Shoreline planners toolbox

We are starting the rulemaking process to amend Chapters 173-18, -20, -22, -26, and -27 under the Shoreline Management Act. Visit the rulemaking page for more information.

This toolbox is designed for local and state shoreline planners responsible for developing and administering Shoreline Master Programs. Users will find links to our webpages, publications, and guidance to help with:

• Permitting
• Resolving shoreline management issues
• Developing and updating Shoreline Master Programs
• Researching laws and rules
• Shoreline Planning Grant opportunities

If you don't find what you need, please contact the regional planner serving your city or county government.

Administration of Shoreline Master Programs

Shoreline master programs (SMPs) are locally tailored policies and use and development regulations that implement the state Shoreline Management ACt (SMA) and are:

• Adopted by local governments
• Reviewed and approved by Ecology

SMPs are both state and local planning and regulatory documents that represent a unique partnership between Ecology and local governments. Local governments review and issue a decision on all shoreline permits before filing them with us. We file all permits and make final decisions on locally approved conditional use and variance permits.

Each SMP contains elements that are required by statute and rule, such as:

• Shoreline environment designations (SEDs) with customized management policies, regulations, and use allowances/prohibitions
• Policies and regulations for shoreline uses, modifications, and development
• Vegetation conservation standards
• Public access requirements
• Shoreline buffers and/or setbacks
• Cirtical areas protection standards

Once a local government comprehensively updates its SMP, local administrators ensure compliance with the SMA through the careful and complete implementation of the SMP during the day-to-day review of individual development proposals. The following guidance documents are intended to help local governments implement their SMPs consistent with the SMA and state rules:

• Shoreline permits and enforcement
• Shoreline permitting manual
• Shoreline no net loss and mitigation
  • NNL analysis and mitigation plan (checklist)
  • Design techniques for avoiding and minimizing shoreline buffer impacts (checklist)
  • DIY as-built mitigation report (template)
  • DIY mitigation monitoring report (template)

  Shoreline permit filing

  All shoreline permits must be filed with Ecology and have a 21-day state appeal period. You can email shoreline permits to smp@ecy.wa.gov. While we still accept mailed submittals, we prefer email. Make sure your email contains a complete submittal following the requirements of WAC 173-27-130 and WAC 173-27-180, including the permit data sheet.

  Note: We will email you confirmation within five days for a shoreline substantial development permit submittal. If you do not receive an email confirmation within five days, contact your shoreline permit reviewer. For conditional use permits and variances, we try to finish our review and issue a decision within 30 days of receiving your complete submittal.

  Grants

  We have awarded funds to local jurisdictions for 24 projects under the 2023-25 Shoreline Planning Competitive Grant Program. Projects are focused on shoreline planning and planning-related efforts that advance climate resilience, improve the implementation of shoreline master programs, or support local shoreline planning priorities.

  Funding information

  • There was approximately $3 million available for funding
  • Each grant award limit was $250,000
  • No matching funds were required
  • Grant applications were accepted from July 5 through Aug. 17, 2023
  • Grants awarded started Oct. 2, 2023, and end June 30, 2025

  More information

  Visit our Shoreline planning competitive grants page for more information.The 2023-2025 Shoreline Planning Competitive grant is administered through Ecology's Administration of Grants and Loans (EAGL) system.

  We previously offered two separate shoreline planning grant programs. One was a non-competitive formula grant, offered to local governments to supplement the fund requirements for completing their statutorily required SMP periodic reviews. This funding program will be offered in the future when SMP periodic reviews are required again. The other was a pilot competitive grant program intended to provide more flexible funding to local governments for locally driven, priority shoreline planning efforts.

  Resources for Shoreline Planning Competitive Grants

  Resources for Shoreline Planning Competitive Grants

  Essential information

  • 2023-2025 SPC - Funding Guidelines
  • 2023-2025 SPC - FAQs
  • 2023-2025 - Application Prep Tool

  SMP monitoring and adaptive management

  • Critical Areas Handbook Chapter 7, Department of Commerce
  • Webinar 2, Setting the Stage – Department of Commerce’s Monitoring and Adaptive Management Series
  • Webinar 8, Shorelines – Department of Commerce’s Monitoring and Adaptive Management Series
  • Webinar 9, Permit Implementation Monitoring Tools – Department of Commerce’s Monitoring and Adaptive Management Series

  Climate resilience planning

  • Climate Impacts Group - Climate Mapping Tool for a Resilient Washington
  • Washington State coastal hazards resilience resource library
  • U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
  • Public engagement
    • Identifying and Effectively Engaging Stake- and Rights-Holders
    • Getting the Right People in the Room (Resilience metrics)

    Sea level rise planning

    • Washington sea level rise projections and associated tools
      • 2018 Miller et al. Projected Sea Level Rise for Washington State
      • Interactive sea level rise projection tools
      • NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer
      • NOAA Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper

      Environmental Justice

      • Learn about Environmental Justice (EPA)
      • Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map
      • Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
      • 6 Takeaways from the CEQ Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
      • Washington Distressed Communities Map
      • Recommendations for Prioritizing Environmental Justice in Washington State Government
      • Inclusive Public Engagement (Institute for Local Government)
      • Guidance and Responsibilities for Effective Tribal Consultation, Communication, and Engagement (WCOA)

      Channel migration zones

      • Stream channel migration zones - Washington State Department of Ecology
      • A Methodology for Delineating Planning-Level Channel Migration Zones
      • A Framework for Delineating Channel Migration Zones

      Shoreline master program amendments

      Under the state Shoreline Management Act, counties, cities, and towns with shorelines of the state are required to develop a shoreline master program, complete a one-time comprehensive update, and then periodically review their land-use policies and regulations governing shoreline uses within their jurisdiction every 10 years. These locally tailored SMPs are adopted and approved by each local government, as well as Ecology.

      The Shoreline Master Programs Handbook is a guide for local governments that are developing or updating Shoreline master programs in Washington. The Handbook provides guidance for meeting the requirements of the Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58), the shoreline master program guidelines (WAC 173-26, Part III) and the SMP procedural rules (WAC 173-26, Parts I and II). The Handbook also provides information and resources to help in making decisions on SMP environment designations, policies, and regulations. Topics such as shoreline stabilization, aquaculture, critical areas, and public participation are covered as well.

      Periodic reviews

      The state Shoreline Management Act requires that counties, cities, and towns periodically review their comprehensively updated shoreline master program (SMP) every ten years. The review timetable for local governments is established in RCW 90.58.080(4), and the completion deadline and process requirements are outlined in WAC 173-26-090. In addition, WAC 173-26-104 allows an optional joint review process that combines required local and state public comment periods.

      Periodic reviews due in 2021-2023

      • Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, and Whitman
      • The cities and towns within the counties listed above

      2021-2023 grant funding

      For the 2021-23 biennium, we are offering grant funds to eligible jurisdictions with periodic reviews due on June 30, 2022. Grants issued will start on July 1, 2021 and end on June 30, 2023.

      WAC 173-26-090 clarifies that local legislative action is required to complete the review, even when a local government determines that no changes are needed. Our periodic review guidance provides information you can use during your SMP review, as well as example documents.

      Guidance documents

      • Policy statement regarding SMP Periodic Review deadlines
      • Summary of the rule
      • SMP amendment procedural review rules
      • Checklist
      • Checklist guidance
      • Optional joint review process
      • Sample work program
      • Amendment submittal worksheet
      • Ocean Management SMP Checklist
      • Ocean Management SMP Checklist Guidance
      • Example SMP Ocean Management Section Language
      • Frequently Asked Questions

      Example documents

      For both SMP Amendments and Findings of Adequacy

      For SMP Amendments

      • Public notice for public comment period
      • Ordinance for Findings of Fact and Adoption of Revisions

      For Findings of Adequacy

      • Public notice for public comment period
      • Resolution for Findings of Fact and Adoption of Findings of Adequacy
      Comprehensive updates

      Comprehensive updates of shoreline master programs, mandated by the Legislature, are currently underway. Many cities and counties have completed their updates. These shoreline programs carry out the policies of the state Shoreline Management Act for local shorelines. Ecology's guidelines for these updates translate the broad policies of the SMA into standards for shoreline programs.

      A comprehensive update includes a public participation process, shoreline inventory, cumulative impacts analysis and restoration plan. This work results in a determination of shoreline jurisdiction, environment designations, goals, policies and regulations. Our guidance for conducting the work is provided in the Shoreline Master Programs Handbook.

      Locally initiated amendments

      Local governments at times decide to amend their shoreline master programs to address a change in local shoreline conditions, their comprehensive plan or zoning regulations, or improved data. These SMP amendments must be developed consistent with the requirements of WAC 173-26-110. Some of the requirements are:

      • Public participation, including at least one public hearing
      • Consultation with any agency, Tribe, or person with interest or responsibility relating to the shoreline
      • Consultation with Ecology
      • Compliance with SEPA

      For locally initiated amendments and periodic reviews, local jurisdictions have the option to conduct a joint review process with Ecology. This process consolidates local and state public comment periods. See step-by-step instructions in our Joint Review Process guidance.

      Shoreline amendments must be approved by the local elected officials and submitted to Ecology for approval. You can find these requirements in the following state rules:

      Laws and rules

      • Shoreline Management Act
      • Shoreline Master Program Guidelines

      Topics

      • Aquaculture
      • Stream channel migration zones
      • Puget Sound landslides
      • Puget Sound feeder bluffs and Puget Sound feeder bluff mapping
      • Floods and floodplain planning
      • Ocean management
      • Shoreline stabilization

      Additional resources

      • Washington State Coastal Atlas
      • Education & training
      • Research & data
      • Online tools & databases

      Contact information

      For information about specific shoreline master programs and questions about shoreline permitting, contact your shoreline permit reviewer.

      For information regarding shoreline master program amendments, contact your shoreline planner.