Proposed update to shoreline management rules
The Washington Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on several proposed rule changes designed to help local governments more effectively manage shorelines.
Under the 1972 state Shoreline Management Act, Washington’s more than 28,000 miles of stream, lake, and marine shoreline are co-managed by local governments and Ecology through local land-use policies and regulations called shoreline master programs.
Ecology is proposing significant changes to state shoreline management rules, including the following key issues:
- Revised requirements for protecting shoreline areas that frequently flood, are at risk from erosion, and provide important habitat for fish and wildlife
- Revised requirements for shoreline stabilization emphasizing nature-based approaches instead of hard armor structures such as bulkheads
- Clarification of requirements for shoreline permitting, compliance processes, and enforcement authorities
- New requirements cities and counties must follow when they periodically update their shoreline master programs
- Revised vegetation conservation standards and other requirements to protect shoreline ecosystems
- New requirements for local governments to address the impact of sea level rise and increased storm severity in their shoreline master programs
Sea levels are rising along Washington’s coast. Higher coastal water levels will worsen the impact of coastal storms, and exacerbate hazards including flooding, erosion, and groundwater rise. These changes are expected to have significant impacts for coastal communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Ecology is seeking to add new requirements for 65 cities and counties to work in collaboration with the agency to evaluate and plan for future hazards.
For more than two years, Ecology worked with local governments, Tribes, agencies, organizations, and the public to develop draft language for the proposed rules. Ecology anticipates adopting final rule language in March 2027.
Seeking public comments
Ecology will hold a public comment period from September 2, 2026 through November 17, 2026. Comments can be submitted online on our public comment page.
Ecology will conduct five in-person public hearings and one virtual hearing to share information about the draft rules and take comments from the public. For each these events, the open house will begin with a question and answer session at 5 p.m., and then a public hearing starting at 6 p.m. at the following locations:
Thursday, Oct. 15 in Lacey
Lacey Community Center
6729 Pacific Ave SE.
Lacey, WA 98503
Monday, Oct. 19 in Anacortes
Anacortes Public Library
Community Meeting Room
1220 10th St.
Anacortes, WA 98221
Thursday, Oct. 22 virtually on Zoom
Register for the meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 28 in Yakima
Yakima Valley College
Building 38
Kaminski Conference Center
1704 W. Nob Hill Blvd.
Yakima, WA 98902
Thursday, Oct. 29 in Spokane
Spokane Shadle Park Library
Events meeting room
2111 W. Wellesley Ave.
Spokane, WA 99205
Wednesday, Nov. 3 in Des Moines
Highline College
Building 8, Mount Constance/Olympus rooms
2400 S. 240th St.
Des Moines, WA 98198
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