Critical Areas, Stormwater, and Clearing and Grading Ordinances

Critical Areas, Stormwater, and
Clearing and Grading Ordinances

About the Ordinances:
	Adopted Ordinances
	Fact Sheets
	Questions & Answers
	CAO Educational Presentations
	User's Manual
	Best Available Science
Related Links:
	Critical Areas Designation
	Free Blackberry Clearing Permits
	Critical Areas Package Resources
	Stewardship Planning Programs
	Soil Health (371K .pdf)
	King Co. Comp Plan
	King Co. Code
	Salmon & Trout
	Stormwater
	Wetlands
	Property Research
	WA Dept. of Ecology (external link)
	Growth Management Act (GMA) (external link)
	GMA & Related Laws (external link, .pdf)

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King County's updated Critical Areas Ordinance ("CAO") went into effect on January 1, 2005.

The CAO has been incorporated into the King County Code. The King County Code versions are available at www.kingcounty.gov/council/legislation/kc_code.aspx. The CAO has been codified as follows:

Critical Areas--KCC Chapter 21A.24 (236K pdf)
- King County Basin and Shoreline Conditions Map (1.3MB .pdf)
- King County Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas Map (2.9MB .pdf)
Stormwater--KCC Chapters 9.04 and 9.12 (246K pdf)
Clearing and Grading--KCC Chapter 16.82 (657K pdf)

How does the CAO affect me?
King County has developed informational materials at different levels of detail to assist property owners, builders, consultants, and the general public in understanding the provisions of the CAO:

Fact Sheets briefly describe the different elements of the CAO and its provisions to different types of critical areas and in different situations.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
A PowerPoint slide show presented at a DDES CAO Workshop provides a general overview of the entire CAO.
The CAO User's Manual provides detailed information on the CAO in a more easily understandable format to assist property owners and permit applicants in understanding how the CAO will be applied.
Best Available Science provides background information that was used by King County in developing the CAO.

For alternate formats of documents, call 206-296-6600.

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Fact Sheets

Agriculture (82KB .pdf)
Aquatic Areas (104KB .pdf)
Clearing and Grading (77KB .pdf)
Forest Management Plans (71KB .pdf)
Horse Owner Information (97KB .pdf)
Rural Properties - Fixed Standards (104KB .pdf)
Rural Stewardship Plans (73KB .pdf)
Urban Properties (100KB .pdf)
Wetland Considerations (109KB .pdf)
Wildlife Habitat (86KB .pdf)

Questions & Answers

List of Questions and Answers about the CAO (68KB .pdf)

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CAO Educational Presentations

DDES has presented free workshops on the Critical Areas Ordinance. For those unable to attend, the workshop is available for viewing online, on KCTV, or by DVD. See DDES Workshops and Events for more information.

A PowerPoint presentation from the CAO workshop also is available:

>>View CAO PowerPoint Slide Show
>>Open or download CAO PowerPoint file (4.6 MB .ppt)
>>View CAO PowerPoint presentation in PDF format (3.3 MB .pdf)

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CAO User's Manual

· Introduction

	>>Introduction / Purpose of User's Manual (19KB .pdf)
	>>Table of Contents (182KB .pdf)

· Part One - Administration

	>>Alterations and Alteration Exceptions (60KB .pdf)
	>>Agriculture (170KB .pdf)
	>>Rural Stewardship (28KB .pdf)
	>>Forest Stewardship (37KB .pdf)
	>>Critical Areas Designation (25KB .pdf)

· Part Two - Critical Areas

	>>Coal Mine Hazard Areas (21KB .pdf)
	>>Erosion Hazard Areas (19KB .pdf)
	>>Flood Hazard Areas (741KB .pdf)
	>>Landslide Hazard Areas (22KB .pdf)
	>>Seismic Hazard Areas (19KB .pdf)
	>>Volcanic Hazard Areas (20KB .pdf)
	>>Steep Slope Hazard Areas (34KB .pdf)
	>>Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (38KB .pdf)
	>>Wetlands (302KB .pdf)
	>>Aquatic Areas (282KB .pdf)
	>>Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (206KB .pdf)

· Part Three - Surface Water

>>Drainage Review and Requirements (66KB .pdf)

· Part Four - Clearing and Grading

>>Clearing and Grading (46KB .pdf)

CAO User's Manual as one document (entire file, 2.1MB .pdf)

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Best Available Science

· Volume I: Review of Science Literature

>>Title and Table of Contents (229KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 1: Introduction (197KB .pdf)
>>Map of Unincorporated King County Major Land Uses (1.8MB .pdf)
>>Chapter 2: Scientific Framework (155KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 3: Flood Hazard Areas (299KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 4: Channel Migration Zones (199KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 5: Geologic Hazard Areas (286KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 6: Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (281KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 7: Aquatic Areas (872KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 8: Wildlife Areas (631KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 9: Wetlands (539KB .pdf)
>>Appendix A: BAS Rule (142KB .pdf)
>>Appendix B: Stormwater (716KB .pdf)
>>Appendix C: Science Experts (260KB .pdf)

· Volume II: Assessment of Proposed Ordinances

>>Title and Table of Contents (133KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 1: Introduction (52KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 2: Assessment of CAO Fixed Regulations (234KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 3: CAO Planning Programs and Incentives (221KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 4: Assessment of Stormwater and
Clearing & Grading Ordinances (81KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 5: Institutional Context (69KB .pdf)
>>Chapter 6: Conclusion (68KB .pdf)
>>Appendix A: The Effects of Agricultural Operations on Critical
Areas (219KB .pdf)

· Literature References

>>Best Available Science - Literature References (325KB .pdf)

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Updated: May 22, 2008

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