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: Under RCW 36.70A.020, the GMA establishes a series of 13 goals that should act as the basis of all comprehensive plans. The legislature added the goals and policies of the Shoreline Management Act as the fourteenth GMA goal ( RCW 36.70A.480 ). The shoreline goals may be found at RCW 90.58.020. GMA Goals
( RCW 36.70A.020)
Concentrated urban growth
Sprawl reduction
Regional transportation
Affordable housing
Economic development
Property rights
Permit processing
Natural resource industries
Open space and recreation
Environmental protection
Early and continuous public participation
Public facilities and services
Historic preservation
Shoreline management ( RCW 36.70A.480)
The Washington State Department of Commerce is the primary state-level contact for GMA-related issues. They provide technical assistance to help local governments comply with the GMA and implement their comprehensive plans effectively. 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.