King County: Updates to Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO)
King County Executive Dow Constantine transmitted a proposed ordinance to King County Council Chair Dave Upthegrove on December 5, 2024, seeking to update the county's critical areas regulations. The existing regulations, last comprehensively revised in 2004, are being updated in accordance with the Growth Management Act (GMA) and Revised Code of Washington. This update, initiated in 2022, involved consultation with Tribes, state and federal agencies, and community partners, and aims to establish updated development limits and requirements for areas surrounding critical areas.
King County: Development Fee Increase
King County Executive Dow Constantine's hefty 49% increase on development permitting fees proposal, if approved by the County Council, will significantly increase the financial burden on developers. This latest hike comes on the heels of a 13.7% permanent fee increase and a 2.5% temporary surcharge implemented in the 2023-24 budget.