Title: MRSC - Growth Management Act
Headings: Growth Management Act
Growth Management Act
Overview
GMA Goals
( RCW 36.70A.020)
Who is Required to Plan Under GMA?
Natural Resource Lands and Critical Areas
Comprehensive Plans
Mandatory Comp Plan Elements
( RCW 36.70A.070)
Optional Comp Plan Elements
Urban Growth Areas and Accommodating Future Growth
Growth Management Hearings Board
Recommended Resources

Content: Who is Required to Plan Under GMA? Click for higher resolution
Based on the requirements in RCW 36.70A.040, 18 counties, and all the cities and towns within them, are required to "fully plan" under the GMA. An additional 11 counties have opted to fully plan, although one of those (Ferry County) is in the process of opting out under EHB 1224 (2014), which gave counties under 20,000 population the option to opt out by December 31, 2015. The remaining 28 "fully planning" counties make up about 95 percent of the state's population. The other 11 counties (including Ferry County once the opt-out process is complete) must plan for critical areas and natural resource land only under the GMA. Natural Resource Lands and Critical Areas
Under the GMA, all cities and counties - even if they are not subject to comprehensive planning - are directed to designate natural resource lands (including those related to forestry, agriculture, fisheries, and mining) and identify steps to preserve them. For more information, see the Department of Commerce's Natural Resource Lands webpage. In addition, all cities and counties in Washington are also required to adopt critical areas regulations. As defined in RCW 36.70A.030 (5): "Critical areas" include the following areas and ecosystems: (