King County Countywide Planning Policies

News

December 6, 2022: The King County Council adopted Ordinance 19553 which amends the 2021 Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) in order to establish housing unit and employment growth targets for the City of Sammamish. The amendments will be sent to jurisdictions in King County for ratification, consistent with the process outlined in the CPPs.

April 6, 2022: Culminating a two-year process, the 2021 Countywide Planning Policies (adopted by Ordinance 19384) and the 2021 Urban Growth Area Capacity Report (adopted by Ordinance 19369) were ratified by the cities and towns in King County. The Countywide Planning Policies create a shared and consistent framework for growth management planning for all jurisdictions in King County. The Urban Growth Capacity report provides a periodic assessment of development capacity for future housing and employment; this work supports the adoption of the growth targets that serve as the land use assumption in local comprehensive plans.

December 14, 2021: The King County Council unanimously adopted the 2021 Urban Growth Capacity Report and 2021 Countywide Planning Policies.  The next step will be for the Council Clerk to send the documents out the cities for ratification, consistent with CPP FW-1. 

July 1, 2021: GMPC approved 2021 Countywide Planning Policies and 2021 Urban Growth Capacity Report transmitted to King County Council 

June 19, 2021: Proposed Countywide Planning Policies released to GMPC

May 31, 2021: Environmental Review for 2021 Countywide Planning Policies released

March 31, 2021: Public Review Draft Released

Background and Purpose

The Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) create a shared framework for growth management planning for all jurisdictions in King County. The CPPs implement the Washington State Growth Management Act and the VISON 2050 Multicounty Planning Policies, adopted by the Puget Sound Regional Council in 2020. The comprehensive plan for King County and city comprehensive plans are developed from the framework that the CPPs create. Countywide Planning Policies are being updated in advance of the 2024 periodic update of comprehensive plans to reflect a number of changes to the regional policy framework and to reflect new priorities addressing equity and social justice within our communities.

The Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC), which brings together elected officials from King County and the cities, develops and recommends the CPPs to the King County Council. The GMPC is expected to take action on the CPPs at their meeting on June 23, 2021 (Click here to see 2021 GMPC CPP Update Schedule).

Here is a quick overview/presentation on the CPPs Update Process.

Read the legacy 2012 King County Countywide Planning Policies, and view historical Amendments.

For more information, please contact: