report. Consistent with state requirements for environmental review, the comments and responses will be published in the Final EIS which is scheduled to be released in November 2024 in advance of the County Council’s adoption of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update.
Comments? Suggestions?
Please feel free to contact us with any comments, questions or requests. Regional Planning staff are looking forward to hearing from you.
For input on or inquiries about the 2024 Update, send an email to: CouncilCompPlan@kingcounty.gov
For inquiries about the current Comprehensive Plan, send an email to: CompPlan@kingcounty.gov
Sign up for the Comprehensive Planning Newsletter.
Public Review Draft of the 2024 Update
In June and July 2023, King County shared a draft of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, a 20-year plan that guides where people live, work, and play in unincorporated communities (places outside of city limits). Read the proposals below to learn more about the specific actions King County is considering to address social equity, affordable housing, and climate change in our region.
The comment period on the Public Review Draft is now closed. The Executive is currently reviewing the public input, which will inform the final the Executive Recommended Plan that will be submitted the King County Council in December 2023. Additional opportunities for public input will occur throughout 2024.
Translated Public Review Draft summaries
English Public Review Draft Summary
Spanish Public Review Draft Summary
Cambodian Public Review Draft Summary
Chinese Public Review Draft Summary
Korean Public Review Draft Summary
Russian Public Review Draft Summary
Samoan Public Review Draft Summary
Somali Public Review Draft Summary
Vietnamese Public Review Draft Summary
2024 King County Public Review Draft documents
2024 King County Comprehensive Plan
Appendix A - Capital Facilities and Utilities
Appendix B - Housing Needs Assessment
Appendix C1 - Transportation Needs Report
Appendix C2 - Regional Trail Needs Report
Appendix D - Growth Targets and the Urban Growth Area
Snoqualmie Valley/NE King County Community Service Area Subarea Plan
Vashon-Maury Island Community Service Area Subarea Plan Amendments
Land Use and Zoning Map Amendments
Proposed Ordinance with King County Code Amendments
Supplemental Changes - Four-to-One Program
Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC) Motion 23-3
Countywide Planning Policy Amendments
Other supporting documents
Public Notice of Intent to Amend
Equity Impact Review Current Conditions Analysis
Summary of Snoqualmie Valley/Northeast King County Subarea Plan public review draft
Area zoning and land use studies
Black Diamond Urban Growth Area
Carnation Urban Growth Area Exchange
Reports
Final Environmental Impact Statement
King County has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the 2024 Update. Read the FEIS here.
Project milestones
- Jan to Jun 2022: King County Executive staff begin the Comprehensive Plan update process.
- Jul 2022 to Mid 2023: King County Executive develops and releases draft Comprehensive Plan.
- Mid 2023 to Dec 2023: King County Executive staff edit the draft plan based on community input and transmit an Executive Recommended plan with a draft State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the King County Council for review and approval.
- Jan to Dec 2024: The King County Council reviews, amends, and adopts the final Comprehensive Plan. Final EIS is issued.
- Dec 2024: King County Executive staff transmit Executive Recommended amendments to critical areas regulations to the King County Council for review and approval.
- 2025: The King County Council reviews, amends, and adopts amendments to critical areas regulations.
FAQs
Why does King County have a Comprehensive Plan?
In 1990, the Washington state legislature enacted the Growth Management Act (GMA) in response to rapid and uncoordinated growth at the time. In addition to aligning state, multi-county, countywide, and local planning, the GMA requires local governments in fast-growing and densely populated areas to develop and adopt comprehensive plans. King County’s planning role is complex in that it is responsible for regional services and is also the local government to unincorporated areas. Thus, King County’s Comprehensive Plan offers a vision for how unincorporated areas will grow and how regional services – such as transit, parks and solid waste – will be provided.
The policies throughout the plan support good planning principles such as directing new homes and jobs to areas near current and planned transit centers. Another is that rural and resource lands are protected through an urban growth boundary, which allows our region to keep working farms and forests.
What is an unincorporated area?
Unincorporated areas are areas outside of city limits. If you live or do business in neighborhoods such as Skyway, White Center, Vashon-Maury Island, or Redmond Ridge, King County is your main provider of local government services.
Here are two ways to find out if you are located in an unincorporated area:
- Find or enter your address on this map. The green layer shows unincorporated King County.
- Enter your address in King County’s Parcel Viewer and see what’s listed as the jurisdiction.
What does the comprehensive plan say about the future of my community?
The land use map in the Comprehensive Plan shows the general types of planned, long-term uses allowed on each parcel of land. This informs the zoning category applied to each parcel, which sets more specific, current allowed uses and associated development regulations. You can search for a parcel's land use and zoning here. The plan also includes policies about specific topics, such as housing or parks, which are grouped in the plan by chapter.
Who is responsible for developing and approving the Comprehensive Plan?
In The King County Executive is responsible for developing the Comprehensive Plan and sending it to the King County Council for final review and approval. When developing the Comprehensive Plan, the Executive works in coordination with regional and local jurisdictional partners and the public. Public input is welcome throughout the process and there are many opportunities to submit comments and make requests. The Executive considers all comments in developing the Executive Recommended Plan. The King County Council reviews the plan, proposes amendments, and votes on whether to adopt the final version.
How often is the plan updated?
There are three types of updates: technical adjustments, limited updates, and major updates.
- Every year, there is an opportunity to make technical adjustments to the plan and minor changes to land use designations and zoning classifications.
- Once every five years, a limited range of substantive changes can be considered. At this time, the county also conducts a study of how much of the predicted growth has happened and evaluates policies to see if they are effective at accommodating it. The next possible five-year update would be in 2029.
- Finally, at least once every ten years, King County is required to review and update the plan to ensure compliance with the goals and requirements of the GMA. These updates are also an opportunity to make in-depth and broad ranging policy changes that address changes in the community's growth and long-term needs, while advancing the County's policy goals.
How do I submit changes, make recommendations or stay involved?
- To submit specific policy recommendations or changes to land use and zoning, please use the docket application process
- If you have general comments or suggestions for a current plan update (such as the 2024 update), please submit feedback to CompPlan@kingcounty.gov
- King County planning staff are available to meet with community groups and other interested parties. Please submit requests to CompPlan@kingcounty.gov
- Sign up for news about plan updates and Comprehensive Plan topics by joining our mailing list.