Growth Management Guides and Resources - Washington State Department of Commerce

2023 Critical Areas Handbook
Commerce has completed updates to our critical areas guidance document. The 2023 Handbook addresses the following: Wetlands rating system, Voluntary Stewardship Program, agricultural activities, FEMA Biological Opinion, availability of LiDAR, monitoring and adaptive management, a salmon recovery roadmap, and other issues.

• Complete Handbook 2023 (PDF)
• More information is available on the Critical Areas page

Growth Management Documents and Resources

• Buildable Lands Guidance, 2018 (PDF)
• Building Cities in the Rain – Guidance for Watershed Prioritization for Stormwater Retrofits, 2016 (PDF)
• Building Cities in the Rain Project Development Page– Information and materials regarding the development of Building Cities in the Rain guidance
• Building Green Cities guidance, Fact Sheet , Guidebook
• Capital Facilities Planning Guidebook, 2014 (PDF)
• Climate Change (PDF) – Addressing Climate Change through Comprehensive Planning under the GMA, 2008
• Climate Change (PDF) – Greenhouse Gas Analysis Tools, 2009
• GMA and Related Laws Update 1995 – 2023 (PDF)
• Hazard Mitigation Integration Summary Report, 2020 (PDF)
• Hazard Mitigation Integration Plan Resource Handbook, 2020 (PDF)
• Housing – Guidance for Developing a Housing Action Plan, 2020 (PDF)
• Housing – Guidance for Developing a Housing Needs Assessment, 2020 (PDF)
• Housing Guidebook, 2021 (PDF)
• Legislative Report: Defense Community Compatibility Account, 2020 (PDF) – Regarding the formation of a grant program for local compatibility projects (2019 SSB 5748)
• Military and Community Compatibility Guidebook, 2019 (PDF) – Information for compatibility planning needs and best practices, prepared in partnership with MAKERS Architecture and Urban Design, LLP
• Military and Community Compatibility Strategy, 2017 (PDF) – A program implementation plan recommended by The Spectrum Group (TSG)
• Legislative Report: Civilian-Military Land Use Study, 2016 (PDF) – Regarding encroachment and compatibility in Washington State (RCW 36.70A.530) and nationwide best practices, prepared by TSG
• Regional Transfer of Development Rights Report (PDF) , 2013
• Short Course on Local Planning Resource Guide (PDF) , Version 5.3 2017
• Transportation Guidebook (PDF) , 2012
• Urban Growth Area – UGA Swap – Fact Page, 2023 (PDF)
• Urban Growth Area Guidebook (PDF) , 2012