Critical areas package

Critical Areas, Clearing & Grading, and Stormwater Package
Read the critical areas ordinances as adopted by the King County Council, find answers to common questions and learn how ordinances have changed in response to public comments.

DDES Critical Areas Ordinances - Science and Facts
Learn about the best available science King County used as a foundation for the critical areas ordinances. The DDES site also provides fact sheets describing regulations including how to apply and customize them.

Rural Stewardship Planning Programs in King County
Find programs that offer flexible options and technical help to unincorporated King County landowners for developing or using land in ways that protect natural resources. Programs include Rural Stewardship, Farm Management, and Forest Stewardship.

Public rules

The following public rules were adopted to implement the Critical Areas Package:

• Farm Management Plan Public Rule
• Rural Stewardship Plan Public Rule

King County Groundwater Management
Read about King County's work to protect underground water supplies for pure drinking water while allowing healthy rivers and creeks to continue.

King County Stormwater Information
Comprehensive information about how King County manages stormwater and the pollution it washes into streams and lakes, providing resources for folks from the general public to building engineers.

King County Agriculture
Programs and resources available to help commercial and hobby farmers operate sustainably.

DDES - Department of Development & Environmental Services
King County's agency responsible for applying development and environmental regulations. DDES reviews, evaluates and approves a variety of land use proposals in King County and is responsible for ensuring projects follow legal requirements.

King County Flooding Topics
Look up comprehensive flood resources for King County residents including emergency services, real-time gage data, maps, plans, regulations, and programs that work to protect home, health and property.

Sustainable Building Topics
Resources for architects and developers to apply in their work to help build toward a vision of livable, sustainable communities over the long-term.

Public Benefit Rating System
Learn about. this incentive program that enables King County property owners to reduce property taxes by applying conservation practices on land they own.

King Conservation District (external link)
Natural resource agency that works to foster conservation and good stewardship of the area's highly-valued natural resources.