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King County Comprehensive Plan

King County Comprehensive Plan 

The central Puget Sound region is growing. Every day in 2019, the region gained 166 people. The Puget Sound Regional Council projects that the region will continue to grow and add another 1.8 million people and 1.2 million jobs by 2050.

The Comprehensive Plan is a key policy document that guides how growth and development will occur over the next 20 years. It guides County decisions and services such as:

  • where homes, offices, or stores can be built;
  • how roads, buildings and trees contribute to the look and feel of neighborhoods;
  • investments in transit, sewers, and parks;
  • protection of working farms and forests; and
  • access to clean water, clean air, and a healthy environment.

Read a short FAQ about the Comprehensive Plan here.


The 2024 Update

King County has started a once-a-decade update to its Comprehensive Plan, which guides where people live, work, and play in unincorporated King County. While this is known as the "2024 Update" the process for developing the plan takes place over two years. Please see the planned timeline below.

To ensure that King County will be a welcoming community where every person can thrive, the 2024 update focuses on policies related to racial equity, affordable housing, and climate change. More details about the scope of the update can be found here. There will be many opportunities during the planning process for all county residents and the general public to provide input on the update, until it is adopted by Council in December of 2024. 

Public Review Draft of the 2024 Update

In June and July 2023, King County shared a draft of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, a 20-year plan that guides where people live, work, and play in unincorporated communities (places outside of city limits). Read the proposals below to learn more about the specific actions King County is considering to address social equity, affordable housing, and climate change in our region. 

The comment period on the Public Review Draft is now closed. The Executive is currently reviewing the public input, which will inform the final the Executive Recommended Plan that will be submitted the King County Council in December 2023. Additional opportunities for public input will occur throughout 2024.

 

King County wants to hear from you!

Please feel free to contact us with any comments, questions or requests. Regional Planning staff are looking forward to hearing from you.

  1. Send us an email at: CompPlan@kingcounty.gov   
  2. Sign up for Comprehensive Planning Newsletter   
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Project Milestones

  • Jan-Jun 2022: King County Executive staff begin the Comprehensive Plan update process.
  • Jul 2022-Mid 2023: King County Executive develops and releases draft Comprehensive Plan.
  • Mid 2023-Dec 2023: King County Executive staff edit the draft plan based on community input and transmit an Executive Recommended plan with a draft State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the King County Council for review and approval.
  • Jan-Dec 2024: The King County Council reviews, amends, and adopts the final Comprehensive Plan. Final EIS is issued.

What we’ve heard so far

King County is incorporating the results of public feedback to guide the refinement of policy proposals for the final Executive-Recommended Plan, along with a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The final Executive-Recommended Plan will be submitted to County Council in December 2023. There will be additional opportunities throughout 2024 to share your thoughts with County Councilmembers as they begin their review of the policies.

FAQs

  • To submit specific policy recommendations or changes to land use and zoning, please use the docket application process.
  • If you have general comments or suggestions for a current plan update (such as the 2024 update), please submit feedback to CompPlan@kingcounty.gov.
  • King County planning staff are available to meet with community groups and other interested parties. Please submit requests to CompPlan@kingcounty.gov.
  • Sign up for news about plan updates and Comprehensive Plan topics by joining our mailing list.

Resources

Proposing Changes (including Docket, Four-to-One Proposals, and site-specific zoning changes)

King County Code (including Title 20 Planning and Title 21A Zoning)

PSRC's VISION 2050

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