• Skagit County Commissioners Adopt 2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations Update

On Monday, June 23, 2025, the Skagit Board of County Commissioners approved two ordinances to adopt the periodic Comprehensive Plan update and updates and reorganization of the Skagit County development regulations.

The Comprehensive Plan serves as a roadmap to guide the future growth and development in unincorporated Skagit County and operates as a framework to guide the day-to-day land use decisions by elected officials and staff. Washington state requires this document to be updated every ten years to ensure compliance with current state regulations and policies. The 2025 periodic Comprehensive Plan update introduced a new climate and resiliency element and revised the housing element to accommodate affordable housing needs.

“We want to thank the community for participating in our Comprehensive Plan update and providing important feedback on the direction of growth in Skagit County,” said Commissioner Lisa Janicki. “The new emphasis on climate resiliency and affordable housing will help us better accommodate for development while being prepared for natural disasters and weather-related emergencies.”

The climate and resiliency element addresses natural hazards intensified by climate change, such as sea level rise, landslides, flooding, drought, extreme heat, wildfire, smoke, and shifts in precipitation patterns. The element establishes goals and policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and land use, with a specific focus on lowering per capita vehicle miles traveled in unincorporated Skagit County.

Updates to Skagit County development regulations implement the Comprehensive Plan policy changes and clarifies several areas of the code, including setbacks, boundary line adjustments, and lot certifications. Additionally, the code has been reorganized to improve readability, usability, and administrative efficiency.

Skagit County began the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan in the summer of 2024, starting with a series of community events and open houses to solicit input on the direction of any changes. Public input was incorporated into each draft element and the community was provided with public comment periods to take additional feedback. The Planning Commission reviewed the draft elements and first full draft of the plan and hosted a public hearing and comment period before ultimately providing a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.

To view the updated Comprehensive Plan and for more information on the adoption process, please visit:

www.skagitcounty.net/2025cpa

If you have any questions regarding these updates, please reach out to the Skagit County Planning and Development Services Department at pds@co.skagit.wa.us or 360-416-1320.